Page 67 of All Our Secrets

She laughed before she asked, “So, is he going?”

“Yeah. I’m going,” I told him.

Devin gasped. “What? Really? I’ve been trying to convince you for weeks.”

“It looks like I don’t have a choice now,” I said as I bounded up my steps. “Need to pack. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He huffed, and I disconnected the call. Sure enough, my phone pinged as I hit the top step. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I saw the text from Peyton. For the first time, she was initiating a conversation. And it wasn’t just a one-word message.

PEYTON: DO YOU CARE IF T.J. AND I RIDE WITH YOU TO TENNESSEE? OR HAS SOMEONE ELSE CLAIMED A SPOT IN YOUR TRUCK?

ME: I’LL PICK YOU UP AROUND 6 A.M.

PEYTON: THANKS : ) OH, AND SILAS?

ME: YEAH?

PEYTON: DRIVE YOUR SUBURBAN.

I pocketed my phone, grinning ear to ear.

∞∞∞

The next morning, the moon winked through the trees around Peyton’s house as I stepped out of my vehicle. It’d been a good month since I’d driven the Suburban, but I had no room for a car seat in my pickup. The SUV was nicer anyway, better suited for a trip. Although trips weren’t something I did unless I was on my motorcycle. But we hadn’t gone riding since Theodore had passed.

Bugs smacked the illuminated porch light as I neared, and Peyton opened the door before I knocked.

“Silas,” she greeted.

But I couldn’t say much right then. I was too busy staring. Her eyes were soft when they met mine, much like they had been the night before, sending a bolt of lightning straight through my chest. Something felt different. She wore makeup, and her long brown hair was like a fountain across her slender shoulders. For the first time in weeks, Peyton seemed like herself again. Even the cute crinkle in her nose was back as she smiled at me. “What is it? Too early for conversation?”

“Where’s your stuff?” I asked, finally finding my words. “I’ll carry it.”

“Right here.” She tapped the suitcase to the right of the door, then she gasped, holding up one finger. “Oh! I almost forgot. I got one of those portable bassinets at my baby shower. It looks like I’ll finally have a reason to use it. I’ll go get it.”

I stepped forward to grab her suitcase while she ran up the stairs.

“Be careful,” I warned.

Peyton giggled. “It’s fine.”

Shaking my head, I went to step inside but halted when Theodore spoke. “Take one more step. I dare you.”

I raised a brow. “What a nice welcome,” I deadpanned. “Don’t you get tired of guarding the door?”

“Don’t you get tired of spying on my wife?”

I scoffed. “I do notspy.I’m making sure you don’t scare the fuck out of her again.”

Theodore glanced at the suitcase and glared. “Are you for real? You’re actually picking up my wife fromourhome and taking her on vacation?” His blue, translucent eyes burned, and his brows furrowed with fury.

“It’s her house now, but yeah.” I tried to peek through him, but he wasn’t transparent enough to see if Peyton was making her way back down the steps. “Could you move before she sees me talking to myself?”

He smirked. “I’m not letting you through the door.”

My teeth clenched as I breathed through my nose. I took a step forward, only to be pushed back when Theodore flicked his hand.

“What the fuck?” I whisper-hissed. I latched on to the doorframe on both sides and tried pushing myself through the entrance. My muscles strained and burned with my effort. My boots slid across the porch. Something about his invisible power really pissed me off. I could kick his ass ten times over when he was alive, but now he had some sort of ghost protection. Fucking lame.

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