“Oh hell.”
“She has a thing for him though, so maybe she won’t bring it up.”
Sinclair’s head jerked back a bit. “A thing?”
“Yes.” I tried to act nonchalant.
“Is Ryder receptive?”
I remembered how he denied being interested in her when I found the business card. “He says he isn’t.”
Sinclair arched a brow. “So, you’ve had this discussion?”
“It wasn’t a discussion as much as it was me accusing him of moving on to her before he’d finished with me.” Crap, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.
She sighed. “Ryder is a lot of things, but a cheater and liar isn’t one of them.” She looked at the newspaper again and I got the feeling that she was thinking he had to have a good reason for being at Stark’s event.
She looked up at me. “So, what is with you and Ryder?”
“We completed the bet.” Sort of. I did leave a day early. I wondered if Ryder would out me on that.
“That’s it? You slept with him and now it’s done?”
“Well, not done,” I said pressing my hand over my belly. “But now it’s just about the baby.”
“Is that what you want?”
Before I could answer, her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID. “It’s the mayor.”
I nodded thanking the heavens to be saved by the bell. “I’ll leave you to it.”
I exited her office shutting the door. She and I were back on even ground again. The rest of my life still felt like a crapshoot, but at least I had her again, I thought as I headed back to my desk.
25
Ryder
I was the worst fucking brother ever. Not only did I betray my sister by playing at a fundraiser for her political rival, but I hadn’t had the guts to tell her about it and beg her forgiveness. After dealing with Mr. Coffey, I’d mostly hidden away.
When the paper came out, I nearly died. I’d hoped that no one noticed, but I got a few not-so-friendly comments when I was serving at the bar. I tried to ignore them. Instead, I focused on how the money was going to secure my child’s future, but it was damn hard. The fact that I didn’t hear from Sinclair, made me even more nervous. I considered calling Trina to ask about it, but figured she’d be livid too. Turns out I was a coward, as I avoided them both.
With the ten thousand extra I made from my betrayal, I put most in savings and used some to pay for the structural repair of my porch and other materials to fix up my home.
When Wyatt came over again to help me fix up the house, I waited for him to give me the what for that I deserved. After all, Stark bullied his mother and harassed them about selling his farm. He’d more than likely feel betrayed too.
When I opened the door to his knock, he gave me a knowing smirk. “I should kick your ass.”
“You probably should,” I agreed, letting him in the house.
“First I have to hear what would compel you to go against your sister.”
I explained everything. How I wanted the money for the baby and to show Trina I was a safe bet. I hoped he believed me when I told him that I didn’t know it was a fundraiser for Wallace. I felt even sicker speaking it all out loud than I had with it rattling around in my brain. I told him that as well.
“Not sick enough not to do it or not to take the money,” he quipped.
Jesus, I thought I might throw up. “I’m buying the Salvation Station with it. That means Stark can’t buy it.” It was a lame excuse, but I needed something to save my soul from eternal damnation.
Wyatt thought about that. “Use his money against him. I like it.”