Page 46 of Consummation

“So I’m told.”

Jonas stands upright from the table and assesses me for a long beat. “You’re gonna be a fantastic father.”

My cheeks feel hot all of a sudden. “You really think so?”

“Iknowso. You were born to be a father, Josh—more than anyone I know. It’s in your DNA—you got it from Mom. You take care of people—it’s who you are—who you’ve always been.”

“Wow. Thank you.”

“It’s the God’s truth. That’s one lucky kid.”

I bite my lip. “Thanks, Jonas.”

Jonas leans over the pool table again, assessing his next shot. “Can you even imagine what Dad would be saying right now? ‘I’ll disown you faster than that gold-digger can demand a paternity test!’”

“Dude, stop, please. I don’t have to imagine it—I’ve been hearing Dad’s voice screaming in my ear since Kat dropped the baby-bomb on me.”

Jonas calls his next shot and sinks it with ease.

“Mr. Faraday?”

I look toward the door. It’s the violinist Theresa hired for me, a petite Asian woman in a black dress.

“The cellist and I are all set up in the dining room,” the woman says. “Do you want us to stay hidden in the kitchen until your signal, or... how do you wanna play this?”

I look at my watch. Kat should be here in just under thirty minutes. “I think you should start playing the minute my girlfriend walks through the front door—you know, set the mood right away that this is gonna be a magical night for her.”

“Okay, great,” the violinist says. “We’ll just stand in position and wait for your signal, then.”

“Why don’t you start playing the minute the doorbell rings? That can be your signal.”

“Perfect. Oh, and the chef wanted me to tell you he’s all ready, too. He has a few questions.”

“Great. Will you tell him I’ll be right out? I’m about to get my ass whooped. Shouldn’t take too long.”

She chuckles and leaves.

“Wow, you’re really going balls to the wall here,” Jonas says. “Flowers. Candles. Chef. Violin. Cello. I gotta get everyone’s contact info from you—Sarah would go nuts for something like this.”

“Email T-Rod and ask her for the info—she set everything up for me.”

Jonas leans down and lines up his next shot. “Well, yeah, I figured.”

“She just gouged me for a forty percent raise, by the way. The woman’s a shark.”

“She deserves every penny.”

I laugh. “True.”

“Oh, which reminds me—thanks for the bottle of champagne and fruit basket you sent to Sarah and me in Mykonos to congratulate us on our engagement. So thoughtful of you.”

We both burst out laughing.

“You’re so welcome,” I say. “It was the least I could do.”

“I ought to chip in for half of Theresa’s raise. Half the shit you do for me is probably her.”

“I’m not gonna dignify that with a response,” I say, though he’s one hundred percent right.

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