Page 68 of UnScripted

“The one you were sucking face with when you thought no one was looking?”

“Yeah,” I mutter. “Devon. She’s been paying respects to both Dee and your father’s grave. Just about every damn day since she rolled into town.”

“How old is she?”

“Around thirty.”

“Christ.”

“I know.”

“We’ll need to do a DNA test on the down-low. I’ll get a sample from Dev.”

“Jesus, I’m getting flashbacks from when I thought Shanna could be my half-sister.”

“I know. Me too. We’ll use the same lab from last time and I’ll call you when the results come back.”

“Will do. I’ll send Smith down with my sample. Shanna… Colin’s passing is still too raw for her to come back to Springdale.”

“I understand. Be well, brotha.”

“You too.”

I replace the phone in the receiver with a click. Alone, I sit in the chair mourning a relationship that never got off the ground. The sun sets leaving me sitting in the dark where no one can see the sheen of tears in my eyes or the lump in my throat.

At half past seven, I finally get up, grab my leather cut, and leave closing the door quietly behind me. I don’t tell a soul I left. The only thing I need right now is the freedom of the open road and the cold wind whipping at my back. I’ll take a long ride down to the coast. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the ocean.

I text Federico that he’s in charge tonight and if Dev asks, to tell her I had club business.

The ride will clear my head and I’ll be able to get right, somehow, with a way to move forward.

---