Page 51 of Wrecked

“Where did you grow up?”

The question was so left-field, it took him a moment to formulate an answer.

“West Texas,” Crow said.

“I did detect a hint of an accent.”

“We were transplanted there from Oregon as kids.”

“We?”

“Me, my brother, and sisters. Dad was in the military, he got stationed out there so he packed us up and we lived in Army housing.”

“And your mom?”

“Yes, my mom too. Well, she’s technically my stepmom, but she’s the only mother I’ve known.”

“You lost your real mom?”

“She was killed by a drunk driver when I was three, so I don’t remember her much.”

“Are your sisters and brother stepsiblings then?” Rebel’s head tipped, curiously.

“I have a sister from my mother and the other two are from my stepmom and dad.”

“So y’all lived in Texas,” Rebel drawled and damned it was cute as fuck.

“Mhmm,” Crow said, not fighting his own smile.

“And you went into the military because of your dad?”

“No, not really. I went to college and got a degree and then I joined the Army at twenty-two.”

“How long did you stay in?”

“Seven years, then joined Genesis.”

“So, you’re twenty-nine?” Crow grunted.

“No, thirty, way too old for you.”

“Twelve-year gap,” Rebel agreed, and Crow wondered if the man had suddenly realized what he already knew. He was a hell of a lot older than Rebel.

So maybe wanting something more wasn’t the way to go. Maybe Rebel’s idea of just for the moment made more sense.

Crow suddenly realized this was a huge fucking mistake.

Rebel pulled his wet fingers at his bottom lip. It was a nervous habit that Crow had started to notice the more time they spent together.

Regret filled his gut, and he got ready to put separation between them.

This needed to end now.

“I wish I knew who my parents were.”

The man’s voice was raspy and hoarse and the words took Crow by surprise. But he had the answer, and he would do anything in his power to help Rebel find his real parents.

“Genesis can find out,” Crow said. “They find people for a living.”

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