Page 142 of All Our Secrets

As much as I wanted to move on and love her, we had to acknowledge Theodore and that he might still be here.

Peyton peeked her head out of the door. “What’s the hold-up?”

Seeing her there, smiling, waiting forme,made my heart thud against my ribcage. Sometimes, it still hit me square in the chest… Peyton was with me. My Peyton. All these nights of yearning, wishing, and regretting had suddenly become holding, loving, and never wanting to be out of her presence for more than a second.

When I saw Theodore again, I’d say the same things all over. I had held my feelings in for too many years. It had all come busting out at the seams. And all I could do was react. Despite Peyton’s anger about who I was, nothing, no amount of guilt, would have kept me respectful toward Theodore forever. I was a bastard who loved the shit out of one woman.

When I said nothing, Peyton walked out and wrapped one arm around my middle. I dropped the satchel on the ground and pulled her and T.J. close.

“Tell me what’s on your mind,” she whispered.

Taking her hand, I led her up the steps and sat on the porch swing. She dropped down beside me, leaning her head against my arm, and patted her son’s back.

“Think this is one of the last days of warm weather for a while?” she questioned, but the last remnants of the summer weren’t what we needed to talk about.

My skin prickled and my body lit like a fuse the longer we sat there. Did she finally understand the hold she had on me? “How is it that anywhere you touch me—even just fucking laying your head on my arm—makes me the happiest man alive?”

She raised abruptly, mouth widening. “What?”

“All those songs about drowning in someone’s perfume make sense when I’m with you.”

She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Oh my God. Stop.”

I went on. “I want to write a song about you and let one of those country singers sing it.”

She hugged my arm. “I’d rather you sing it.”

I kissed the top of her head. “If that’s what you want, I’ll do it.”

I closed my eyes and listened to her soft chuckle. When T.J. grunted, she cooed at him, and silence followed. The world was suddenly still. The wind didn’t blow. The trees didn’t rustle. The birds didn’t chirp. Just Peyton, T.J., and me in our peace.

“Did you see him?” I finally asked. I didn’t need to explain. She’d know who I meant.

She looked up, and our eyes met. When she nodded, my chest tightened, and a part of me wanted to mark her as mine in some way. But I saw Peyton now.Reallysaw her. The woman I loved so much. I had nothing to prove. Our past with Theodore was proof enough of our affections. I was who she loved.

“Just a split second, and it happened so quickly…” She stared into the distance. “Silas…I think he communicated with me through someone else.”

So he managed to possess someone long enough to speak to her then.

I felt her gaze on me when she asked, “Theodore hit you, didn’t he?”

I sighed. “It’s over with.”

“Have you seen him since…?”

I shook my head. “No. But let me worry about it.”

“But if he did this, then—”

“He’d never hurt you, Peyton.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about.”

When tears filled her eyes, I cupped her cheek. “Hey, don’t cry.”

“I’m scared.” She sniffled.

“It’s Theodore. I know it looks bad, but you said the ambulance got here before you did. Someone called for help. It was him. He’s always been hot-headed but…”

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