“I’m not here because of Austin. It’s Olive.”

He wrinkled his nose. “Olive?”

“My parents didn’t want anyone to know about her because of my father’s plans. My father was the mayor in Colorado Springs. He decided to run for governor of Colorado in the next election.”

“So, this year,” Taylor said, unhappy. “What does that have to do with Shane and Liza … or Olive? I’m really fucking confused right now. You’re saying a lot, but you’re not telling me anything.”

I wiped a tear that had escaped down my cheek. “She’s … mine.”

Taylor stared at me as if I were on fire. “But she’s, like … a kindergartner.” He shook his head. “How does no one know about this? I don’t understand how you’ve kept it a secret all this time.”

“My parents know. And Phaedra and Chuck know. A lot of people suspect. There’ve been rumors. A lot of rumors.”

“Kirby?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“That’s why your parents were horrified that I was from Eakins. They didn’t want it to come out. They didn’t want me to bring you here.”

My bottom lip trembled. “They want me to pretend it never happened, that she never happened. They held college over my head, saying that if I didn’t sign the papers, I would be throwing my life away. And then,” I said, almost breathing the words, “I realized it didn’t matter. None of it mattered. I’d already thrown my life away because she was gone.”

He shook his head. “Falyn, I don’t know what’s going on here, but”—he cringed, already regretting his next words—“Olive wasn’t adopted. She is Shane and Liza’s daughter. There’s been a mistake.”

“You don’t believe me?” I asked.

“It’s just that … this is weird as fuck. I mean, what are the odds? She ends up with a couple from Eakins, who live next door to my dad, and then you and I meet and become friends. I don’t want to upset you, but this is wrong. I remember when Shane and Liza moved in. They have baby pictures of Olive on their walls, ones of Liza holding Olive in the hospital. They moved in next door when Olive was two. They’ve never mentioned that she was adopted.”

“Exactly,” I said, wiping my cheek again and pointing at him. “Exactly. It’s too perfect. You and I were supposed to meet. This was supposed to happen.”

Taylor’s entire face contorted, and he stood. “You’re serious. You’re really telling me that Olive is your daughter?”

My mouth fell open. “Didn’t you see her? Phaedra says she looks just like me. Think about Shane and Liza. Which one does Olive look like, Taylor?”