Page 64 of Finding Their Place

“Shit.”

“Yeah. Talk about fucked up. I told him to tell her the truth about how he feels. Even planted a seed in his mind about the both of us loving on her. Not sure he got the hint or if he would ever consider sharing her with me if she forgave him for lying to her.”

“Keep your options open,” Blain suggested. “Don’t delete the app yet—just in case.”

His reminder of Missing Link turned my mind toward the other woman I’d met and the idea I’d had the night before.

“Hey…any chance you could get me Grey’s PI’s number?”

Blaine’s head whipped my way as he brushed crumbs off his lap.

Being the non-prying type, Blaine didn’t ask, but I explained to him what had gone down the weekend before. Finding out I had a twin sister, that we’d been separated as infants, and that my adoptive parents hadn’t ever shared that truth.

“Talk about fate fucking with you,” he muttered.

“I know, right?” I shook my head. “My sister and I are in touch with each other a lot—she wants to come visit me soon—but I…I’m not there yet. Without seeing her in person, I can kinda keep it from being real.” I shrugged, expecting that didn’t make sense to him. “There’s just so many unanswered questions.”

“You want Grey’s guy to find your birth parents?”

“Yeah. My sister didn’t bother with trying, but I realized I’m going to need it when I’m ready to move on.”

“I’ll send along your name and number. I’m sure he’d help you out. I…I don’t think he’s cheap though.”

“I don’t give a shit.” I pushed up to my feet, arching my back to stretch out.

“Do your adoptive parents know anything?”

My brow furrowed, lips thinning for a few seconds. “I confronted them about their betrayal, but I’m not ready to talk shit through. The grudge still feels good,” I admitted.

“It probably doesn’t to them.”

I scowled at Blaine as he stood and held out his hand. Giving him the trash, I forced my face to relax.

He was right—I was thinking selfishly, but who wouldn’t in my shoes?

Withholding the truth hadn’t done anything but hurt me in so many goddamn ways…

“Fuck.” I clenched my jaw while rolling my head to lessen the tension in my neck. I’d told Garrett to talk to Haley, lay it all out there to hopefully clear the air and make them both feel better.

I needed to take my own damn advice.

I ended up putting it off for two days as my guts churned over the confrontation. And I called rather than showing up since I couldn’t handle the thought of seeing Tina cry and Lionel consoling her while I stood on the outside of their emotional bond looking in.

“Tell me everything,” I demanded with a tight voice the second Tina breathed my name as a hello.

Her inhale came over clear through the line. “Let me put you on speaker.”

The cell clicked, and muffled noises rose in my ear.

I’d showered and settled in for the night—after devouring some frozen lasagna. Perched on the edge of the couch, I waited, my stomach in knots and shoulders up near my ears. My shallow breaths sounded loud in the stillness around me, reminding me how alone I was. Lost and needing answers—assurance of who I was and where I’d come from.

“Wyatt,” Lionel greeted me.

I inhaled deeply, hoping to calm my racing heart. “You knew I had a twin,” I said, ignoring his greeting, too desperate for small talk. “What else have you kept from me?”

“Not much at all,” he said, and I could imagine him entwining his fingers with Tina’s. My throat tightened. “We never met your birth mother. Everything was done through the adoption agency.”

“Why did you tear us apart?” My voice waivered. “Why not adopt both me and River?”

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