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I laugh at her bluntness. Clover always likes to ask me this, looking for a magic reason why I’m single. “Baggage? Where do I start?”
“Clover.” Felix sighs at his wife. “You always ask him this.”
“Well, everyone has some. And in all the years we’ve known him, he’s never had a serious relationship. He’s good looking, and you said he’s never had a problem with female attention, and the way he’s watching my best friend right now, I think I have the right to ask,” she declares, lifting her chin.
“I’ve told you before, I don’t know about any baggage. I don’t have any crazy exes still causing me grief, no kids... That I know about,” I reply, ignoring her other comment about Cara and thinking about what else could be a deal breaker for some.
“Debt?” Clover presses.
I shake my head. “Nope, you know me better than that. I own my own house and car.”
She tilts her face to the side, studying me. “You said that you’ve never been engaged...”
“And that hasn’t changed.”
“You’ve never mentioned any long-term girlfriends.”
“Clover,” Cara chides.
“One. Nothing too serious.”
“Ah ha! That’s it then. It’s the commitment issues for you,” Clover concludes with a smirk. “And you’re a ladies’ man. The two go hand in hand.”
“Or I just haven’t been as lucky to meet someone I can connect with enough to want to commit,” I fire back. “I’d never be in a relationship just to be in one. I happen to like my own company and I’d rather be alone than with someone who isn’t right for me.”
And I’m not just going to go around and have babies with a woman who isn’t my soul mate. I see it all the time. Men who regret who they chose to be the mother of their children, and all of the hell that comes with that, and vice versa. I want to be sure about the woman I’m going to end up with.
“So you do want kids?” Clover asks.
I nod. “Yeah, of course I do. I love kids. With the right woman, of course.”
She smiles and relaxes back in her seat. “Okay.”
I laugh. “You satisfied now?”
“Yeah. And you know Felix has always spoken highly of you, and I’ve always liked you, so there’s that. I always felt good knowing he had you at his back. We trust you. What more can you ask for? Welcome to the group.” She grins. “Now tell us about why you are here.”
I turn to Cara, letting her explain since it’s her story. I know I told Felix the quick version of the story earlier, but Clover hasn’t gotten to hear it yet.
Cara looks around the table, fidgeting with her hands. “Wade had another child, a daughter. And she hired Decker to find me. That’s why he’s here,” she says.
Clover’s mouth opens, and then closes. “So you have another sister.”
“Something like that,” Cara murmurs.
“There’s a lot to unpack there,” Clover says.
“I know; I’m still processing it.”
“What are you going to do?” Clover asks, brow furrowing. “You know we are here for you no matter what.”
“I know. I’m going to worry about it later. Let’s just enjoy the rest of the night.”
“You sure?” Clover asks, skepticism obvious in her voice.
Cara nods and changes the subject, asking Felix about a case he had been working on.
We finish our meal, chatting and laughing, Cara’s warm arm pressed against mine.
