Roe sits forward, resting her elbows on the table, and looks between us. She’s nervous, but she doesn’t back down.
“I found paperwork about you in my father’s office when I was snooping one day. I believe he’s your father too."
I nod, my head spinning even faster.
“My father was a loser who didn’t care I ever existed. Even if he was my sperm donor, I doubt he’d care enough to find anything out about me.”
“Yeah,” she agrees. “He hasn’t always been the kind of man that he is now, from what I understand.”
“My mom was a crack whore,” I blurt. “She chose any kind of drugs she could get over me. Is that the kind of woman you think he’d have spent time with?”
I don’t talk about this. I never talk about this, but I can’t stop the words from spilling from my lips as I stare into a set of eyes that are so familiar. They’re the same blue as mine.
Shit.
My heart races as reality sets in.
I have a fucking sister.
I have no proof. But sitting here right now staring at her. I don’t need it.
I feel it. I feel it down to my very core, just like I did the moment I realized I fell in love with Alana, and in the car the night we rescued Daisy and she looked into my eyes. I knew that they were connected to me. Not by DNA, but by something more powerful than that.
My breathing increases until my chest is heaving and I barely suck in the air I need.
“Holy shit,” I gasp, pushing to my feet and rushing away. “I need some… air,” I breathe as I stumble out into the parking lot.
Resting my hands on my knees, I squeeze my eyes closed and try to calm my breathing.
A pair of sneakers appears the second I open my eyes and I relax.
“Big breath in, Julian,” Alana commands, doing it with me. “And out again. That’s it.”
Her warm hand rubs circles on my back and I start to finally relax.
“Dove,” I whisper. “She’s my sister.” I look up, my eyes immediately finding her tear-filled eyes.
“We don’t know that for sure. We're going to need?—”
“I know, Dove. I felt it. She’s… fuck.”
The second I stand to full height, she wraps her arms around me and holds tight.
“Yeah, Julian,” she whispers. “You have a sister.”
57
ALANA
Hearing me accept what he’d already decided gives JD a boost of confidence to walk back into the diner.
Everyone’s eyes were on us as he freaked out in the parking lot for a few minutes but that didn’t mean I missed the way Reid and Mav grilled Roe.
I got it. I wanted to do the exact same thing. But JD needed me more, and I will always be what he needs. Always.
By the time we get back in and sit down, it seems they’ve already come up with a plan to eradicate any question over their possible DNA match.
“I’m going to call Doc for a DNA test,” Reid explains almost the second JD’s ass hits the chair again. But JD doesn’t look at him, he’s too focused on Roe.