Page 25 of The Secrets We Keep

I sigh and swipe my hand over my face. “I won’t lie and tell you no, but I think I understand why you left better now,” I tell her. “I wish it didn’t have to be thatway, but I can’t fault you for protecting yourself. For protecting our son.”

Her eyes soften. “I wasn’t just protecting myself and Asher. I was terrified for you, too. My dad was the worst I’d ever seen him that day. He choked me and hit me. I knew right then and there that he would follow through with his threats.”

I wrap an arm around her and pull her closer. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”

She gives me a small smile. “No, he can’t. How do you want to handle this with Asher?” She asks sheepishly.

I take a deep breath. “I don’t want to wait, Soph. I missed out on the first six years of his life and seven years with you. I don’t want to miss out on anything else.”

Tears fill her eyes. “I’m scared of how he’ll react. What if it’s too much for him?”

I kiss her forehead. “We’ll be there for him every step of the way. I think it’s best for him to know. I don’t want him to think we’re keeping anything from him.”

She’s quiet for a moment, letting my words sink in. “Okay,” she murmurs softly. “We’ll tell him today.”

I sag in relief and pull her half on top of me again, eager to have her body touching mine. I press my lips to hers in a soft, lingering kiss. We’re both breathless when we part.

“Wow,” Sophie rasps.

“Perfect,” I murmur huskily.

The moment is shattered when the bedroom door flies open and Asher barges inside. His eyes go wide when he finds us snuggling in bed.I guess we’re doing this now.

Sophie jolts up, covering herself with the blanket. Which is funny because we’re not naked. I sit up and push myself back against the headboard.

“Asher! What’s going on?”

“I’m hungry. Why is Grayson in your bed?” He asks.

I chuckle and Sophie shoots a glare my way. “He came over to talk and we got really tired, so he decided to sleep over.”

Asher shrugs. “Okay. Can we have bacon?”

I smile. “You bet, bud. Why don’t you help me in the kitchen while your mom gets changed?”

He nods his head and leaves the room, heading toward the kitchen presumably.

Sophie flops back onto the mattress and covers her eyes with her hands as she groans. “What just happened?”

“He’s our kid, of course he has impeccable timing,” I tell her with a grin. She looks over at me with a worried expression. I lean over and kiss her gently. “Don’t panic. We’ll make breakfast and then we’ll tell him. Get ready and give me a little one on one time with my son.”

She sighs and nods. I leave her in bed and walk into my closet to grab something to wear. I slip on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt and then go out into the kitchen to make breakfast. Asher is already waiting with the bacon on the countertop. He helps me fry up the bacon, make scrambled eggs, toast, and pour juice for everyone. We’re just finishing up when Sophie walks into the room. She looks beautiful in a pair of leggings that hug her curves and a black Nirvana t-shirt. Her face is still bare of makeup and her blonde hair falls in loose waves over her shoulders and to the middle of her back.

She looks nervous as she takes a seat at the island next to Asher. He decided he wanted to sit between the two of us and that’s honestly probably the best spot for the conversation we’re going to have after we eat.

“I helped Grayson make breakfast, mama!” Asher calls out when he sees her, a huge smile splitting his face.

She returns his smile. “You did?” She asks as she reaches out to ruffle his dark curly hair. Hair that looks so much like mine when I let it grow.

His eyes sparkle. “Yep! It’s going to be delicious.”

I chuckle. “Let’s hope so, bud.”

I take a seat on the other side of him, and I load his plate up with breakfast. We eat in relative silence, only Asher breaking in to tell us about the new friends he’s going to make at school and how he thinks his teacher will be. I listen raptly to my son, eager to retain all theinformation he’s willing to give me.

When we finish eating, I clear the plates from the table and load the dishwasher. I turn around and find Sophie watching me. Her eyes are curious, as if asking if I’m ready for this. I give her a subtle nod and walk back over to the island, stopping in front of them on the other side of the island.

Sophie clears her throat. “We need to talk to you about something, Ash.”

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