Page 54 of Love is a Game

Mom’s mouth quirks slightly. “And if the ‘right guy’ doesn’t appear? Should she just let the opportunity pass her by?”

“She’s got time.”

Mom lets out a quiet sigh. “Tuck, her mother just passed away at fifty-five. That’s young. You don’t think that shifts Penelope’s perspective on things? And women’s fertility isn’t the same as men’s. It starts declining in the early thirties, significantly more so after thirty-six. A man can theoretically father children well into old age. A woman doesn’t have that luxury.”

I shift uncomfortably in my seat. “But still, it’s not something you just decide overnight.”

Mom raises an eyebrow. “And you think it happens overnight? Do you know how long your father and I tried to conceive you?”

I wave my hand, grimacing. “TMI, Mom. I don’t need to think about you and Dad…you know.”

Mom coughs on her mouthful of wine. “And perhaps I don’t need to think about your sex life either, Tuck. But it’s pretty hard to ignore what goes on between you and Penelope whenever you’re together.”

I jolt upright. “Wait. What?”

She’s laughing now, fully enjoying herself. “Oh, I’m sorry, did you think you were being discreet?”

“Well…yeah.”

“Oh, Tuck.” She shakes her head, still amused. “You and Penelope have always had a special connection. But I’ve wondered, from time to time, how healthy it is. Tell me, is Penelope the reason it’s over between you and Stella?”

And there it is, the conversation I’d rather not have with my mother. But I’ve already blurted out too much, and there’s no walking it back now.

I shrug.

“Use your words, Tuck,” Mom says dryly.

“I don’t know. Yes. According to Stella, I’m in love with Penelope.”

Mom sighs. “Oh, dear. Poor Stella. She never really had a chance, did she?”

“I didn’t set out to hurt her. And I didn’t cheat on her.”

“There’s more than one way to be unfaithful, Tuck. If your heart belongs to someone else, you can hardly give it to another woman.”

“I didn’t say I’m in love with Pen, that’s just Stella’s theory.”

Mom tilts her head. “And yet, the moment Caitlyn died, you dropped everything to be here for her. You, who always puts business before personal relationships. You have a history with Penelope that no one else does. You’ve rearranged your life for her, you’re sleeping with her, and now you’re completely thrown by her decision to have a baby.Why?”

I stare into the darkening sky, exhaling. “It’s just…unexpected. Pen’s always been a free spirit. And now she’s talking about kids? Since when? With who? What kind of guy is she even looking for?”

“As we established, she may not be looking for a relationship with whoever fathers the child.” Mom’s voice softens. “When a woman chooses a sperm donor, it usually comes down to clear attributes. Health, genetics, academic achievements, physical appearance, ethnicity.”

I shake my head. “That’s no way to choose a partner.”

“Are we talking about a partner or a sperm donor, Tuck?” Mom asks, watching me carefully. “Because if Penelope’s looking for someone to actuallyco-parent, then it’s about something else entirely. Reliability. Security. Compatibility.Love. And whether that love can be sustained through the challenges of parenthood and living together.”

“Basically,” I murmur, “a marriage.”

Mom catches my eye, starts to speak, then hesitates as Dad appears.

He tugs off his apron. “Do we know if Penelope’s joining us for dinner?”

Mom and I exchange a look.

“No,” I answer, shaking my head. “She’s out with Misha somewhere.”

“Then let’s eat!” Dad claps his hands and hustles us inside.

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