Page 64 of Secret Baby with my Brother's Best Friend

“Hmm? What’s up?”

I swallowed, nervous. I hoped she didn’t take this the wrong way.

“I was thinking,” I began slowly. “Maybe you and Henry should sleep at my house tonight.”

She froze, tensing her entire body, and then she narrowed her eyes, her suspicion obvious.

“Why?” she asked in a low tone.

There were a million reasons why I wanted her and Henry with me in my home, but the main one I knew she wouldn’t lose it over was, “I want to keep you guys close until Bill has been found. With the wedding tomorrow, I don’t want to risk anything happening. It’d give me so much peace of mind.”

She continued to study me for several moments, as if trying to sus out if I was being honest or not. Eventually, though, she relaxed and released a long sigh.

“Yeah, I suppose that makes some sense,” she agreed. “I wouldn’t want anything else to happen when Henry and I are by ourselves. I don’t want him scared or hurt.”

“Me either.” I nodded, trying not to appear too eager. “So, that’s a yes?”

She bit her lip and grinned. “Yes. We’ll stay with you tonight.”

“Great.” I sighed in relief. “Should we grab Henry? We can stop by your house and pick up some things before we head to my place.”

“All right,” she said. “Henry’s still with my parents. Let’s go over and get him.”

We crossed the room to where Sam’s parents were standing with Henry. Sam thanked her parents, and they left, then she took Henry’s hand and bent down in front of him.

“Hey, buddy, what do you say to us having a sleepover at Ryan’s house tonight?” Sam asked. “Would you like that?”

Henry frowned, clearly confused, but then his lips turned up into a wide, excited smile.

“Yeah!” he exclaimed. “A sleepover would be fun!”

“Good!” Sam replied. “We’re going to go home and grab our things and head over.”

“Okay!” Henry nodded, his eyes wide with excitement. He was practically bouncing on the balls of his little feet.

Sam stood and turned to me. “Let’s go.”

We went and said our goodbyes to Jason and Mandy. Once again, Jason looked like he wanted to drill us about what was happening, but Mandy stopped him by effectively distracting him while Sam and I hurried away.

I followed her in my car as she drove to her house, where I waited while she and Henry went inside and packed a few bags. Then, they followed me to my place. When we arrived, we parked, and as Henry got out of Sam’s car, he stared up at my house with wide eyes.

“It’s big,” he gasped in awe.

I stood next to him and gazed up at the house, trying to see it through his eyes. I’d grown up there and was used to the place, but it really was a cool, old house with its white pillars along the front porch and white stone façade.

Looking down at Henry, I said, “Let’s go in and check it out.”

“Okay!” He immediately hurried up the front steps. I glanced back at Sam and saw her grabbing their bags out of her car. I rushed over to grab them from her.

“Oh!” she exclaimed. “You don’t have to…”

“Doing it, anyway,” I told her with a grin and a wink.

She smiled and rolled her eyes, but she didn’t argue further. We walked together up to the front door, where Henry was waiting eagerly to go inside. I opened the door, and he rushed in.

“Wow!” he cried, stopping in the entryway and spinning in a circle as he stared up at the tall ceiling.

I chuckled. “You like it?”

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