The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins (Mia and Kyle) novel Chapter 402

Mia's POV

The tears stopped.

I guessed they just ran out. My body had used up whatever chemical made crying possible and now I was just sitting there. Empty.

My face felt tight. Hot. My eyes burned.

Kyle was still beside me on the stairs.

I could hear him breathing. That ragged sound his lungs made now. Like something inside was working too hard.

The house was too quiet.

I stood up. My legs felt wrong. Like they belonged to someone else.

"I need to go home," I said.

My voice came out flat. Dead.

"Okay."

Kyle started to stand.

He made it upright eventually.

"The kids are probably awake," I said. "My mom's there but—"

"Can I come with you?"

The question hung between us.

"Fine," I said.

We made it outside. The morning was brighter now. Full daylight. The kind that made everything look harsh and overexposed.

Kyle's car was parked at the curb. A black Mercedes.

I held out my hand. "Keys."

"What?"

"Give me your keys."

"Mia, I can drive."

"Give me your keys."

"I'm fine."

"You're not fine. You're dying. Give me the keys."

He pulled the keys from his pocket. Dropped them into my palm.

The metal was warm.

I unlocked the car. Climbed into the driver's seat.

Kyle got in the passenger side. Slowly.

I started the engine. The car purred. Quiet. Smooth. Nothing like my old Honda that rattled and groaned every time I turned the key.

I pulled away from the curb.

The street was empty except for a woman walking her dog. A golden retriever. It looked happy. Tail wagging. Tongue out.

Gas also needed a walk.

I turned left. Toward my apartment. Toward home.

Kyle hadn't said anything since getting in the car. Just sat there. Looking out the window.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

The question felt stupid the moment it left my mouth.

He turned to look at me. His mouth did something. Not quite a smile.

"This is the first time," he said.

"First time what?"

"Me in the passenger seat. You driving."

I glanced at him. His face was soft. That expression he got when he was remembering something.

"Really?"

"Really."

He was right.

"How does it feel?" I asked.

"Strange."

"Good strange or bad strange?"

"Just strange."

We drove in silence for a few blocks.

Red light. I stopped. Waited.

A taxi passed. Then a bus. Then nothing.

The light turned green.

I accelerated. Smooth. Easy. This car drove like a dream compared to mine.

We turned onto my street. I could see my building ahead. Red brick. Fire escape zigzagging down the front.

I parked on the street. Parallel parking was harder in this car. Bigger. Longer. But I managed.

We walked to the entrance together. Not touching. Just moving in the same direction.

The elevator ride up was silent. Kyle's breathing was loud in the small space. That ragged sound.

I unlocked the apartment door.

The smell hit me first. Coffee. Toast. My mom's perfume.

And underneath it. That particular scent of home. The one you don't notice until you've been away.

A crash came from the kitchen. Then Alexander's voice. High. Excited.

"Mama's home!"

Footsteps. Running.

Alexander appeared first. His pajamas were on backwards. One sock on. The other foot bare. His hair stuck up in seventeen different directions.

He stopped when he saw Kyle.

His eyes went wide.

"Kyle!"

He launched himself forward. Arms out. Moving too fast.

Kyle caught him. Barely. His legs buckled but he stayed upright.

Alexander wrapped himself around Kyle's waist. His face pressed into Kyle's sweater.

I pretended not to notice.

My mother did notice. I could see it in the tightness around her eyes. But she said nothing. Just put more French toast on his plate.

"Eat," she said. Not a suggestion. A command.

Kyle picked up his fork.

The kitchen filled with the sounds of breakfast. Chewing. Swallowing. Alexander talking around his food about something that happened in a dream.

Gas sat by Kyle's chair. His head on Kyle's knee.

Kyle's hand dropped down. Scratched behind Gas's ears.

The dog's tail thumped against the floor.

It was almost normal.

Almost.

Except for the way Kyle's hands shook. The way his face had gone pale again. The way I could hear his breathing even across the table.

Except for the fact that he was dying and we were all pretending he wasn't.

After breakfast Alexander jumped up. "Okay! Now can we show Kyle our room?"

"And then," Ethan added, "can we take Gas for a walk? He didn't go out yet this morning."

I'd forgotten. Again.

"Yes," I said. "Let Kyle see your room. Then walk the dog."

"Will you come?" Alexander asked Kyle.

"To walk the dog?"

"Yeah! "

Kyle's throat worked. "If your mom says it's okay."

Three pairs of eyes turned to me.

"Fine," I said. "One walk. Then Kyle needs to go."

Alexander grabbed Kyle's hand. "Come on! Our room first!"

They disappeared down the hallway. Alexander chattering. Ethan following. Madison trailing behind.

My mother started clearing plates.

"I'm going to lie down," I said.

She looked at me. Really looked. Her eyes moving over my face.

"You should," she said. "You look terrible."

"Thanks, Mom."

"I mean it. Go sleep. I'll handle everything else."

I didn't argue. Just walked to my bedroom. Closed the door.

The bed looked so good. So soft.

I fell onto it face-first. Didn't even take off my shoes.

Sleep came fast. Heavy. Black.

Voices woke me.