Damn. He’s good.
“Name?” he repeats with a sharpness I swear could cut me.
Refusing to cower, I choke out, “Virgil. Virgil Reeves.”
“Reeves?” His brows pinch until recognition slips over his handsome features. “The old guy?”
My head bobs.
“Is he your dad or grandpa?”
“Sperm donor,” I clarify.
Understanding sparks as he reads between the lines of everything I’mnotsaying. “I have one of those.”
Those. As in, an individual genetically connected to you but not personally, and they sure as hell haven’t earned any familial titles such as father or daddy. Not even close.
“Don’t we all,” I grumble.
With a single nod, he squeezes the back of his neck. “Yeah, it’s a bitch.”
“It really is,” I agree.
“Unfortunately, I can’t help you.”
I pull back, surprised by the way he says it. So blunt yet casual, like he didn’t just wreck my world. “Why not?” I ask.
“All bets are final.”
“Final?” I squeak. My vision blurs. “But I thought…”
“That because I also have a sperm donor I’d have a soft spot for you?” he finishes for me, not even bothering to hide his lack of empathy. “You’re from The Drift, right?” He doesn’t wait for my reply. “If I had a nickel for every sob story I heard from The Drift, I’d be a billionaire.” He smirks. “Oh, wait. I already am.” Something grabs his attention behind me. “Now, if you’ll excuse me?—”
“You don’t understand,” I beg, desperate to keep him from ending the conversation and getting away before hearing me out. “He usedmymoney. It wasn’t his?—”
“Like I said, all bets are final.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t his money?—”
“Not my problem.”
My nostrils flare. “I understand it isn’t your problem, but?—”
“But it wasn’t his money,” he repeats, tossing my own words back at me.
“Exactly.”
He hesitates, giving me another once-over. “Sounds like he’s a bitch.”
A laugh escapes me, and I fight to control the hope swelling inside of me now that he’s finally giving me the time of day. “You have no idea.”
“Yeah, it’s a shame.” He sighs again. This time it feels less annoyed and more…genuine, almost. “You’ll have to use a bank next time so he can’t access your shit.”
I blanch. “What?”
“No refunds, remember?” He gives a half-assed shrug. “But enjoy the party, yeah? Maybe eat something. You’re skin and bones.” He pats my shoulder, then turns back to his curvy conquest. “Now, where were we?” The asshole dives back in for another kiss, leaving me speechless.
Seriously?
