Page 80 of What He Always Knew

“It’s okay,” Graham said. “Seriously, save the time being ashamed or embarrassed or whatever and just talk to me. From the second I got into town, I’ve known something was eating you up from the inside, and as soon as I saw you and Reese in the same room together, I knew what it was.”

“How?” I asked when I finally found my voice again. “How did you know?”

Graham uncrossed his ankles, sitting up a bit. “Well, first of all, you both basically shit bricks when you saw each other. Secondly, Cameron looked like he wanted to murder Reese and you left immediately when Blake came into the room. And thirdly, you’ve had a crush on Reese since you were eight,” he said easily. “Honestly, when I found out he was back after all that time? I was worried how it would affect you.”

I shook my head, crossing my arms over my middle. “I never knew you knew I liked him.”

Graham scoffed. “Oh, come on.Everyoneknew — Reese included. And he liked you, too.” Graham cracked his neck. “He just knew I’d kill him if he touched my baby sister.”

I smiled, shoving his shoulder, but then an awkward silence fell between us.

“Cameron knows,” I said. “About me and Reese. I tried to leave him, and he asked me to give him the same time I’d given Reese. He asked for two months.” I swallowed, looking back at Graham. “Today marks the end of that time.”

“Wow,” Graham said. “I can’t believe he didn’t murder Reese when he found out, but I’m not shocked he didn’t let you go right away.”

I tilted my head in question, and Graham looked at me like I was the stupid one for not seeing what he’d seen.

“Come on, Sis. I’ve never seen anyone love a woman the way Cameron loves you. It’s fierce, like a fire, and I can’t imagine any scenario where he bows out without putting up a fight.”

“Yeah, well,” I said, eyes finding a girl on the swing set. “He fought, alright. And just like I felt when Reese first got inside my head, I have no idea which way is up anymore.”

Graham was silent a moment, watching the same girl on the swing.

“So, are you supposed to make some sort of decision today?”

I nodded.

“Jesus…” Graham breathed. “Cameron I could see that from, but I’m surprised Reese waited around.”

“You’re not the only one. And honestly, I think it’s been driving him insane. I think knowing I’m with Cameron makes him crazy, so when he does get me alone, he gets so desperate for me that he loses himself.”

“That’s Reese, though, isn’t it?” Graham said. “If Cameron’s love for you is a fire, then Reese’s passion for anything he desires in life is a bomb. It’s intense, all-encompassing, and, sometimes — most times — out of his control. I mean, here is this guy who has wanted you for years, who lost his family and any semblance of home he ever knew, and he comes back to find you here married. But you let him in, you gave him a glimpse of what life could be like if you were together.” Graham shrugged. “I bet he’s clinging to that. And honestly, Charlie, from what he’s told me about his life after his family passed, I bet it’s the only ray of light he has to hold onto.”

I shut my eyes tight, letting out a long, tired breath. “There’s more.”

“More?”

I nodded, folding my hands over my stomach. “I’m pregnant.”

At that, Graham popped to sit up straight, turning to face me. “You’re… oh my God, Sis.”

Tears pricked my eyes. “I know.”

“That’s amazing,” he quickly said. “Are you… happy?”

I nodded more intensely, smiling through a laugh that could have been mistaken for a cry. “I’m so,sohappy. But also terrified.”

“Because you don’t know who the dad is.”

Graham sighed, running a hand through his dark hair before sitting back on the bench again. We sat there in silence, listening to the wind rustle through the trees, both of us lost in our thoughts.

“Look, I’m not the best at advice,” Graham said after a moment. “Hell, I’m about to be a dad and I can’t even make a pancake without burning it.”

I chuckled.

“But the one thing I know after hearing what you just told me is that you can’t let the fact that you don’t know who that baby belongs to affect your decision today.”

“How?” I asked. “How could I possibly not let it affect me?”