Page 10 of The Secrets We Keep (Sovereign Sons MC: North Carolina #1)

SOPHIE

My heart is in my throat when Grayson brushes by me to walk inside. Not just from hearing Grayson’s words, but from seeing Grayson and Asher together. They have never looked more alike than in that moment.

The same dark hair and tanned skin, the same smirk. Asher is Grayson’s spitting image. The only trait he got from me was my blue eyes. I need to tell Grayson. I need to come clean.

The thought truly terrifies me, though. What if he hates me? What if he doesn’t believe me? What if he doesn’t care about Asher? I’m more worried about what this will mean for Asher than I am for myself.

If Grayson hates me, that doesn’t change a thing. If he hates Asher, it would crush him. And me.

“Mama, Grayson is so cool!” Asher cheers as he runs over to me, tossing himself into my arms.

I catch him with a grunt and squeeze him tight. “Oh yeah?” I rasp .

“Yeah! He played catch with me and showed me how to throw the football. Did you know that he was supposed to go to college on a scholarship? He gave it up, mama!”

My heart clenches. I know deep down that Grayson could never hate Asher. He was playing catch with him and got us out of harm’s way. He’s already doing things that my father never did, and he doesn’t even know the truth.

“That is cool,” I tell him. “How about we go inside, and you can watch a little tv while I work on getting you signed up for school?”

He rolls his eyes and sighs dramatically. “Do I have to go back to school?”

“You do,” I deadpan. “Let’s go.”

I motion him inside and lead him through the clubhouse, ignoring the curious glances as we go.

Besides Candy, no one has been rude to me, but I know that some of them have questions.

I know that they’re curious as to why I’m back in town and why I left in the first place.

But Grayson deserves those answers before anyone else.

When we get back to our room, I set Asher up in the living room with one of his favorite shows.

He’s content while I get online and sign him up for school.

One thing I know is that the Silver Springs school system is great.

Asher will get more one on one education here than he ever would have gotten in Atlanta .

Surprisingly, it doesn’t take long to get Asher enrolled in school.

Something inside me knew that I wouldn’t be returning to Georgia, because I packed everything important.

Maybe it was intuition, maybe I just knew that my landlord was an asshole and would pull something when I left.

Either way, I’m glad. The process would have been a lot longer if I didn’t have the documents I needed.

“You’re all set to start school next week, buddy,” I tell Asher as I close my laptop.

He groans and flops back on the couch. “Do I have to?”

I laugh as I walk over to the couch, staring down at my dramatic son. “Yes, you have to. But you’re going to like Silver Springs Elementary. I went there and made lots of friends.”

“I could just stay home with you. You could teach me, and I could learn to cook from you and Chef,” he says with pleading eyes.

“Sorry, bud. Teaching is out of my depth. But I promise you’re going to like it there,” I say as I tousle his hair. “Speaking of Chef, I need to go speak to him. You want to come with?”

He nods his head eagerly and jumps from the couch.

Chef has quickly become one of his favorite people here.

Probably because Chef doesn’t say no to any of the foods Asher requests.

I practically have to run to keep up with Asher as he takes off out of our room and through the halls of the clubhouse, eager to get to his friend.

The kitchen is busy, but that doesn’t stop Chef from wrapping Asher in a big hug when he sees him. I smile when I see both of their faces light up in joy.

“What can I get two of my favorite people?” Chef asks when their hug breaks apart.

“French fries!” Asher cheers, jumping up and down.

I shake my head and chuckle. “We’re not here for food. I actually wanted to ask you something,” I tell him as I shift from foot to foot.

“Sure, sweetheart,” he says, wiping his hands on a towel.

“I start my new job tomorrow and I need someone to watch Asher,” I say with a wince. “I don’t really trust anyone here yet, so I was wondering if you could do it?”

Chef’s face breaks into a big smile. “I’d love to have a sous chef for the day. What do you say, Asher? Want to hang out with me tomorrow?”

“Yes!” Asher cheers. “I can help you make french fries!”

Chef chuckles. “The boy loves his french fries.”

I smile. “That he does. Thank you, Chef. It means a lot.”

“No problem, sweetheart.”