Chapter 34
Ryder
My eyes fly to Lily, panic settling in my chest. Feeling my eyes on her, she looks up and flashes me a bright smile, her hands covered in dough and a dusting of flour on her cheek.
I turn my back to her, unable to return her smile. I press the switch on the sconce, opening the bookshelf door, and step onto the staircase so I can speak freely. “What do you want?” I growl into the phone.
“Hey there, easy now. I just wanted to have a little chat.”
My hand clenches into a fist. “We both know that’s not true. Tell me what you want.”
There’s a moment of silence on the other end. “I think we have something in common,” he finally says.
“I doubt it.”
“Don’t be so hasty. It seems you’re interested in my leftovers. A certain someone by the name of Lily Stone.”
How does he know? Who else knows? It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since we kissed.
I can’t give him the satisfaction of confirming his claim. Maybe he’s just guessing.
I hesitate a moment, taking a deep breath and forcing myself to calm down.
This isn’t the way I would act if I didn’t have feelings for her.
I can’t seem too affected at just the mention of her name.
My goal is to find out what he wants and to make sure nothing happens to Lily.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I say coolly.
“I’m a friend of the family, but I wouldn’t say I’m interested in anything beyond that. ”
Tristan hums. “That’s not what I saw last night.”
My stomach drops. “What?”
I hear some taps on his end. “Check your text messages.”
I pull the phone away from my ear and find a text from this same number.
With a picture of me kissing Lily last night.
“Where did you get this?” I hiss, putting the phone back up to my ear. “Are you here in Brookhaven?”
“Me? In Brookhaven? Of course not. But I have my sources.”
My brain filters through the possibilities. Someone at the book club? Someone in their home, watching through the windows? The options are endless.
Stupid, Ryder. You should have known better.
“I have a proposition for you,” he continues.
“Because I’m sure you’re aware of her family’s reaction to our relationship.
You can imagine how they’ll feel if they find out about the two of you, especially when you were supposed to be protecting her.
” He clicks his tongue. “And of all people, Peter’s best friend. ”
I stay quiet. I wish he weren’t right about that, but I know he is. It’s why I held back from kissing her until I couldn’t resist anymore.
“Leave her,” Tristan says. “Just disappear. You don’t even have to come up with a reason, but leave her alone.”
“What? Why?”
He pauses. “It’s what she deserves.” The words come out with venom and spite.
“Deserves?” I repeat. “Hang on. We’re talking about a girl who was barely eighteen, who you manipulated for the sake of getting back at her brother? And now you think she deserves to be, what, heartbroken?”
“Do you know what she’s put me through?” His voice is strained and tight. “I’ve lost everything. No one wants to hire me. She needs to pay.”
“You did that to yourself,” I say sharply. “Lily did nothing wrong.”
“See it how you want. I don’t care. But there’s my offer. Leave her, and I’ll keep this picture to myself. But if you choose to stay, I’ll send this to her whole family.”
My heart pounds in my chest. Is he telling the truth? He’s got nothing to lose. Why wouldn’t he send it?
“I’ll give you fifteen minutes to decide.”
“How are you going to know what I decide?”
He hangs up without answering my question. I stare at the phone in my hands, my chest tight. It feels like an impossible choice.
Either I prevent her from facing the potential anger of her brothers and father. But that would mean leaving her completely alone.
Again.
Or I can stay with her and we can face this situation together. Maybe her family would understand. Maybe Peter would understand.
No. He would never.
Okay, so if they wouldn’t understand, where would that leave us?
Are we doomed to be apart no matter what I choose?
At least if I leave, she won’t be in trouble with her family.
The consequences will only be mine to bear.
Except for the fact that I’d be breaking her heart—again.
Lily has already had her heart shattered once by Tristan, even if he didn’t really love her.
But me… I have genuine feelings for her.
Is it love? I’ve never truly been in love before, so I have nothing to compare these feelings to.
But if this isn’t love, then I don’t know what is.
I’m so torn. Either way, we’re in trouble.
The door creaks open, and light streams into the staircase.
“Ryder?” Lily’s sweet voice echoes off the stone walls.
I turn to face her, the light behind her making her look like an angel. I stride back inside her room, gathering her in my arms and holding her tight. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but in this moment, I know I can hold her and keep her safe.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, her voice muffled in my chest.
I pull back and put my hands on her shoulders. “You haven’t heard anything from Tristan, right? Or your family?”
“No.” She furrows her brow and shakes her head. “Ryder, what’s going on?”
I swallow hard, unsure of what I should tell her.
“You two better not be kissing in the dark!” Agatha’s voice rings into the staircase now, too. Her expression changes when she sees us. “Oh, dear. What’s wrong?”
Looking at the two of them, I know I have to tell them what’s going on. I won’t abandon her now, at least not without some kind of explanation.
I slide my hand down Lily’s arm, intertwining our fingers together like we did this morning. Tugging her back into the room, I gesture for us all to sit on the couch. Lily sits between me and Agatha, and they both look intently at me.
“That was Tristan Jackson,” I say.
Agatha lets out a little gasp, and Lily’s eyes widen.
“What did he want?” Lily whispers.
In that moment, I see the fear in her eyes. Despite everything she’s said and the way she acts, he’s still stolen the peace she deserves. My chest tightens, resolved to be open and honest with her. She deserves that from me, and I will give her everything she needs.
“He somehow got a hold of a picture of us from last night,” I explain. “And he wants me to leave you.”
Lily blinks at me a few times. “What? Why does he care so much?”
I exhale. “He seems obsessed with getting back at you.”
She takes in a shaky breath. “And if you don’t leave?”
“He’s going to send the picture to your father and brothers. I know how Peter will react. He’ll lose his mind. And your other brothers and dad—”
“Same,” Lily confirms. She holds my gaze, and I see her weighing the options. It’s a heavy decision. “But that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we’re together.” She takes her other hand and squeezes mine with both. “What do you think, Aunt?”
Agatha’s face sets with determination. “I think he should leave.”
“No,” I say firmly, squeezing Lily’s hand. “I’m not leaving her alone.”
“She’s not alone,” Agatha replies. “She has me. Trust me, this is the better of the two options.”
“I don’t want to hide,” I insist.
Agatha looks down at our clasped hands, presses her lips together, then looks back at us. “Lily, my dear, I don’t think anyone has ever told you about Eugene.”
Lily shakes her head slightly. “Who is Eugene?”
A small smile fills Agatha’s face. “Only the love of my life.”