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"No." He shook his head. "But he and his mom were discussing some man they think is your dad, and he said you were out here alone. So, I figured I would keep you company and let them talk." Whether Link realized it or not, that was Christian's way of sending Link out here. "I'm here if you need to talk."
"Why would she leave me?" I knew he couldn't answer the question, and I didn't really expect an answer. I needed to hear the words aloud.
"Because she's selfish," Link said, staring off into the darkness. "I'll never understand why some people get to be parents." I felt like this was the perfect opportunity to ask about his parents.
"How about your parents? Were they good parents?
"Yeah," he said after several long seconds. "My parents were great. They met in high school, and they've been married almost 25 years."
"Wow." I smiled. "Do you have any siblings?"
"No. Just me." He cleared his throat. "Something happened after my mom got pregnant with me, and she didn't want any more kids."
"What happened?" I shoved my hair out of my face.
"I don't know." He shrugged. "I always assumed he'd had some type of affair or something because my Aunt Charlotte said my father was a man-whore before I was born." He laughed. "But it's not something that is really ever talked about."
"Now we know where you got it from." I bumped his arm with mine, laughing.
"You're not flirting with my girl, are you?" Christian teased, appearing from the darkness. My eyes went wide, blinking up to meet his. He must have realized what he'd said because his lip pinched into a thin line.
"Funny." Lincoln huffed a laugh. "Does it look like I have a death wish?" He dropped his feet, forcing the swing to a stop before standing. "I'm headed back to the pool house to mix up some drinks." He turned to look at me. "You look like you could use a drink." He was right; I could use one or four.
"We'll be up in a minute," Christian said, taking Link's spot on the swing. "I need to talk to Harper."
Link nodded before strolling off.
"What's up?" I asked when I could no longer see Link.
"My parents have lived in this town for decades," Christian said. "And they've never heard the name Dylan West. So, there's a possibility he's not from here, or that's not his real name." He shoved his hand through his dark hair. "My mom is going to pass the info to her PI And see what we can find out."
"Are you going to tell Link?" I stared down at my fidgeting hands.
"I think we should eliminate all other possibilities before we stir up drama for Link and his family," he said. "I would hate to tell him, and then it not be true."
"I don't want to cause problems." I sighed.
"Harper," he said immediately, trying to retract what he'd said. "I didn't mean it like that."
"I know," I said, and I did know. I didn't know what this news would do to Lincoln or his family, and I didn't want to lose him as a friend. "But I mean it; I don't want to cause problems for Link and his family." I sucked in a deep breath, slowly releasing it. "Maybe we should drop it. I've lived eighteen years without knowing who my dad is. There's no reason to go digging up bones now." Especially when those bones could end up hurting someone I cared about.
Christian's gaze swept over mine before he finally threw an arm over my shoulder and pulled me into him. I laid my head on him as he shoved the swing back.
"You've got me," he whispered. "Always." I knew with every ounce of my being that he meant that.
Chapter 42
Christian
Early the next morning, I rushed down the stairs, half asleep, to the kitchen before fumbling with my phone and hitting the screen to accept the incoming call. Trying not to wake Harper, I kept my volume down.
"Did you get the package?" I whispered.
"Yes," Ace said, a friend of the family who worked with the local Sheriff's office and had access to resources I needed.
"Do you have everything you need?" I watched the staircase for any signs of Harper.
"Yes," Ace said. "I'll send it to the lab today."
