“I’ve been in Vegas for thirteen years now? I’ve been at the bar nearly the entire time. Angel and Raleigh took over a few years ago.”
Silence fell between us again. I set my scotch on the desk so I wouldn’t be tempted to guzzle it. “Here,” I said, taking Hannah’s drink as she looked for somewhere to set it down. “I’m sorry, this isreallyawkward. I don’t know what to say.”
“I can start if you want. Since I ambushed you.”
“Sure,” I breathed, settling against the desk. “That works.”
“My mom’s name is?—”
“Erin,” I cut in, then lowered my voice. “You’re a carbon copy of her.”
Hannah rolled her eyes, but did so with a small smile. “Everyone says that. Except for?—”
“Your eyes.”
With a sheepish grin, Hannah dropped her gaze to her lap and a heavy silence fell between us. I spun my glass of scotch around on the desk. I heard the sound of a clock ticking somewhere in the room.
“I took a DNA test.”
I shook my head in an attempt to clear it. “Huh?”
Hannah picked at the black nail polish on her fingers. Erin had the same nervous habit. “I took a DNA test,” she repeated. “Last year, I saw my birth certificate for the first time. My dad—well, the man who raised me—his name wasn’t on it. It was blank. Mom said it was a mistake, but something didn’t feel right. I ordered a kit online, swabbed his toothbrush when he was sleeping, and sent it in.”
I leaned against the desk, dropping my head in my hands with a laugh. “God, youareErin’s daughter.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re too smart for your own good,” I said. Hannahblushed and looked at her lap again. “I’m guessing she wasn’t too happy when she found out.”
“Technically, I’m still grounded.”
“Ugh.” I let myself take a sip of my scotch. “How did you get here?”
“Kian and I flew.”
I had a seventeen-year-old daughter. One who was old enough to wear makeup and have a boyfriend. At least she could still be grounded. That was kidlike.
“I meant how did you come up with the money for that?” Something like this had to take planning, months of it.
“I’ve worked part time for a couple years. I had some money saved up. I sent it to Kian, and he bought the tickets.”
“Where do your parents think you are?”
“A debate club competition,” she said shyly.
I grabbed my drink and plopped down in the chair next to her. “You need to call them.”
“I know.” She sighed. “They’ll just make me go home, and I have questions.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, so do I.”
Hannah released a breath, and with it some of the tension in her body. She sunk into the seat and curled her legs underneath her. “You didn’t know.”
“Hence, the scotch.” I raised the glass. “I’m not drinking because I don’t want to see you, you know. I’m drinking because I’m in shock.”
Her eyes twinkled. “Solid parenting.” Before I could respond, she asked, “How long has it been since you’ve seen her?”
“You’re seventeen, right?” She answered with a nod. “Seventeen years and about nine months, then.”
