Page 65 of All Our Secrets

I wasn’t afraid of Silas. Not at all, but it was spooky not to see him at all.

“Just took a piss,” he replied, and I spun around to see him stepping out of the darkened area of the yard.

Something about him nonchalantly speaking about peeing while being in my driveway at God knows what time made my jaw drop like a dresser drawer coming off its track. “Are you serious?”

“No.” He stopped mere inches from me. “I didn’t want to piss in your driveway, so I walked.”

“Silas.”

“Yeah?”

“That’s not the issue. Why are you here?”

He scratched the scruff on his jaw before turning toward my house briefly. “You know why. I’m not comfortable with you here.”

“So you’re doing what by being here?”

“If something scares you, I want to be right here.”

My eyes widened. “You were going to stay in your truck tonight?”

“I’ve been here all week.” Silas cracked his neck and sighed. “If you had looked outside at any point after eleven, you’d know that. Your lack of awareness really scares the shit out of me. How am I supposed to be okay with you being here if you don’t even look out your damn windows?”

Was he scolding me when he was the creeper sleeping in his truck outside my house?

“I do look out my windows.” My voice rose as my cheeks heated. He was so aggravating. “I’m asleepbeforeeleven, and if you weren’t being so creepy about it, you would have come at an earlier hour. Butno. It’s like you’re intentionally waiting for me to fall asleep.”

He rubbed his neck. “You would have kicked up a fuss if I told you.”

“Yes, because I don’t need you being this way.”

“What way? This is me making sure you won’t be scared.”

“Silas,” I scolded. “You really don’t see how ridiculous this is?”

T.J. fussed in my arms, so I bounced him lightly. My little dude wanted his bottle.

When Silas spoke again, his voice was softer. “Is it so ridiculous that I want you to be safe?”

My heart rate kicked up a notch.

“I want to hold him, but I just took a piss and I know how you moms get,” he blurted.

I stopped bouncing. “Huh.”

“T. J.”

So random.

“I know. That wasn’t a question. You’re just confusing me.”

“You sleeping on the bed?”

“Yes.”

“Actually sleeping?”

“Yes,” I said. “Have you really been here all week?” When he nodded, I exhaled. “You can’t stay. What if Gerald sees your truck?”

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