Page 136 of Twisted Collide

“Of course. Sherry, do you mind?”

“Go ahead, guys. I’ll clean up.” She picks up a plate from the table. “Josie?”

“Yeah?”

“It was great having you tonight.”

My nose tingles at her words, and I know without a doubt that if I let myself, tears would leak from my eyes. I don’t allow them, though. I need my strength right now.

“Thanks,” I squeak and then turn to look at where my father is going. We walk down a long hall that dead ends into a pair of pretty mahogany French doors. His arm reaches out, and he opens it for us, motioning for me to step inside.

When the door is shut, I stand still at first, then start to pace.

This is weird.

Awkward.

Do I just blurt it out? Maybe lead up to it . . .

Fuck it. I’m tired of overthinking my entire existence.

“When did you find out about me?”

Robert scratches the back of his neck. He looks as uncomfortable as I feel.

He gestures to the couch. “Sit.”

Then he takes a seat in the leather wingback. “As crazy as it sounds, not until we made it to the finals this year, but when did I find out you were actually my daughter? After you moved here.”

My pulse races as my heart rate accelerates and threatens to beat out of my chest.

Was it my mom?

Is she the reason I never had a father in my life? Did she keep him from me? Heat spreads across my face.

With my hands on my lap, I clench them into fists until the nails bite into the skin on my palm. Pain radiates through me, but it’s nothing compared to the pain I feel in my heart.

I’ll never be able to forgive her if she did this.

Wait, what did he say?

He let me move in with him before he knew I was officially his?

“What exactly happened?”

“I guess with all the hype of the playoffs, my picture wasshown on TV, and while I look older, I haven’t changed much in twenty-two years. Your mom reached out to me. I’m still not sure how she got in touch, but she did. We didn’t really know each other.” He bites his lip, the implication pretty damn obvious. I’m the product of a one-night stand. “The thing is, I didn’t remember her at first, and then when I did—”

“You didn’t believe her?”

He nods.

“I can understand. The timing is sus.”

“Yeah, a little. I asked your mother to have you take a DNA test.”

As much as it hurts that he didn’t believe her, I can’t imagine how I would feel if I were in his position. Especially since he coaches a professional hockey team. For all he knew, my mom was some gold digger looking for an easy payday.

“Makes sense.”

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