Page 31 of All Our Secrets

It wasn’t the first time. I did numerous times as King. When her cat Betty passed away, or when she had an argument with her mother, she always confidedin me.

“Go on to work. I’m fine now.” She smiled. “I promise.”

∞∞∞

“Wake up. King. Wake up. If I could smack you right now, I would.”

Slowly, the voice pierced through the fog of sleep. I cracked open one eye, leaned over so I could reach the nightstand, and turned on the lamp.

Theodore loomed over me, and I sighed. “Oh for fuck’s sake.”

“About fucking time,” Theodore muttered.

He stepped back as I propped myself up on my elbows.

Dropping my feet on the floor, I asked. “Where have you been?”

Theodore frowned. “I’m not sure…” He waved his hand dismissively. “But that’s not why I woke you up. Peyton’s sleeping in the rocking chair.”

Still?

I shot Theodore a venomous look, then grumbled. “Damn it.” It reminded me of all the times she’d refuse my help while we played video games because she wanted to outplay me and got herself killed every single time. The woman was more than stubborn.

I stood, and Theodore arched a brow. “What are you doing?”

“What I did last night.”

“You can’t keep barging in on her!”

“Why do you tell me, then? I’m not going to just leave her there. You know as well as I do that I’ll carry her to the bed myself if she doesn’t listen.”

“Just wait and talk to her about it in the morning.”

I cracked my neck and walked out of the bedroom, passing Theodore. “You should have thought of that before waking me.”

“I’m not here in the morning. I don’t know where I am.”

I stopped in the hallway and looked at him. “I want to help you find peace, Theo.”

“I don’t need peace.” He gritted his teeth. “I want my wife and son.”

Fury brewed within my stomach. Now we were both angry. “How will you do that?”

“If you would tell her—”

“No.”

“King.”

“Maybe you’re not real.”

Theodore’s forehead creased. “Why do you seem so irritated that I am?”

“Something like this shouldn’t be possible. It’s disturbing.”

“You’re not frightened. You’re angry.”

“Yeah, I guess I am.”

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