Page 29 of Let’s Be Real

“Before you ask, I don’t know why I allow it. She doesn’t like me. She never has. You’d think I’d give up on her, right? You’d think I’d tell her where she can stick it. But I…I don’t know, Nate.”

She picked up the bowl of ice cream and brownie, cradling it like a precious baby, and scooped a large spoonful into her mouth.

“I wasn’t going to ask that.” I half smiled at her stuffing herself with ice cream. “I’m more curious about how she couldn’t like you. Beyond being her daughter, you’re a very likable person.”

She froze for a long beat, the spoon in her mouth. When she moved again, it was in increments. First, her nose twitched. Then, her eyes began fluttering, followed by her throat bobbing as she swallowed.

“You think I’m likable?”

“Of course I do.”

“Thanks. That’s very nice to hear,” she rasped before taking a deep breath. “She doesn’t like me because I’m the product of my father’s infidelity and she was forced to raise me as her own.”

It took all my self-control not to let my jaw drop. “That’s…uh—”

“Very scandalous, I know. My dad knocked up Tara Ann Mayfield when he was away at a conference in Vegas. She was a stripper. He was a businessman with too much money and not enough sense to wear a condom. When I was three, she’d finally tracked him down and showed up on his doorstep with me, demanding money or she’d tell his wife. He called her bluff, sent her away with a lump sum, and kept me. Not particularly because he wanted me, more because he didn’t want to have to keep paying Tara for the rest of his life.”

I needed Rome. Or Adrian. Even Ben would have done. I didn’t know what to say. Or how to react.

I shook my head. “How do you…why do you know all that?”

She tapped her temple. “I’m a genius, Nate. When I was fifteen, I flew myself out to Vegas to reunite with my mother, thinking she must have missed me desperately. That was when Tara Ann informed me she’d never wanted kids and giving me up to the Blackwells had been the best day of her life. Then she said unless I had more money for her, I’d better skedaddle my way back to Colorado or she’d call the cops.”

“Samantha…” I murmured, “I’m so damn sorry.”

She shrugged. “It was a long time ago, and I was lucky Ade was waiting for me when I got back. I don’t think I left his bed for a week, and he took care of me. So, you see, it was okay. My family didn’t want me, but my best friend did. He might be stubborn and emotionally walled off, but he made sure I understood I’d never be rid of him. He made it better.”

“Good. I’m glad.” I blew out a breath, dragging my fingers through my hair. “Do your siblings know?”

“That I’m their half sister? Yes. I don’t know when they found out, but they did. I’ve never been close to either of them. My mom treated us so differently—it was impossible, you know? I don’t really blame her, though. I mean, forced to raise my husband’s affair baby? I wouldn’t be too thrilled either.”

“None of which was your fault.”

“I know. I know how I’ve been treated isn’t fair—how I’m still treated. But my mom is human, and her feelings aren’t logical.” She set her bowl down on the nightstand and sighed. “I don’t spend a lot of time with them, but they’re the only family I have. If I severed those ties, then what?”

She’d have Adrian, who loved her more than all those people combined. But she knew that and was still seeking a connection with them.

Maybe she was right. Feelings weren’t logical.

After all, I hadn’t blocked my mother. Unanswered texts still sat on my phone when logic said I should have deleted them and moved on.

I reached for her hand again, running my thumb across her knuckles. When she didn’t pull away, I pushed her sleeve up, gently stroking the angry skin around her wrist.

“She might be human, but she’s not going to do anything like this to you again. Not when I’m around.” I touched her chin, making sure she heard me. “Got it?”

Her warm breath feathered over my fingers. “Got it, Nate.”

I didn’t know where this protectiveness was coming from, but it didn’t matter. The only person standing between Samantha and more pain was me, and I wasn’t allowing a single strand of hair on her head to be hurt again.

Chapter Eleven

Nate

I’d turned the lights off, thinking it would be another long, sleepless night. No way would I fall asleep in a strange room while sharing a mattress with Samantha. She’d slipped into sleep so easily I’d been in awe. I remembered listening to the steady sound of her breathing.

Then nothing.

Needless to say, when my eyes snapped open, I was disoriented by the faint sounds of birds chirping and the warm weight plastered to my side and chest.