Page 131 of All Our Secrets

“You knocked me up, Silas.” Only then did her words register.

I froze, heart pounding. Peyton was pregnant with my child. I stared at her stomach. “Baby pregnant with baby?”

Peyton slapped a palm over her forehead. “Sweet baby Jesus. You’ve reverted to a caveman.”

I thought back to what I’d said and groaned. What the fuck had come out of my mouth? “You’re pregnant.”

“Yes.”

Holy fuck. A tingling zing spread through my chest. My throat and eyes got all scratchy the second time I glanced at her tummy. Unable to help myself, I moved off the couch and dropped to my knees between her legs. She took T.J. from me as I smiled, placing my hands on her hips. “You mean, right now, you’re already carrying a part of me and you?”

“You’re going to be a dad.”

I placed my forehead against her belly gently. “I know things are rocky between us right now, but I’m happy, Peyton. So fucking happy. This is good news, right?”

I never raised my head. I was too terrified to see the look on her face.

Then I remembered how stressed she’d been. That wasn’t good on a pregnant woman, was it?

I met her eyes. “Are you and the baby okay? What did the doctor say?”

“We’re okay. No thanks to me. I didn’t have to do anything more than slow down since you reacted so quickly.”

I exhaled. “Good. I’ll do right when it comes to our kids. T.J. and his brother or sister will never do without. I’ll never let you down again.”

“Stop.” She croaked. “Things aren’t okay between us just because I’m pregnant.” Despite what she was saying, though, she ran her fingers through my hair, andthatmattered most of all.

“You hungry? Do you need me to get you anything?”

She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I’m tired.”

“Go lay down. I can get T.J. to sleep.”

“I’m not sleeping with you,” she said abruptly.

“I’ll sleep in my spare bedroom.” I smiled when her lips puckered into a pout. “Did you want me to say, ‘tough luck, we’re sleeping together’?”

“No.”

“Yes,I think you did.” I stood and grabbed her chin. “What matters to me is that you’re here. Everything else will follow. There are a lot of things to talk about. I don’t want to fuck up again.”

______

Theodore

Outside King’s house, I stood at the window, watching him with my wife. He carriedmyson up the stairs behind Peyton. It wasn’t fair. Everything that had happened. My death. King forcing his truth on me that day. I hadn’t wanted him to come clean. It had been way too fucking late. That was his choice.

Everything King had belonged to me. Mine. Mine.Mine.

That life wasn’t his. He only had my family because I was gone.

I felt nothing when I slapped my palm against the window and gritted my teeth. No pain. Not even the cool glass. This useless spirit body of mine couldn’t sense anything. Not even on the nights I managed not to slip through her and could trace Peyton’s soft skin when I ran my fingers down her face. All I had was my anger and a growing hatred for King. Of course Peyton would need someone. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t communicate and let her know I was still there.

I had to try something else.

Years ago, for a woman I’d known for a few weeks, I was willing to steal from my best friend.

Glancing down at my translucent hand, I squeezed it into a fist.

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