“She turned down a marriage proposal,” Trina said.
Ryder’s brow lifted.
I shook my head. At first, I thought I might have wine. Now I was leaning toward a double shot of something stronger.
“Wyatt is back in town,” I said.
Ryder’s jaw dropped. “No shit?” He looked at me and then Trina, before turning back to me again. “Does he know?”
I gave Ryder a hard glare to not talk about Alyssa in regards to Wyatt.
“Know what?” Trina asked. “That he has to be married to save his ranch? Yes, now he does. But the deputy mayor’s commitment to the town stops at a marriage of convenience.”
“Married to save the ranch?” Ryder’s brows knitted as he processed the information. “Actually, sis’, that might not be a bad thing.”
Jeez, not him too?
“That’s the first time you’ve ever said anything that I agree with,” Trina quipped.
Ryder leaned over the bar toward Trina. “Oh, I don’t know. There was that night in high school, where you agreed with everything I said…and did.”
I wanted to tell them to get a room already. Whatever had started to simmer in high school, still snapped and crackled between them, but for some reason, they ignored it. Since I didn’t want to get in between my brother and friend, I tried to stay out of it.
“Shut up, Ryder and make me a drink,” Trina quipped.
He smirked and poured us both a shot of whisky. “Looks like you both could use it.”
“Cheers.” I held up my drink and then downed it. I closed my eyes as the smooth burn flowed down to my gut.
“So, what’s this about Wyatt and saving the farm? Stark after his land too?” Ryder asked.
“Yes. Apparently, there’s a question about Wyatt’s rights to the land now that his father ran off.”
“Nothing a little marriage couldn’t help fix,” Trina said, holding out her glass for another shot.
Ryder looked at Trina. “Why her? You could marry him.”
“I’d do it in a minute.” Trina waggled her brows.
My brother frowned.
“But my bestest friend and deputy mayor is a better option if the goal is to stop this prison. Plus, you should have seen the lasers she shot at me when Wyatt asked if I’d marry him.”
My brother choked on the water he was drinking. “He what?”
Trina waved her hand. “He was just annoyed that Sinclair rejected him.”
Ryder looked at me.
“Personally, I think he likes you,” Trina said. “At the very least, he was hurt that you thought the idea was too ridiculous.”
“He was not.” I tapped my empty glass on the counter, telling my brother I needed another drink.
She shook her head. “Sometimes I wonder how it was that you ever ended up pregnant. You’re clueless when it comes to men. First the mayor and now Wyatt Jones. You’re like the Pied Piper.” Trina finished her drink and hopped down from the stool. “I’m going to the ladies’ room. When I get back, Ryder, I’d like another drink.”
“As you wish.” He nodded like he was a servant. Ryder waited until she was out of earshot and then said, “Marriage or not, he needs to know about Alyssa.”
“I know.” I looked down, feeling the weight of the ramifications of a summer day ten years ago bearing down on me.