Greydon

---

I’m not sure if Marin worked for me or the opposite. She was calling the shots these days and it was difficult to argue with her logic. My reason for wanting to leave had everything to do with how the women from the office were treating her—snubbing her, whispering behind her back, and giving her those looks—but I didn’t want to tell her that. This would be addressed on Monday. I’m not sure why they felt the need to do that, but I wasn’t going to stand for it.

When we got home, Aaron was fast asleep, so I carried him up to his room. Kinsley was in need of a nap as well, so she tagged along behind me. I got her settled and then decided to do a quick workout. I grabbed some water from the kitchen and headed down. Why had Marin invaded my headspace so much? She’d taken over, like a fucking virus. I couldn’t say no to anything she demanded. Why was that? Because she made perfect sense every fucking time and it pissed me off. They were my kids, so I should have the final say, right? But no. She was the one who got her way. And that’s what sucked. She was making me lose my shit. I had to leave her during that damn picnic because it was either that or get into a bitch session. And wouldn’t that have gone over well? I could just hear Josh on Monday giving me shit about it.

I was adjusting the weights on the leg press when I heard footsteps. Turning around, I saw Marin stepping onto the treadmill. She hadn’t seen me yet because I was bent down, reaching for another plate. I took the pleasure of observing her for a minute. She looked good … really good.

“You finally decided to start exercising, I see.”

“Eek!” Her phone flew out of her hand as she jumped in fright. “You scared me to death. Don’t do that.”

“I wouldn’t have had I known you’d react like that.”

“I always react like that when someone scares the crap out of me.” She picked her phone up and stepped back onto the treadmill. “And just so you know, I’ve been exercising for a few weeks now. Only when Aaron is napping. Kinsley comes down here with me, so don’t think I’m a neglectful nanny.” Her sassy tone let me know she wasn’t happy with my comment.

“I hadn’t meant to infer that.”

She stuffed her earbuds in and ignored me. I guess the conversation was over. After I worked my legs much harder than I’d intended, I moved to the bench press machine. It faced the treadmill, so I watched her run as I lifted. She had good form but was a bit slow. Maybe I could put her on a running program or at least offer her a few pointers. I finished my punishing set of chest presses, did some lat pulldowns, then walked over to the treadmill.

“Hey.”

She yanked out her earbuds and raised her brows.

“You should pick up your pace some. I can put you on a program.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Intervals. Go all out for about fifteen to twenty seconds, and then back off for a minute or two. Then pick it up again. Do this for twenty to thirty minutes three days a week. Then on the other three, try to pick up your pace where you can’t carry on a comfortable conversation. Maybe you could run a 5k then.”

Her head slanted and she paused the treadmill. “Has it ever occurred to you that there’s a remote possibility I have one functioning brain cell in this skull of mine? And that perhaps I have some experience at this?”

“Er …”

“Yeah, didn’t think so. I’m going to let you in on something. I used to run marathons. I’ve done ten and let me count.” She paused and looked up at the ceiling. “Seventeen half marathons. I ran cross country in high school. I know all about interval training. In the old days, we called it speed work. Now non-runners fancied up the term with interval training.” She finger-quoted the new term. “Give me another month, Dr. Know It All, and I’ll dust your ass in a 5k.” Then she flashed me a cocky—yes, a cocky—grin. “Care to accept this challenge?”

Well, fuck. I couldn’t pussy out of this. I returned her little cheeky smile. “I’d love to accept your challenge.” But then I thought how I needed to get my running ass in shape. If she was a marathoner, she knew what the hell she was doing. Shit.

Her cocky grin remained in place and I had an urge to kiss it away. “Since you’re so damn smart, I’ll even let you choose which one we do.”

“It’s a deal.” I held out my hand and she shook it.

“Now leave me alone so I can get back to running. I don’t have the luxury of a lot of time like you do. I actually work for a living.”

“What?”

“You heard me.” She waved her hand.

I turned around and could’ve sworn she flipped me off. The little shit. I was going to have to show her up on this 5k or else. I finished my workout and literally sprinted to my computer to google upcoming 5ks in the area. There were a few about six or seven weeks from now. I’d have to see if my parents could keep the kids. Then I leaned back in my chair and chuckled. She totally dished it out to me. There I thought I was Mr. Knowledge and she showed me up. She even challenged me. A grin stretched across my face, which soon turned into a chuckle.

It lasted until I opened my desk drawer to get something and there sat the DNA kit I’d ordered. When it arrived, I’d stuffed it in there, still not knowing what to do. Maybe it was time. Maybe today was the day. Maybe knowing would put an end to all of this.

As I stared at it, time disappeared. My thoughts shifted back to Susannah and the day she told me she was pregnant with Aaron. I was overjoyed. After Kinsley, I was sure she hadn’t wanted another. With her travel schedule and how invested she was in her career, she always said only one. She loved her daughter. I never doubted that. But when the second pregnancy happened, she wasn’t happy about it.

---

“This is great. You know I’ve always wanted more than one.”

“You have. Not me. I’m the one who has to carry it. This was unplanned, Grey.”

“Yes, but you know how much I’ll help raising it. I’m not an absentee father.”

“Grey, I didn’t mean to imply that. It’s just …”

“What?”

“I, uh, nothing.”

---

Thinking back to that conversation, was she trying to tell me something then? Or was I reading too much into it? I sat and stared at that stupid kit until Marin walked in and asked, “Have you figured it out yet?

Did she suspect something?

“What?” I practically yelled.

Her eyes darted to me, and then the kit. It was plainly written on the box. DNA Paternity Testing Kit.

“Um, the race. Are you okay?” Her tone was soft.

When I didn’t answer, she asked, “What’s going on? I know it’s not my business and you can tell me to butt out, but you have a really crazy look on your face.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not your business.”

Both her hands shot up, palms facing me. “I get it.” She started backing away.

“Wait.” She loved Aaron and maybe she could help me think things through. “You … I mean, are the kids up yet?”

“No. They’re still sound asleep. Aaron will probably be down for another thirty and if Kinsley wakes up, she’ll come down wanting a snack.”

I shook my head. “So, uh, do you mind if I ask you something?”

She rested a hand on her hip. “Only if you want an honest answer because I’m not into blowing smoke up someone’s ass just because I think it’s what they want to hear.”

“I already figured that out about you.”

“What’s up? And I take it that it has something to do with what’s in your hands.”

I was holding the box and turning it around and around. “Yeah. Take a seat.”

She ran her forearm across her damp forehead after she sat down. I took a deep breath and launched into the sordid tale.

“The day my wife died in that plane crash, I found out she’d been having an affair that had been going on for two years.”