Mayor Summers was Phoenix’s biological father. Fuck, we hadn’t even spoken about Storm.
“I do, Nix. You know I do. But it doesn’t have to be tonight. I would understand if you’re no longer—you know, in the mood.”
“Baby girl, I’malwaysin the mood,” he added with a wolfish smile.
“Nice,” I added with a huff. A couple of girls from my school walked past us and did a double-take, and I dropped my arms from around his neck.
Phoenix was undeterred as he took charge. “Come on, let’s find the others.” He slid his arm around my shoulders and directed us towards the steps that led to the sand.
It wasn’t that dark considering the hour. The sea air felt so fresh after the congestion of the stadium, and I welcomed the breeze. Even though I only wore Phoenix’s jersey and a pair of lacy panties, I didn’t feel cold.
“What about Storm?” I asked as we negotiated our way past a group of college kids who were coming up the steps.
“What about her?” he said without stopping.
“Are you going to speak to her about it?”
“And say what?”
We stopped at the bottom of the steps. I could see Molly, Hudson, and Micah sitting further down the beach beside a dune and some rocks.
“You do get that Dominic Summer’s being your father makes Storm your sister.”
“Half-sister,” he replied, wrinkling his nose with distaste. Oh dear.
“Well, you’re about to see her in like, ten minutes, and so maybe you should have something planned?”
He cast a glance at where I was looking. I couldn’t see Reed or Storm, but that didn’t mean they weren’t close. “She doesn’t know Nix. At least, she didn’t earlier.”
“Fuck,” he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with his finger and thumb. I tugged his hand down.
“That’s what I mean. Are you going to say anything?”
His hand fell to his side. “Like what? Hey, sis, it appears we were both sired by the same asshole?” he paused for a moment and then asked. “What about the photo of her old man at my age?”
“I don’t think she’s seen it. And if she has, she hasn’t put two and two together. But shedoesknow her dad had an affair.”
There was still so much that Phoenix didn’t know, and I hardly had time to fill in the blanks. I explained briefly about the PI and the box of love letters.
“Shit. This is so messed up.” Exactly why I suggested going home, but Nix wasn’t having it.
As we got to the others, the fact that Storm was nowhere to be seen was probably a good thing. Speaking out of turn was one of Phoenix’s specialties. And irrespective of his feelings about the ex-thorn in my side, she didn’t deserve to find out she had a half-brother like that.
I squeezed Phoenix’s hand, reassuring him that I was there for him.
As we threaded across the sand, a shudder went through me as I spied the parking lot. A fight had broken out there last year. It was the place where Micah had been attacked.
I slid my shoes off, enjoying the feel of the sand between my toes. It felt soothing. Phoenix kept his Stan Smith’s on, mumbling something about his hobbit feet. The fact that he could joke after what had gone down was encouraging.
“Fuck, I don’t even know where to start when I tell them.”
“Why don’t we go for a walk first? Clear your head? Either that or tell them tomorrow?” I suggested, nodding towards Molly, Hudson, and Micah. The latter raised his beer in the air and waved us over.
Molly also spotted us, frantically flapping her arms in the air. She was sitting between Hudson’s legs. Micah was standing up, looking animated. He appeared to be in the middle of telling them one of his New York stories.
“I’m good.Honestly, Harper.”
“OK. Well, just tell them, I suppose.”
