Fortunately, that was all true, so they didn’t have to worry about Malcolm learning otherwise.

WhosYourDaddy: Don’t you want to see Malcolm?

BrownEyedGirl: I don’t even know if he’s still there. Last I heard, his family was, but he’d moved on.

WhosYourDaddy: What if you were to hear from him? How would you react?

Sebastian had highlighted this part. It showed Malcolm throwing out more feelers, seeing how he might be received if he ever decided to reveal himself.

BrownEyedGirl: Not sure. That would depend on why he was contacting me in the first place. I still haven’t completely forgiven him. I’ve never been hurt like that, even by my ex-husband.

WhosYourDaddy: Maybe he’s changed, grown up.

BrownEyedGirl: And maybe he hasn’t. Once a cheater, always a cheater. That’s what I say.

WhosYourDaddy: You don’t know that.

BrownEyedGirl: I don’t think I could trust him again.

Unfortunately, this conversation preceded Mary’s realization that she could be talking to Malcolm or she would’ve answered differently.

WhosYourDaddy: Poor Malcolm. He’s missing out on so much.

BrownEyedGirl: Don’t give me that. He brought it on himself. I might be divorced but I’m not desperate.

WhosYourDaddy: I’d treat you better.

“Than you used to?” Sebastian murmured.

BrownEyedGirl: I’d like to believe that.

Sebastian grimaced. “If you’re smart you won’t.”

WhosYourDaddy: I’ll prove it to you.

BrownEyedGirl: Have you ever cheated?

WhosYourDaddy: I’d never cheat on someone as beautiful as you.

BrownEyedGirl: So you have cheated.

WhosYourDaddy: Not on my first wife.

BrownEyedGirl: How many wives have you had?

WhosYourDaddy: Two.

So had Malcolm.

BrownEyedGirl: You went out on your second wife?

WhosYourDaddy: She went out on me first. I think she was sleeping with her ex the whole time we were married. I know she never got over him. She was always throwing him in my face.

BrownEyedGirl: What was his name?

WhosYourDaddy: Prick, at least to me. LOL

Sebastian hesitated here. Malcolm was talking about him and Emily, but he couldn’t be more wrong. There’d been times when Sebastian had felt a spark between him and his ex. He couldn’t deny that. They’d cared about each other, cared for their son. But they’d never slept together, not after the divorce. If Emily hadn’t married Malcolm, they might’ve reconciled, but she had, and then Sebastian met Constance and everything changed.

Trying to imagine what it would’ve been like if they’d managed to reunite their family, he closed his eyes. Emily and Colton would both be alive, and Colton would have the complete family he’d always dreamed about…

It was Malcolm who’d removed that possibility. First, when he convinced Emily to marry him by pretending to be a better man than he was. Then, when he’d assumed, without any proof, that Emily was cheating on him and killed her.

Or was his unfounded accusation just an excuse to get rid of her and take the money?

His eyes too bleary to continue reading, Sebastian put the transcripts aside and reached over to turn off his computer. Before he could press the off button, however, the response he’d been waiting for finally appeared on the screen.

WhosYourDaddy: You up? Sorry, I didn’t see your message.

The exhaustion that’d been dragging at him fell away as Sebastian considered how to reply. He didn’t want this session to be more inane chitchat, leading nowhere. He wasn’t here to entertain Malcolm while Malcolm fantasized about getting it on with his ex-girlfriend.

After stretching his neck to loosen the tense muscles, he typed.

BrownEyedGirl: I’m up, all right, wishing you were here to hold me.

WhosYourDaddy: We’ll be together someday.

BrownEyedGirl: I’d like that. You make me feel special-like more than a tired soccer mom. LOL

WhosYourDaddy: Because you are special.

BrownEyedGirl: Do you mean that? Or is it just a bunch of writing on a screen?

WhosYourDaddy: Touch yourself for me. Be my hands. I’ll tell you what to do.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. Internet sex? “Mary” couldn’t settle for that.

BrownEyedGirl: No, it’s not the same.

WhosYourDaddy: It’s the next best thing. I can’t be there, babe, but I can do my part from here.

BrownEyedGirl: Why won’t you agree to meet? L.A. isn’t that far.

WhosYourDaddy: I can’t.

BrownEyedGirl: Even if I come to you? I already told you I would. Let’s get together and see if what we’re feeling is as real as it seems.

There was a short delay.

WhosYourDaddy: My life is complicated right now, Mary.

BrownEyedGirl: You’re not married, are you? You haven’t been leading me on while you have a wife sleeping in the next room!

WhosYourDaddy: No, nothing like that. I swear it.

BrownEyedGirl: Then what?

WhosYourDaddy: I’m just…having some trouble with my roommates. It’s been a rough night.

BrownEyedGirl: You’ve never mentioned any roommates.

WhosYourDaddy: They didn’t have a place to stay. I was nice enough to take them in.

BrownEyedGirl: When?

WhosYourDaddy: A few weeks ago.

BrownEyedGirl: Are they male or female?

WhosYourDaddy: Female. Sisters. But there’s nothing going on between us. They’re not my type. I thought they could help out with the cooking and cleaning, that’s all.

BrownEyedGirl: Right.

WhosYourDaddy: What’s that supposed to mean?

Sebastian didn’t respond

WhosYourDaddy: I can tell what you’re thinking. But stop it. I told you, I’m not sleeping with these girls.

BrownEyedGirl: Then why don’t you want to see me?

WhosYourDaddy: I do. I’ve wanted to be with you for years.

BrownEyedGirl: And yet all you do is chat. There’s got to be a reason. You’ve got to be hiding a wife or a girlfriend.