Page 84 of Forever King

She stands from the table and leans down to kiss me on the cheek. “I love you too, Kellen. I just need some time.”

Any man who’s ever heard a woman say she needs time knows that’s never a good thing. Time doesn’t make things better. It just makes everything worse.

I’m going to lose her, and I have no one but myself to blame.

31

Salem

My sister doesn’t saya word after I finish telling her about Kellen’s news. I don’t know if I need her to say anything. What is there to say? That little boy exists and deserves to have a father in his life. Kellen just so happens to be his father, so he should know his son.

I still can’t believe I’m saying Kellen has a son.

“And you’re sure he didn’t cheat on you with this woman?” Ever finally asks.

“Yes. I believe him when he said that. The dates work out.”

Another long pause comes with a heavy sigh. “So what are you going to do? I have a spare room in my place if you need it until you find somewhere else to live.”

While I appreciate that my sister is my biggest cheerleader and always has my back, I don’t need anywhere else to live. I have a home. Right here with Kellen.

“I’m good. I’m staying, but thanks.”

“Holy shit! You aren’t bailing after finding out this news? I thought you hated kids.”

Everyone thinks if you don’t want to have kids that you hate them. That’s not true, at least it’s not for me. I didn’t want to give birth. Kids are fine. Granted, I didn’t plan on having any in my life, other than his family’s children, but I’ll have to adjust.

I don’t have a choice if I want to keep Kellen in my life.

“Hate is a strong word. I never hated kids. I just didn’t want to give up my career or my body to have any. I don’t have to do any of that for Kellen to be a father to this little boy.”

Ever chuckles. “So, now you’re going to be a stepmom? Are you going to be one for good or one for evil? You know, like the wicked stepmother from Cinderella and countless fairy tales?”

“I have no idea if I’ll have any part in this boy’s life. That’s not really my choice, now is it? Right now, I’m with Kellen, and he happens to be the father of a child. That’s the full extent of my area of interest.”

“You’re accepting this very well, Salem. I’m surprised.”

I walk over to the window in the spare bedroom and look out at the city lights. “To be honest, I’m a little surprised too, but what are my choices here? I don’t want to leave Kellen, so I have to accept this has happened. I think he’s afraid I’m going to bolt out the door and never look back, though.”

“Are you surprised? You’ve made it quite clear to anyone who wanted to listen that you aren’t the marrying or mothering kind.”

Sighing, I think about the truth of her statement. “I did, but I recently changed my mind on marriage, so who knows? Maybe I’ll want to be this little boy’s stepmother. Who knows? All I know is I’m a woman at the height of her career who can have anything I want, and I want to stay with Kellen. That means Elias comes along with him.”

My sister coughs like she’s choking. “Changed your mind on what? Are you getting married now?”

“No, but I’m not hating the idea anymore. I think I was afraid that I’d have to give up too much if I got married. Now I see I don’t have to do that.”

She takes a sip of her drink and clears her throat. “You’re not going to tell me you’re going to have a baby now, are you? My heart can’t handle that kind of news tonight.”

With a smile, I repeat what I’ve always said about having a baby. “No, there will be no children from me. As for being some kind of mother, well, today’s news says that could happen. Stay tuned.”

“God, you guys are like that soap opera Grandma used to watch every afternoon. I’m practically waiting for this kid’s mother to suddenly show up on your doorstep the first time he’s there to announce she faked her death and she and Kellen were secretly married four years ago.”

Every word of that sounds ridiculous. Then again, I guess all the changes that have happened to Kellen and me recently sound a little crazy to my sister.

That’s okay. Nobody ever said we were normal.

After a few hoursof talking things out with my sister, I walk out to the living room to find Kellen slumped on the couch watching some old TV show. Climbing onto the cushion, I snuggle next to his body, waking him up.