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I watched as his wheels turned. Jonathan was a demonstrative thinker, and he seemed to be mulling something over. “Valid, to a degree,” he finally concluded. “But knowledge isn’t an instant cure forall that’s bothering you. I just want you to understand what you might be unleashing.”

I blinked, asking myself if that’s what I was doing. “Keep talking.”

Jonathan scooted to the edge of his soft green cushion. “You grieve for your parents and now your aunt.”

“Quite true.”

“But finding your bio father, even if he’s the greatest human on Earth, isn’t going to magically fix any of that.” A pause. “Or the feelings you’re wrestling with for the hot doctor.”

“Kyle? I’m not interested in my dad because Dr. Soap Opera showed up in town with an unknown agenda.” A pause. “She brought me donuts two days ago.”

His eyes went wide.

“The fan favorites collection.”

His eyes went even wider. “Stop.”

“Iknow.”

“Did you make out with her?” he asked in his saucy voice.

“Jon-Bon. No! May God smack you. It’s like you don’t even know me. I have strength. I come with conviction.”

“Shove all of that to the side. The fan favorites box might be worth a little lip action in frozen foods. Second base was calling your name.” He touched his imaginary boobs. “Not even on top of the shirt?”

“Stop that.” The idea made my stomach free-fall, and the room was suddenly way too warm. Did I flash to a topless Kyle from our weekend together? No comment. “I did cry in her arms, though.”

If looks could kill. “You always bury the lede.”

I waved him off. “Faber struck in typical fashion, and she was there at the exact right moment. Not that exciting.”

“I don’t believe coincidences for one damn second.” He gave me a stern look. “She was meant to be there in that moment.”

“For a numbers guy, you sure invest in the concept of destiny a lot.”

“There’s no way we’re on this Earth just wandering around randomly. It’s like you don’t knowZeldaat all.”

“I don’t. I keep telling you.”

“A crime.” He used his right hand like a knife on the palm of his left. “Link is destined to save Zelda, which perhaps brings me to what I have to tell you.”

I frowned, my interest more than piqued. “That sounds more than ominous.”

“As your best friend, I’m charged with looking out for you.” Jonathan looked at the ceiling and then back at me. “So here goes.”

I braced, watching his face intently.

“I did hear something interesting at Ronnie Roo’s once upon a time that might play into the DNA discovery of yours. But I can’t say for sure.”

I sat back in my nook. “And you’re just now telling me? What the hell, Jonathan?”

“I wanted to be sure you were interested in pursuing this thing before upending your peace. This conversation tells me that you are.”

I shook my head. “What did you hear?” My heart was a drum in my ears.

“It might be nothing. But I was sitting near those bridge club women one afternoon drinking a macchiato by the window, as I do.”

“You mean Deena Haney and the visor brigade?” The sixty-year-old women were known around town for their trendy sportswear, whether they’d participated in anything athletic that day or not. It was their brand and they owned it.