“What did you find out, Michella?”
“Before I tell you, I need to caution you. My advice is that you wait until the playoffs are over before I give my report.”
“If we’re lucky that would be a couple more months.”
“Let’s hope.” She smiles, but the underlying tension is obvious.
“Why should I wait?”
“Because the truth is explosive and could have an adverse effect on your game and the team.”
“Now I’m really curious. Do you honestly think I can wait?”
“I suggest you do.”
I consider her words. I don’t want her findings to destroy my newly resurrected mojo. Yet I can’t tolerate not knowing. I don’t understand why any of this information would affect me personally. Michella’s being overly sensitive.
“I want to know.”
“Did you meet an exotic dancer at an exclusive Vegas club and have a one-night stand with her?”
“What?” I jerk back as if slapped. “What the fuck does this have to do with my request?”
She levels me with an almost censuring glare. “Did you?”
“Vegas? Well, fuck, yeah, probably several on different occasions.”
“I’m talking six to seven years ago.”
“I don’t know.” I’m annoyed and also embarrassed to admit I’ve been with so many women, I don’t recall all of them.
“She went by the stage name of Delight.”
I’m immediately transported back to a time in my life when I was new to the league and making waves as a hot young player with great promise. With more money than I knew what to do with, I had the world by the tail, was as horny as hell, and was full of myself. Of all the women I had brief liaisons with, Delight sticks in my memory for multiple reasons. She came on to me at the strip club. After she danced, we sat at a table together and drank way too much whiskey. The girls at the club had signed agreements that they wouldn’t sleep with customers. That didn’t stop her. I gave her my hotel room number, and minutes later, there she was. She informed me she usually does it for money, but this time, she’d give me a freebie because I was so hot. The sex was great though nothing close to what I have with Aria. No one has come that close.
“Okay, yeah, I remember her.”
My stomach rolls with fear as I sense where this is heading. I’m a careful guy, and what really stands out about Delight is that the condom broke right in the middle of my orgasm. She assured me she was on birth control. And I never thought another thing about it. Until now.
I stare at Michella, absolutely stricken by the implications. My throat goes dry, and my palms are sweaty. I place my shaky hands under the table so she can’t see them.
“Noah is mine?” On some deeper level I knew he’s my son even if I never articulated it.
Michella nods. “Delight is Anna Reed.”
“Fuck. I’m the deadbeat dad.”
“You are, though in your defense you didn’t know you had a son.”
“That’s why Aria hates me.” Maybe “hate” is a little too strong a word at this point in time, but she doesn’t trust me.
“That’d be my guess.”
“Do you have any idea if she knows I’m the father?”
“None. Anna was fired from her job for soliciting sex with club patrons. You weren’t the only one.”
“But perhaps the only one whose condom broke.”
