The pieces fell into place in my mind. Lindy Doshi. She’d had supporting roles in several big films over the past few years.

I grinned. “I loved you in that movie with Cole Hamilton and Peter Erickson. You were amazing.” Cole and Peter had played gay lovers in the bittersweet film. Peter had won the Academy Award for that little movie.

Lindy’s dark-brown eyes flashed gratitude. “Yeah, that was a great film.”

Ten minutes later we had five autographs secured from each woman—one for each of my nephews plus one for myself and one for Johnnie.

Julie and Lindy promised to watch the next rugby match, but I certainly wasn’t going to hold them to it.

They resettled, and I eyed my watery ginger ale.

“I still saybullshit.” Johnnie met my gaze with flinty blue eyes.

I blinked. And tried to replay our previous conversation in my mind. “Fostering and adopting is harder for single people—especially gay, single men.”

“I don’t think you want it enough.” He downed the last of his whisky and shot a look over his shoulder.

The adorable bartender grinned and nodded.

Less than a minute later, another whisky appeared.

Johnnie grinned. “He’s a fan.”

“Ah.”

“I still pay for my drinks.”

“Julie Reyes just paid for hers. If she doesn’t get comped, I didn’t figure you would.”

Johnnie laughed. “Some people are more into sports than movie stars.”

“Have youseenJulie Reyes?” I might be gay, but I knew drop-dead gorgeous when I saw it. And she’d been really sweet, giving us all those autographs. We’d certainly tried to give her a graceful way out, but she’d insisted that anyone who shoutedbullshitand played rugby deserved something.

My companion had blushed.

We’d accepted the autographs. Meyer wouldn’t care, but both Roland and Kolson were hugeVJfans—never missing an episode. Roland was a little young to understand thewill they or won’t theysexual tension between Cole and Julie’s characters, but Kolson understood. He’d made a couple of comments about bisexual Cole’s appearance that had hit my radar. I’d made certain, with Jamilla’s knowledge, that Kolson and I had a conversation about it being okay to like boys, girls, enbies, or all of the above.

He'd rolled his eyes.

I vowed to pay better attention.

“I’ve seen Julie Reyes.” He glanced toward the door she’d just disappeared out of. “I’ve also seen you.” He turned his attention back to me. “You want kids. Why not make it happen?”

Chapter Ten

Johnnie

Stupid.

I wasn’t supposed to call myself stupid. If I caught any of my teammates referring to themselves as stupid, I would’ve knocked them upside the head.

Butstupidwas the only word I could come up with.

I’d hurt Yardley. I hadn’t intended to do that…but I had.

Just…he so clearly wanted kids. My heart had broken for him. Much as it did every time I studied the ultrasound of my daughter, taken just a couple of weeks before she died.

I tucked the envelope back at the bottom of the junk drawer, then tossed my jacket on the couch.