“Sophie’s mom came from money. A lot of money. Her parents wanted her to marry some rich, corporate guy like them, but instead, she found herself in my bed. We were careless kids and when she got pregnant, her parents gave her an ultimatum. Either she gave the baby up for adoption and walked away from me, or they disowned her. Jenna had a huge inheritance coming to her.” He shrugs, his eyes blanking with a sadness that squeezes my heart. “Apparently, I wasn’t worth risking it.”
“She walked away? Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
Alcohol gives me courage. “Then how did you end up with Sophie?”
He smiles wistfully. “Her parents were very prominent people. It didn’t fit in with their public image to have their daughter step foot in an abortion clinic, so they hid her away until Sophie was born. I couldn’t allow my child to go into the system, Laken. I knew I’d do it alone if I had to.”
“She just handed her own child over?”
He nods. “I signed over all my rights to any money for me or Sophie in exchange for full custody. She hasn’t laid eyes on her since. It’s hard making ends meet sometimes, but I wouldn’t change a thing if I could. That little girl is my world, and Sophie is better off without them.”
“I can see that.”
We sit in silence for a minute. As I twist my fingers in my lap, he reaches over and nudges me. “I’m sorry, I totally killed the vibe here. Let’s get back on track. Your turn.”
Somehow it seems in poor taste to go back to the game after that, but I decide to humor him. “My favorite movie of all time isMy Best Friend’s Wedding, I’ve never been in love, and I’ve never gotten drunk in my life.”
“I thought you’d make this hard on me,” he says, cracking a smile again. “Definitely, the last one is the lie. You’ve already told me you’re a rom com movie junkie, and I’m guessing with your piss-poor poker face during drinking games, you’ve been drunk at least once.”
The warmth of the shot starts to work its magic as the room hazes. “Drink.”
His eyebrows shoot up to his hairline. “You mean there’s actually a rom com you don’t like?”
I stare at him, refusing to speak until he picks up the glass and tosses it back.
“You’re kidding me. You’ve never been in love? What about Preston’s dad?”
I freeze. I don’t mean for Preston’s name to come up and I have no idea how I’m going to get around this. Finally, I decide vagueness is my best bet at throwing him off. “Love is for idealists and dreamers. I barely knew him.”
Not a lie. Winston Hammerle is as elusive as Bigfoot. I’m not sure he even exists or if he’s been created as a front so his wife can bulldoze her way into the right social circles.
Niall cocks his head to the side and studies me. “That’s a little jaded, don’t you think?”
“Says the man who had to buy his own daughter.”
“I’m sorry. I just can’t believe a woman like you has never had men fighting over her.”
“No big deal. So, I’ve never been in love. It’s not the end of the world. It’s not like I had great role models in that department. The only thing my mom ever loved were roadies and flashing her saggy boobs to aging rock stars.”
“So, Preston’s never met his father?”
“A few times.” I cross my fingers under the table and stretch the truth until it almost snaps. “But he could take him or leave him most of the time. Preston’s a little eccentric and doesn’t fit with his ideals of what a son should be.”
Niall’s eyebrows lift. “He’s wealthy too?”
Oh shit.
“You could say that.”
He thinks for a minute, his fingers tightening around the glass. “You know you can sue him for child support. Don’t accept this on your own, Laken. You and that little boy deserve more.”
Ugh. Preston does. I deserve everything coming to me.
“If you want, I know some lawyers at Tate & Cane. I can make some calls for you—”
“No!” I take a quick sip of the disgusting beer and shake my head while coughing and sputtering again. “I mean, that’s okay. I do just fine on my own. I’m a private person, Niall. I’d like to keep it that way.”
