Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ryder
It’s early when I walk into the hotel lobby. The place is still quiet except for the faint hum of the heating system and the occasional tap of heels on marble as Pearl makes her way into the breakfast hall.
The scent of fresh coffee drifts in from the kitchen, mingling with the evergreen garlands decorating the columns, a strange contrast to the pressure weighing on my chest.
I step forward, scanning the room with my usual glance, when something, or rather, someone, catches my eye.
At first, I think I’m imagining it. Then my heart stops.
It’s Claire.
I can’t make sense of it at first. She’s sitting in one of the plush chairs near the front desk, a casual air about her as she flips through a magazine.
But it’s her. The same face I haven’t seen in years, the same sharp gaze that’s somehow more piercing now. She looks out of place, and yet, in some way, she’s meant to be here.
I freeze in the doorway, my mind racing, heart pounding against my ribs. What the hell is she doing here?
Is this a damn family reunion? First Mom, now my sister?
She doesn’t notice me at first. Her focus is on the magazine in her lap, but when she flips the page, she looks up, her eyes meeting mine with a calmness that sets my nerves on edge.
I can’t even hide my surprise. I don’t know how to react to this. How to handle her being here after all this time.
The last time I saw her, we barely spoke. Years of silence, resentment, and a thousand unspoken words have piled up between us, leaving a divide that’s nearly impossible to cross.
But here she is, as if it’s the most normal thing in the world.
“Well,” she says. “This is… awkward.”
My pulse is still racing, my mouth dry as I take a tentative step forward.
“Claire,” I finally manage to say, the name feeling foreign on my tongue. “What the hell are you doing here?”
She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t even look uncomfortable. Instead, she stands up, smooth and graceful, as though she hasn’t just dropped into my life like the bombshell she is.
“I came to see you,” she says, as if that’s supposed to make sense. “I thought we could talk.”
I blink, processing her words as though she’s speaking in another language.
“Talk?” The word feels wrong. It doesn’t belong in this situation.
Her smile is thin, but there’s something unspoken in it—a challenge, maybe, or just an acknowledgment of the tension between us.
“You’re surprised,” she notes. “You probably didn’t expect me to show up here, of all places.”
I can’t quite hide the irritation that creeps into my voice. “No, I didn’t. I haven’t heard from you in… God, it’s been years, Claire.”
“I know,” she says quietly, looking around the lobby as if noticing the hotel for the first time. “But I saw you online. The Christmas Prince debacle… the hotel article… I take it Mom is back in your life?”
Of course.
Of course, she saw it. Claire is nothing if not always in the loop, no matter how long she’s been out of the picture.
She’s the one who left. Who disappeared when things got hard. And now, here she is, and I’m not sure why…
I run a hand over my face, fighting the urge to snap.
“Yeah,” I grit out. “She’s back. And I didn’t ask for it.”
Claire’s eyes narrow, and for a brief moment, I see a flicker of something in her gaze. It’s the same look I remember from when we were kids. The one that could go from calm to cutting in a heartbeat.
“I didn’t think you did,” she says. “I know how she can be. I can help.”
My jaw tightens. I don’t want her help. I don’t need it. This is my mess to clean up.
I stare at her for a long beat, trying to gather myself. “So, you’re just here from LA to help me? What about your wellness business?”
She leans against the desk. “I can take a break.”
Before I can retort, a voice calls out from the back of the hotel.
“Ryder?” Dex appears, his ever-present optimism cutting through the tension. “Everything okay out here?”
“This is Claire,” I tell him with a sigh. “My sister.”
Dex smiles politely, unfazed by the continual family reunion I never asked for. “Well, we’ve got breakfast ready in the restaurant if you’d both like to have something to eat?”
I shoot Dex a grateful look, more out of habit than anything. If there’s one thing I can trust Dex with, it’s knowing when to step in, and when to defuse the situation. He’s good at that.
Claire doesn’t hesitate either. She simply nods, her gaze never leaving me. “Sure. Breakfast sounds perfect.”
I take a seat across from her, my movements sharp as I sit down. Dex retreats to the kitchen, leaving us alone. Just the two of us. It’s too much.
The waitress sets down mugs of coffee and a basket of warm pastries, and Claire’s eyes follow every motion, taking in every detail with quiet curiosity.
It’s hard to ignore the way she watches everything. She’s trying to piece it all together in her mind. But then her gaze lands back on me, and I feel her eyes probing.
I take a slow sip of coffee, avoiding her stare.
“So,” she begins, breaking the silence, “I guess I’m not the only one who’s been keeping an eye on the news.”
I set the coffee cup down, the sound a little sharper than it should be.
“Yeah, guess not,” I mutter. “That’s what happens when you’ve got a mother like ours. Always making headlines.”
