“Of course.” I take a slow sip of my drink. “Are the twins yours?”
Jason stares at me. “What?”
“Perry’s twins,” I repeat evenly. “Are you the father?”
His expression shifts from confusion to incredulity. “No,” he says flatly. “Absolutely not.”
I hold his gaze. Rarely have I ever been able to tell when Jason was lying. Now is no exception.
His posture hunches slightly. “I did the math. Faith and I were engaged by the time Perry would’ve conceived, so they’re not mine.”
I don’t respond. Just because he was engaged doesn’t mean they aren’t his.
He leans back in his chair, defensive now. “Why would you even think that?”
Because you have a wandering eye. Because your history does not inspire confidence.But I don’t say that. Not yet. “Best to know all the players in the game, don’t you think?”
Jason exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “You really think I’d knock up my ex while I’m engaged?”
“I’m not accusing,” I say calmly. “I’m clarifying.”
“There’s nothing to clarify,” he replies. “It’s not possible.”
“Walk me through it.”
He rolls his eyes. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
He leans back, jaw tightening. “The last time Perry and I slept together was August.”
“And?”
“And it’s October, and the twins are a month old. So, they were conceived in the winter. December or January. Faith and I were already together by then.”
Already togetherdoes not mean exclusive.
“And you have been faithful to Faith,” I say evenly.
“Yes,” he snaps.
I meet his gaze. “You don’t have a strong record in that area.”
His expression hardens. “That’s not fair.”
“Fairness is not my concern on the matter. Accuracy is.”
He looks away first. A tell he’s had since he was a teenager. “I messed up before,” he says defensively. “That doesn’t mean I always do.”
“That’s true. But you also have a history of dishonesty regarding your fidelity, Jason. Forgive me for judging you on your own behavior.”
He leans forward now, elbows on the table. “You think I’d lie to you about something like that?”
I consider the question honestly. “You have before. Why not now?”
He recoils slightly. “Wow.”
“You’re very good at telling people what they want to hear,” I continue. “It’s a skill. You inherited it.”
