Page 26 of Hot Damn
“Oh. I guess they might want to know that. But that’s not something to worry about. There are plenty of teenage pregnancies.”
“Yes, but not many fathers take responsibility for raising those children.”
“But my mom died. She couldn’t raise me.”
My insides clench when she talks about her mother. All I’ve ever told Whit is her mother died before she was two. Which is true. The way she died has never come up and I’ve waited years for Whit to voice the question. Except she never has.
“Don’t worry so much. There’s nothing there to drag up. I researched that reporter too.”
“And when did you do your schoolwork?”
With another eye roll, she says, “I did that as well. But I wanted to know who he was. He’s not a very good journalist. More of a gossip collector.”
“Yeah, well, at the moment anything out of the normal concerning the Rogues is good fodder.”
“It’ll be fine now we’ve done that interview.”
I hope so. With everything in me, I hope no one questions where Whit’s mother is. How I came to be a single father at sixteen. Why the woman who birthed the best thing in my life never held her, never saw her. Never wanted her.
Or why the mother’s name listed on Whit’s birth certificate is a fake one.
Cami
Pulling my ringing phone from my bag I look at the number on the screen and frown. There’s no name so it’s not in my contacts and with Dad’s warning about my biological mother possibly seeing me and trying to make contact, I’m unsure if I should answer.
Except this isn’t the first time I’ve received a call from an unknown number this week. Since the interviews started going live each night I’ve fielded numerous calls about rights to air them and job offers. And honestly, I’m tired.
It’s late in the afternoon and I’ve been on the go since before the sun came up but in spite of my urge to ignore it, I swipe to answer and put the phone to my ear.
“Hello.”
“Is this Cami Nelson?”
“Yes, who’s this?”
“Hi, Ms. Nelson. My name is William Dalton and I’m principal of Hannon Grove high school. I’ve got Whitney Higgison in my office. Her father isn’t answering his phone, and she assures me you’re able to come collect her.”
“Of course, but why. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing too bad. Her car has a couple of flat tires and only one spare.”
“Oh. Okay.” I glance at my watch. “You’re on Barker, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“I’m downtown, at the FNB building. It will take me about fifteen minutes to get there, is that okay?”
“Yes. I’ll be here until after six. And she’s happy to wait in my office.”
“I’ll be as fast as I can.”
“See you when you get here.”
Hanging up, I drop the phone back in my bag as I snap my laptop shut. I have no idea why Whitney chose to call me or how she got my number, but I do know most of the Rogues are out of town at an away game. And that thought brings up another one.
Who is Whitney staying with while her father is away?
From everything I know about Beckett, he wouldn’t leave her at home alone even if she’s almost an adult. Especially after the few instances of photographers hanging around outside the arena and her school.
