Page 154 of Promise Me Not

“You’re an even bigger prick than I realized.” Alister swallows, tearing away from me with a tense expression that makes no sense to me. But then he jerks his chin. “Better run afteryour girl, Johnson. Seems something you said pissed her off.”

My brows pull, and I look to the left. Sure enough, Payton is whipping the stroller around, practically running back into the tunnels from the track.

“Payton!” I shout, breaking out into a run, but the door swings shut in my face. I heave through it, following her into one of the conference rooms. “Wait!”

She rushes to the back corner, fumbling with the knob, and I know this one locks from the other side.

“I went to see him!” The words fly from my mouth like a desperate plea.

It works.

She pauses, the knob in her hand, stroller half out the door.

Swallowing, I take slow steps forward and repeat, “I went to see him.” I watch as her shoulders tighten. “Spent some time at his grave.”

She whips around, tears thick but not yet falling.

“How dare you,” she breathes, a storm building in her blue eyes. She pulls the stroller back into the room, letting the door close as she advances on me, her voice low. “You had no right.”

“I did. I do,” I tell her, and her chin wobbles. “You haven’t been there, have you?” I ask softly. “I told you where he was laid to restmonthsago, and you haven’t gone. Why?”

“You don’t know that,” she rasps, arms stiff at her sides.

“But I do.” Another step closer. “If you had, you would have left your mark, because that’s what you do, but there was nothing. Why haven’t you gone?”

“That’s none of your business,” she whispers.

“I think it is. I’m part of the reason, aren’t I?” I take another step toward her. “You feel guilty for wanting to be with me, and you know you can’t lie to him like you lie to yourself.”

“I am not lying to myself.”

“You’re torturing yourself.”

She swallows, hands fisting. “Why did you tell Alister that Deaton was your son?”

“Changing the subject doesn’t help us.”

Stubborn as ever, she raises her chin. “Answer me, Mason! Why did you tell him he was yours?”

“Because he is!” I scream back.

Payton shakes her head, spinning around and moving back toward the stroller. “I can’t do this. I thought I was ready to have this conversation, but I’m not.”

Before she reaches him, I dive forward, jumping in front of her and blocking her path.

“Please move.”

“I can’t. Not until you hear me out.”

“I don’t want to.”

“I don’t care.”

“Mason, please.”

“I understand the boy you lost is inside you,” I say hurriedly. “I understand he’s a part of you.”

“You don’t.” She squeezes her eye closed. “You can’t possibly.”

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