Chapter 9 #3
“Did you see how brilliantly she just delivered that line?” Ryder breaks in, a devil-may-care gleam in his eye. “She’s so convincing. You’d never suspect she was lying through her teeth.”
The smile freezes on my face as sharp gasps pepper the air, the crowd as caught off guard by his caustic comment as I am.
I stare him down, committing attempted murder with my eyeballs.
What the hell are you doing? my glare telegraphs, but he just smiles back innocently, blissfully unaware of his imminent death.
Ryder faces forward again, addressing the audience.
“The reason we didn’t get along back then is because I was an immature, insecure asshole.
” The restless murmuring crescendos, sweeping its way across the room like a cresting wave, and my heart starts hammering against my ribs.
“These guys have been covering for me forever, and while I appreciate it, I think ten years is long enough, don’t you? ”
Even Jase is gawking at him now, a slack-jawed expression on his face I’ve never seen before. A speechless Jason is a sight to behold.
Ryder recrosses his legs, completely at ease despite the chaos he’s unleashed.
“There was a lot riding on The Lost Letter for me. I was trying to reinvent myself as an adult actor, so naturally, I took myself way too seriously. It was supposed to be my breakout role—that is, until Scarlett came along.” He smiles at me affectionately, eyes crinkling at the corners, as though we’re privately reminiscing and there aren’t thousands of people inches away, hanging on to his every word.
“She waltzed into that audition and blew everyone out of the water, including me. Nate was there, he’ll tell you. ”
“It’s true. She had the entire room in tears,” Nate attests, and I cover my face with my hands, mortified by the barrage of compliments.
Ryder’s grin grows wider. He’s got me on the hot seat and he’s loving it.
He’s got the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand and begging for seconds.
“As soon as we started shooting, it became obvious that she was going to steal the show, and I panicked.
How dare she come in there and overshadow me? Who gave her permission to be so good?
“I was threatened by her talent, that’s the truth of it,” he says, absently running a palm over his beard.
“I thought there was only enough room for one of us to shine. I felt my big comeback slipping away, and I handled that by throwing my weight around, being difficult, and generally doing whatever I could to throw her off.” He shoots me a wink only I can see.
“She was no pushover, though. She gave as good as she got.”
The most I can manage is a weak smile in return. I’m so taken aback by his unexpected confession, I’m having trouble drawing a full breath. This is definitely not the Ryder I know.
Ryder flashes the audience another megawatt smile.
“All that’s to say, any rumors about fighting on set were completely my fault.
I let my ego get the better of me. The movie was hers,” he says simply, and the flutter in my rib cage becomes a snare drum.
“It’s always been hers. Let’s be honest, there’s a reason we’re still talking about it ten years later and it isn’t because of me or Jason. No offense, man.”
“None taken.”
I try to protest, but he goes on before I can get a word in edgewise.
“We worked things out back then, but it feels good to set the record straight here, in front of God and country. How often do you get the chance to go back in time and right some wrongs? Life doesn’t always give you an opportunity to make amends.
” He turns and looks me square in the eye. “So I’m taking it.”
My heart rate, which has been accelerating wildly for the past few minutes, crashes to a halt, a tangle of emotions warring in my chest. If I’d been worried about what people could read on my face, there’s no hiding the kaleidoscope of feelings now: disbelief, alarm, apprehension, acceptance.
Gratitude. It feels like the entire auditorium is waiting for me to say something, but I can’t find any words.
Dr. Wynn is practically foaming at the mouth at this development.
“It sounds like we may see these two reunited together on-screen after all!” he crows with the giddy energy of someone who knows his long-awaited fifteen minutes of fame has finally arrived—he’ll go down in pop culture history as the man who solved the mystery of Scarlett and Ryder.
Maybe that fun fact will end up on his headstone.
“That is, if I can steal her away from this guy,” Ryder quips, jerking a thumb in Jase’s direction. “And we all know how well that went ten years ago,” he says with an exaggerated roll of his eyes, to more hoots from the crowd.
“You’ll have to fight me for her,” Jase jokes, reaching over to grab my arm in a faux tug-of-war.
“Anytime, anywhere, Hamilton.” Ryder turns back to me, his eyes finding mine, and the look on his face makes my heart leap into my throat. “Losing Scarlett is a mistake you only make once. This time, I intend to get the girl.”