Page 123 of Secrets, Lies and Love

“Don’t you think you should allow him to be there?”

“I don’t know how to take the first step without looking weak.”

“Do you consider loving a weakness?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Okay. I don’t want to pressure you.”

Hours later, when she leaves, I don’t call Anderson to come get Joseph. Instead, I pick up my phone.

I tremble when I touch the screen where the name of the man I love appears.

It rings several times, but no one answers.

He knows it’s me and doesn’t want to answer? Has he already forgotten me?

Seconds later, my heart skips a beat when I see his name light up on the display.

“Hello?”

“You called me? Is everything okay with you and the baby?”

“Um... yes, yes. I just wanted to know if today it will be you or Anderson who fetches Joseph.”

He remains silent for a while, and I know the reason: until now, I haven’t invited him to come, and as Elina reminded me, Dionysus has been respecting my request that he keep his distance.

“Is that what you want?”

“Um . . .”

“Cecily.”

“Yes, I want to discuss a doctor’s appointment that I have tomorrow. I thought maybe you’d like to go.”

“I’m coming now. We will talk in person.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to say no, hanging up.

On the floor, where he plays with little soldiers, Joseph looks up at me and smiles, as if he approves my attitude.

“I love you, my beautiful one. I’m just scared of acting weak again, but I love your dad.”

I open the door and forget to breathe.

Every day, when we turn on the TV or access social media, we see handsome men.

Models, actors.

There are several representatives of male beauty spread across the four corners of the planet, but for me, none of them hold a candle to my Greek.

I’ve always felt breathless around him since the first time I saw him, but today he seems even wilder. The tormented eyes, the long, disheveled hair, contrasting the perfectly tailored suit.

Those beautiful eyes watch me seriously, but with great hunger too, and my knees weaken.

I feel dominated. He hasn’t even entered yet, and it seems like he occupies the entire house. He’s everywhere. He’s everywhere in me.

“You can’t change your mind,” he says, misinterpreting my silence, I think.

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