Dan wasn’t smiling now. The words were chosen to hit home, and they did.
“You don’t know shit all about how I grew up,” Jay snapped back, losing his cool, something he never did.
“Why don’t you tell me, then… finally.”
“You know some.”
“I know you never talk about your worthless parents. Then there’s your aunt you were shipped to live with, and I rememberhow no one ever went to your house. No one was close to or knew your aunt well either. Those that did said she was a bitch.”
“Dan—”
“Was she your mother’s sister?|”
He could nod to that.
“And?”
Something inside him flipped then. It was fast and fierce, and Jay embraced the wash of heat as it traveled through his veins as he thought about the uncertainty with Blue and the fact that he had a half sister called Hazel. Suddenly the control he’d been holding too tight snapped.
Jay stood and braced his hands on the desk. “My father used to drink and hit us, and my mother was a drug addict who paid for her addiction with sex. Sex that happened in the room next to mine. Then, when child services decided she wasn’t a good mother, I was sent to live with her sister, who hated her and transferred that hate to me, and basically only took me in for the money she got.” The words came out growled. “Happy now you know it all?”
He dropped back down in his seat, suddenly exhausted. Fucking emotions. This was why he’d always avoided them.
“I’m sure I don’t know it all, and I’m certainly not happy you suffered in any way, because you’re one of the people I love, but I’m pleased you are finally opening up to me,” Dan said calmly.
“Typical Duke, pulling out the love card,” Jay said, sounding disgusted, even though inside, he had that warm feeling again.
“You are my brother in every way. We just don’t share the same blood.”
Which was part of his problem, Jay thought. Now that he knew there was someone out there who he had a blood connection with, it was driving him crazy. For so long, it had just been her—his egg donor. But no longer.
They drank their coffee in silence for a few minutes while Jay calmed down and Dan formed his next set of questions. Jay knew this man better than he knew anyone, and he wouldn’t give up now that he had an opening.
“So is your mom still alive?”
“Yes, I believe so.”
“When did you last speak to her?” Dan asked.
“It was just before I came here.”
Dan whistled. “I’m adding her to my list.”
“The people you hate list?”
Dan nodded.
“I’d be grateful,” Jay added.
“Now, about Blue. What’s the deal with you two?”
“We’re having a baby, Dan,” Jay drawled.
“Got that part and the fact that you did the horizontal thing in New York.”
“Sex,” Jay said.
“Right, that. So what now for you two? Because from where I’m sitting, across from you, I think you may be a bit gone for that girl, and I believe she feels the same.”