Claire smirks, and I can’t help but feel a flicker of something. Relief? Familiarity?
“Don’t I know it,” she says, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “She did the same to me when my wellness studio first started getting attention. Never let me have a moment to myself.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You mean she wasn’t the one with the spotlight? That’s a shocker.”
Claire scoffs, but there’s no real bite to it. She’s leaning back now, eyeing me with that calculating gaze that used to drive me insane.
“No, believe it or not, I was the one running the damn business. Mom just made it her personal mission to turn every damn press interview into a ‘look at me, I’m the queen’ show.”
I can’t help but grin at that. “Well, to be fair, she does wear it well.”
Claire rolls her eyes but laughs lightly. It’s almost normal. For a second, I’m reminded of the old Claire, before we both got sucked into the mess that is our family.
She leans forward, folding her arms on the table, a more serious look crossing her face. “I didn’t come here to add to your stress, Ryder. But I saw what was happening. You’re drowning. And if you’re not careful, Mom will drag you under with her.”
The mood shifts, just slightly, but it’s enough for me to feel the tension creeping back in. I’ve been ignoring this for years: Claire was always the one who could see the truth of things, even when I didn’t want to face it.
She’s got this way of cutting straight to the heart of the matter, and it’s just as annoying as it is… necessary.
I let out a sharp exhale, running my fingers through my hair. “I don’t need your help, Claire. I’ve been managing just fine without you.”
She narrows her eyes at me, and there’s the sister I used to know—the one who could call me on my bullshit without hesitation.
“Sure, you have,” she says, giving me a look. “Managing so well I can practically feel the cracks in the foundation from here.”
My teeth grind a little at her words, but I don’t want to let her get under my skin. Not again. So, I shrug and force myself to drink more coffee.
“What do you suggest? I toss a rope out and pull you back in? Maybe we can save the sinking ship together.”
She smirks, leaning back in her seat. “You would make it sound like some tragic hero story. But you’re the one holding the damn rope, Ryder.”
I let out a humorless laugh, trying to shake off the unease creeping in.
“Always me, huh?” I mutter, more to myself than to her. “Guess that’s the Hale way.”
She takes a sip of her coffee, her eyes flicking to the window for a moment before landing back on me.
“So, since I’m in the area, and clearly not leaving anytime soon…” She pauses, a small, knowing smile playing at the corner of her mouth. “I think I’ll need a room.”
I blink, taken off guard by the sudden shift in the conversation. “A room? Really? I don’t know if you’ll like it here.”
Claire chuckles. “Hey, come on. I want to be close to you. I’ll love it.”
“Fine,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck, “I’ll get you a room. But I’m warning you, this place is a disaster. Renovations are still ongoing, and the staff… well, let’s say we’re not exactly a five-star operation yet.”
She gives me a long look, then smiles. “I don’t expect five-star anything. I’m not here for luxury, Ryder.”
I nod, still unsure how to process her sudden presence here. “Alright, Claire. But don’t come crying to me if it’s a little rough around the edges.”
She smirks, clearly enjoying the fact that I’m flustered. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I’m a big girl, remember?”
I roll my eyes as I head over to the desk, grabbing a keycard from the pile. I can’t deny that something about Claire’s presence makes everything feel… off-kilter.
There’s no easy way to step back into this version of our relationship. Too many years of silence, too many unspoken words, but now she’s here. And I can’t quite figure out why.
Sliding the key across the counter, I give it to her. “Room 215. It’s not much, but it’s what we’ve got.”
She takes the key with a quiet thanks, her fingers brushing mine for a second longer than necessary. I glance up, our eyes locking for a moment.
There’s something there in the way she looks at me. It’s both familiar and strange, as if she’s seeing right through me, peeling back the layers I’ve kept hidden.
I try to keep my thoughts focused on Claire as we reach the door to her room, but my mind keeps drifting to… other things. The hotel. The renovation.
And her.
The other woman in my life right now. I haven’t mentioned Sunny yet, not to Claire, not to anyone, but the thought of how they’ll get along nags at me.
Claire and Sunny are complete opposites. Sunny’s carefree, quirky, full of life, and, well, just a little bit crazy in the best way.
Claire, on the other hand, can be composed, sharp, and calculating. She doesn’t make room for much mess. She’s never really had to.
Will they clash? Will they even talk?
Claire’s never been the type to connect with anyone who doesn’t play by her rules. And Sunny doesn’t do rules. Not unless they involve hot chocolate and Christmas decorations.
I hand Claire the room key with one last glance. “Here you go. Get settled in, and I’ll let you know if I need anything from you.”
She raises an eyebrow at that. “You’ll need something, Ryder. Trust me.”