Page 21 of All Our Secrets

“I didn’t know she’d hear me!” he yelled.

“You left boot prints.”

“I don’t know how.”

I stared at his boots and all around him. He wasn’t leaving any right then. “I don’t know.I don’t know.” It was worth repeating because I seriously did not know what the fuck was happening. I rubbed the bridge of my nose.

I was talking to my dead best friend, and that confused me enough. Now I was supposed to figure out why he could make noises and leave tracks sometimes, but not all the time?This really isn’t a dream?Or a manifestation of guilt? If Peyton wasn’t involved, I’d believe I lost my fucking mind. But he was scaring her, and that was evidence enough that he washere.

I looked Theodore dead in the eye. “You can’t keep doing this, Theo.”

“Doing what?”

“Scaring Peyton.”Being here.

“I’m not trying to scare my family, King. I just want to see them.”

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“Why? They’re my family. I belong here.”

“They can’t see you.”

“So? I’m obviously here for a reason.”

His transparent form caught the light as he moved, and I saw the fucking TV standthroughhim. It was the strangest thing. My mind went right back to where I’d started. “This can’t be real.”Ghosts aren’t real.

My head pounded, and I shut my eyes, hoping this was all just a figment of my imagination. I felt like I’d walked into another dimension. But when I opened my eyes, Theodore watched me intensely.Shit.

“Whatever this is, I won’t let it affect Peyton. She’s been through enough,” I said, rubbing my fingers through my beard,waitingfor his protest.

“I’m not a threat.” He narrowed his eyes. “Why does it matter to you anyway? You rarely spoke to Peyton. She always thought you didn’t like her.”

My chest tightened. My Peyton thought that? Every time I turned away from her, it was for my sanity. Otherwise, I’d become an ugly beast. I’d throw her over my shoulder and run away with her. While her husband watched. No wonder she gave me so much hell about helping her. It all seemed bogus after I’d spent so many years protecting myself from my feelings. I had forgotten to think about how she must have felt when Theodore’s friend ignored her very existence at the same time her King did.

God, I had so much to make up for.And she’s never going to forgive me.

“That wasn’t the case… I’ve never disliked Peyton.”

Theodore’s jaw tightened. “Why are you here?”

“You plan on terrorizing her over and over?”

“You didn’t answer my question.” His gaze was guarded, but the fury in the depths of the blue burned bright. How long would it take for him to remember our last conversation? A turmoil crawled beneath my flesh, threatening to burst out once more. I needed him to remember. Years ago, I’d walked away. I couldn’t do it again. The regret ate at me, and it wouldn’t stop until he remembered. Only then would I be free.

I might not have the girl—knewI’d never get her, but it would be a cold day in Hell before I walked away from her again. My guilt for harboring my feelings and past with Peyton from him for so long was theonlything that held me back from going after her.

I missed her so damn much, even though she’d been so close for the last six years.

To me, she’d always be my Peyton.

“FCR looks after her now. Wealldo,” I said.

His chin lifted. “Then where is everyone else?”

“With their families.”

“Where’s Becky?”

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