Page 143 of Reckless Vow

“So, Lo told me the two of you are banging?” Paris says as we take seats in the living room.

Micah stirs in my arms but settles immediately. “Jesus, don’t be crass in front of your son.”

“Oh, come on, my days are spent with a newborn, diapers, breasts out of my bra… give me something juicy.”

“We’re together.” I don’t look at her, focusing on the tiny heartbeat against my chest. Hopefully, my thundering pulse won’t wake him up.

“Well, that’s unexpected and weird.”

“For fuck’s sake, Paris, we’re not blood related.”

“I know, but we grew up together. It would take a bit of getting used to that my sister and my brother… Is it serious?”

I sigh. “I think it would be, but we haven’t told Mom and Dad yet, so we’re kind of hanging in limbo.”

“What are you talking about? The depth of your commitment has nothing to do with the outside world.”

“Yeah, but it’s a hurdle.”

“If you make it one. Look, Finn and I faced all sorts of bullshit from his family, but we learned the hard way we can’t let that define our relationship.”

“Yes, but I’m glad I’m back with all of you. I don’t want to lose that.”

“Who says it’s one or the other? I mean, we’ll forever tease you about it, but that doesn’t mean we’re not happy for you.”

“I don’t think Dad would agree with that.”

“I think you need to give him more credit. Did you know Lo fake dated Dom to appease Dad?”

“Really? Now I can see how he even got the chance to tame her. But that’s exactly the problem. We’re all doing things to make sure Dad continues to have a happy life, for as long as possible.”

“Yes, but that might be our own way to deal with…” She sighs. “Being confronted with his mortality. I think at the end of the day, Dad just really wants to see us happy.”

I bury my face in the bald head of the sleeping baby.

Baldo makes me happy. And as much as I want to believe Paris, I wonder if that’s enough for Dad to accept us.

He refused to do that once before, after all.

Chapter37

Baldo

We’ve been in New York for a month, and we’re still hanging in some sort of suspended state. Growing closer every day, our relationship has found its own rhythm. I’m happy. Trying not to think about the fact that it’s only for the time being.

At least the inheritance issue has been resolved. Rupert has released the funds to Brook, and she’s disbursed some of it to different charitable organizations already.

I promoted some of my most reliable managers in Europe and Asia, and along with Chloe—who is still complaining about the distance—we’ve found ways to manage the business even with me here.

And still, the planner in me, the controlling bastard that I am, has been restless. Brook asked for patience, but fuck it’s hard.

She spends as much time with her dad as possible, but she hasn’t talked to him about us yet.

And so while my life feels like a smooth ride beside the woman I used to think I had lost forever, it’s only a question of time before things crumble.

Because we need to talk to our parents.

We don’t attend events, because I don’t want to pretend to be her brother for the fear of having our picture taken and Micah finding out.

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