I nodded. “I’m sorry you didn’t hear straight from me.”
She squeezed my hands again. “Cariño, you don’t have to share everything with me. It’s fine to confide in your sisters and friends before your mom.”
I relaxed a touch. Violet always knew the right thing to say. Since the moment I’d met her and overheard her calling my dad “Nessie,” because he was legendary and Scottish like the Loch Ness monster, I was charmed. She’d had tattoos, pink-streaked hair, and a punk-rock aesthetic, and not long after, saved my life owing to an unfortunate allergic reaction to a nut-tinged brownie. The half-Puerto Rican, youngest daughter of maverick Rebels owner Clifford Chase, she had bonded with her sisters later in life. More than anyone I knew, Violet understood what it meant to be on the outside, looking in.
“Do you think I’m crazy to do it this way?”
“Not at all. There are so many paths to parenthood—IVF, surrogacy, single parent, adoption, the old-fashioned way—that no one should dream of judging you for how you go about it. Hell, I carried a baby for my best friends, and your father was all in.” Violet had been the surrogate for Cade Burnett and Dante Moretti, Rosie’s dads, and was Rosie’s biological mom. “I know you’ve seen Cat with the twins and wondered why not you? If there’s no guy in the frame, then who cares how you do this? And it’s not as if any child you have would be lacking for family. Look at all the people who love you, Franky. They’re going to love your kid, too.”
I felt my throat thicken with emotion. I wasn’t a sentimental person, but when Violet got like this, I was reminded that maybe I wasn’t the logic-bound robot people viewed me as.
“Well, there might not be a kid to love if I can’t find the right donor. It’s more challenging than I thought.”
“Figuring out the right person?”
“That, and asking them in a way that doesn’t sound weird.” I updated her on how it went with Sean.
“He probably could have led with the ‘I’m dating someone’ response.”
“Maybe. But I didn’t really give him a chance to explain. I was too upset, so I blasted out of there. And he doesn’t make it any better.”
“Sean?”
“His brother.” At her baffled look, I went on. “Lately Jason Isner seems to be everywhere. With opinions.”
“Well, he’s a Kershaw, and Rosie is close to them, so you’re probably going to run into him more now that he’s in Chicago. Everyone’s so excited that he’s joining the team. Usually I don’t give a flying F about hockey?—”
“But it pays the bills.”
Violet smirked. “Sure does. But I’m excited that Jason’s here. He’s going to bring a solidity to the team that will be useful to this group of youngsters.”
I supposed he had enough experience that he might be considered a leader-type, someone who could be a good influence. But then there was that cruel streak of his … Jason Isner was an expert at playing the good ole boy, friend to all. No one suspected his dark side. I had the receipts.
“As long as he keeps out of my business, then he can be as solid as he likes.”
“What? Has he said something?”
I waved it off. “He’s just protective of Sean. Thinks I’m taking advantage by asking him.”
Before we could get into it, I moved the conversation to a discussion of my cousin Giselle’s recent engagement. There was always someone more interesting to talk about in the Rebels family.
Chapter Eight
Jason
* * *
Me
Where are you now?
Hatch
Split
Me
Charming
