Page 36 of 2nd Strike

“Inside,” I tell him for the third time.

I angle back to Jerome, but he’s still watching where Ethan and Matt entered.

“That was him,” he says. “The sketch you had me do. Is that the kid you hoped it looked like?”

“Yep.”

After Lily’s press conference, Ethan’s face has been plastered all over the media so there’s no sense denying anything.

“I came close.”

“Really close. It’s baffling.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s not the real Ethan. His DNA doesn’t match his parents.”

“Oh, man. Poor kid.”

“Yeah.”

“Wait. The press conference. The woman married to the anchorman.That’syour case?”

If Charlie were here, she’d be stroking out. I have two choices. I can lie or fall back on client confidentiality.

Lying isn’t my style.

I guess I’ll pick door number two. “Jerome, I can’t—”

“You can’t talk about it.”

He’s given me the out and yet, I don’t want it. Right or wrong, I want the connection that comes with sharing things. And I want it with him.

“I shouldn’t talk about it, but you helped us, and I trust you. Yes, that’s him. Ethan Havers.”

A cocky grin lifts one side of his mouth. “You do, huh?”

After all this time it shouldn’t be a shock, but I know this man and he’s fishing for a compliment so I give it to him. “Yes.”

“Good. That’s part of why I’m here.”

All righty then. Where exactly is this going? “Do tell, Jerome.”

“Our conversation the other day. When you said you loved me.”

Oh.

That.

Lord, I hope that little admission doesn’t bite me on the rear. The last thing I need is to scare my most cherished friend off.

“Yes?”

“What if I don’t want to be stuck anymore?”

Charlie