Page 3 of All Our Secrets

I swallowed. She did too.

“Jesus, King, where you going in a rush?” Theodore called out.

And just like that, the feel-goods evaporated, and I remembered my dilemma.

“King?” Peyton echoed, and her cheeks reddened slightly as she gawked.

I dropped my hands from her soft skin. The hairs on her arm stood on end. I instinctively touched my face as her eyes roamed over me. A part of me wanted to enjoy it, but was she gawking out of disgust for my scars or because Theodore had called me King? Was she thinking of Theodore’s friend King? Or hers?

The longer she stared, the more I wished for these ugly tiles beneath my feet to open and drop me into a tank of water—away from her gaze. God, she was so beautiful. And I was so fucking scarred.Don’t look. Don’t look.

Peyton.I took a deep breath as my heart bled out all over the floor by her feet. She wouldn’t know that, though, because she was there with her new boyfriend.Mybest friend. I eyed Theodore. I’d never had reason to compare myself to him before. But seeing him standing there with his smile and easygoing personality that reeled everyone in, I found myself lacking. I’dneverbe easy to like. Even Peyton called me a grump, and I laughed more with her than anyone else.

The driven need to protect myself and the parts of her that belonged to me—just me—was strong. I couldn’t let this be the moment I met and lost her all at once. I’d lock my feelings, all our conversations late at night, and her laughter in my ear, away if it meant they belonged to me.

“Theo, who’s this?” I deepened my voice, hoping she wouldn’t recognize it, but Peyton’s eyes bulged the second I spoke.

“King?” Peyton asked again.

“Yeah, Peyton, this is my buddy King—”

“Silas,” I corrected him.

“King, this is Peyton,” Theodore finished, one brow lifted as he stood behind Peyton.

“My friend goes by King too,” Peyton blurted, still not looking away. “You sound like him… King, is that y—”

“Call me Silas.”

She finally stopped staring when I corrected her, but her cheeks reddened, and she moved her arms like she didn’t know what to do with them.

My heart ached at the nervous way she fidgeted. Fuck, I’d embarrassed her. The desire to trace the blush on her cheeks with my thumb… I placed my hands in my pockets instead and focused on my best friend, who slid his palm against Peyton’s back. My own palms burned when I squeezed my fists. “What did you call me out for?”

“To get a drink and meet Peyton.”

“First I’ve heard of her.”

Theodore narrowed his eyes. “We met a few weeks ago. You good?”

No.Your hands are on Peyton. Have you fucked her yet?

My clothes felt too tight, and my lungs had clearly stopped working because I couldn’t breathe. I had to get out of there before I beat the shit out of Theodore and slung Peyton over my shoulder. But then I’d have to face her after she discovered what an asshole I was. And I truly was for what I planned to do instead.Take all my conversations with her and hope they’ll be enough.Who was I kidding? Nothing but her would be enough. But… I glanced at Theodore, who cocked his head slightly, letting his gaze drop to where I squeezed my hands into fists.Theodore’s a good guy.

Of all people, Peyton had to meet him.

“I’m fine. Works been stressful is all.”

Peyton watched me when I turned toward her. I fought the urge to cover my imperfections again as her beautiful brown eyes studied my face. I wasn’t a weak man. When I wanted something, I took it. This wasn’t me, so why?Whywas I shaking? Why was I letting her slip through the cracks?

“It was a pleasure to meet you, but I’ve got to head out.”

“King—”

“Silas,” I corrected her once more. “Call me Silas the next time we meet.”

Because two Kings couldn’t exist, and Theodore’s best friend was the one you met first.

She opened her mouth like she was about to say something, then closed it abruptly before going with, “Oh okay.”

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