He’s already shaking his head. “Once. That night. I never saw her again after that night. She never tried to contact me. My parents lived there for several years after I left for college. She could’ve tried.” He shakes his head as one tear rushes down his cheek. He brushes it away. “Why didn’t she try?”
The question seems rhetorical, so I don’t answer.
“Mr. Ross—Jason. Maybe it’s not what you think. You don’t know. Yes, the timing is right, but everything else is just Lifetime movie-level coincidence.” His smile looks so sad I almost feel bad for the guy. I truly don’t know what I think or feel except a little numb and detached.
“Only one way to find out. Would you be willing to take a paternity test with me? But Julian?” I raise my brows in answer, so he continues. “I know. You look just like my father. We both do.”
“People said I looked like her, but I don’t look anything like Todd.”
“And your natural athleticism? Even though you never played sports.” One corner of his mouth lifts, showcasing a dimple. One just like mine.
I think back to how much I loved hanging with Hal on the Little League field. Again, a weird coincidence. Genetics don’t predispose you to be drawn to locations, activities, right?
“Yeah, I’ll take the test. How long does it take to get results?”
“I think we’ll pay to put a rush on it.” The half smile and dimple again.
Chapter 39
Everly
My husband is the son of a major league baseball hall of famer, not a trailer park abusive degenerate. It’s wild but honestly tracks. Way more than the guy I met at gunpoint at a small-town carnival. His mom may have even tried to name him after who she thought or suspected his real father was—though we may never know. I don’t know if he’ll ever see her again to ask. Maybe he doesn’t need to. Jason “Jase” Ross, retired Angels legend and head coach of their minor league team, the Sun Rays, is more than willing to share his family with Julian and tries to almost daily. He keeps inviting him to things, including him. Julian has yet to fully embrace his newfamily, but I can tell he’s warming up to the idea.
Thanksgiving may have been the turning point. I asked all our friends to come to our house the week before for Friendsgiving, since everyone would likely have family plans for the actual holiday. Once they all left and it was just the two of us—Allie and Ashley flew back east to see some of Luke’s extended family—he brought it up on his own.
“Jase wants us to come over tomorrow. Meet the whole family.”
I set my pen down on the notebook I was brainstorming in and turn to face him as he sits next to me on the couch. “The whole family, huh?”
“Yep. His wife, Shanna, their three kids, maybe his parents. It’s a lot.” His elbows rest loosely on his knees, belying the tension I know courses through him.
“What’s your gut tell you?” Even though I’m watching him closely, I yelp when he snags me off my seat and pulls me into his lap.
“To stay here with my hot wife. Naked.”
I straddle his lap, curling my fingers around the nape of his neck as he presses his face between my breasts. I let his breath warm the skin through my shirt and close my eyes, scraping my fingernails along his scalp until he moans. “Mmm.”
“Or”—I pull back to look at him, my eyes flickering between his—“we could stop by with a set time to leave and then come home and get naked.”
“What’s our excuse to leave? I’m guessing you’re not suggesting we tell them we have plans to get naked.”
“Yeah, what’s our excuse? It’s gotta be a good one and I don’t want to lie.”
“Me either.”
“Ooh, I know. The crisis center I interned at freshman year does a meal thing every Thanksgiving. We need to help.”
His eyebrows pinch together, making an eleven between them.
“No, I’m serious. They always need help. If we’re having a good time, we don’t have to leave.”
“Okay, I’m in. I love that.” He kisses me soundly, picks me up off his lap and sets me back down where he snagged me from. It’s still so damn hot that my man so effortlessly lifts me. He stands, rubbing his hands along his pecs restlessly. “I’m going to dip into the studio, grab a workout.”
“Want company?” I close my notebook, preparing to join him.
“No, if you have work to do, go ahead.” He waves a hand at me and turns to leave.
“Husband?”
