Page 42 of Turmoil's Target

“Not much to tell, really,” I murmur. “Just your typical uninteresting guy, I guess. Work, go for a ride in the Stang, repeat.” I flash her a grin, hoping to charm my way out of any deeper probing.

But Sera is relentless. “What about your family? Are you close with them? I know from last night you’re not close with your father.”

An image of my old man flashes through my mind.

The scowl that never seems to leave his grizzled face.

The perpetual disappointment in his eyes when he looks at me.

I shove a forkful of eggs in my mouth, swallowing past the sudden tightness in my throat. “I have a mother and two little sisters. My relationship is better with them, but I hardly ever get to see them. They live in California.”

Sera’s face softens with sympathy. “I’m so sorry, Abe. That must be really tough to be so far away from them.”

She reaches out to lay her hand over mine, her touch gentle and soothing.

I have to resist the urge to turn my palm up and lace our fingers together.

“What about you?” I ask gruffly, desperate to shift the focus off my own messed up family dynamic. “You close with your folks?”

Sure, I already know everything I need to, but she doesn’t know that.

Something flickers in Sera’s eyes and her hand withdraws.

For a moment I think I’ve overstepped, but then she sighs. “My mum and I are quite close, yes. She’s an incredible woman. Strong, brilliant, determined. I admire her more than anyone.”

Pride suffuses her voice and I can’t help but feel a pang of envy.

I wonder what it could be like to think of my father in that manner.

I prod gently. “And your dad?”

Sera’s smile fades and she drops her gaze to her plate. “He passed away. When I was very young.”

“Shit, Sera. I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right.” She waves off my condolences, but the brightness has dimmed from her eyes. “It was a long time ago.”

An awkward beat passes as we both poke at our food.

I scramble for something to say, hating the sudden sadness that hangs between us.

But then Sera clears her throat and when she looks up at me again, her expression is clear and calm. “Anyway. My grandfather helped my mum a lot after that. He’s a good man. They’re both quite well off, and they’ve made sure I want for nothing. I’m very fortunate, really.”

I nod, a little thrown by the abrupt switch in gears. “That’s great that you have that kind of support system.”

And I mean it.

Even if a small, shameful part of me resents her a little for it.

Still, hearing Sera open up like that, letting me in even just a little bit—it settles something in my chest.

Makes me feel like this is real, despite the reason I’m here in the first place.

It almost makes me feel like maybe there’s a chance for something true between us after all, but it wouldn’t be possible.

I have to keep reminding myself she’s a means to an end.

She can’t be anything more.

---