Exposed (VIP 4)

“Yes.” Licking my lips, I look straight at my cousin. “Right after Stella’s birthday, Rye and I began hooking up.”

The room explodes into comments.

“She went there,” Jax says in awe. “Just laid it down on the table.”

“Holy shit,” Stella murmurs.

Killian’s color drains then comes back in a rush. He turns to glare at an obviously poleaxed Rye. “What the fuck!”

“Don’t you dare get mad at him,” I snap, pulling his attention back to me. “It was entirely consensual, and frankly you have no say in either of our personal lives.”

He falls back, slumping in his chair. “Shit. You’re right. I’m sorry.” He does not address this to Rye, and I’m fairly sure Killian is still imagining kicking his ass. Killian’s dark eyes remain on me, wry remorse filling them. “I’ll try my best not to act like an overprotective brother, because I know no one can protect someone else from getting hurt. It’s just…Rye? Seriously?”

At this, Rye makes a noise that might be interpreted as a growl but could also very well be him scoffing. But he doesn’t take his eyes from the table.

“Don’t make me come over there,” I warn Killian.

He holds up a hand in surrender. “I only meant I thought you two hated each other.”

“Not the brightest penny in the jar,” Whip murmurs, earning a glare.

“Moving on,” I say firmly, as though I’m not shaking like a damn leaf on the inside. “I thought, in the spirit of this newfound openness, I’d tell you.”

“Finally.” Jax lifts his hands in exasperation. “It was a nightmare keeping silent.”

“Amen,” Whip agrees with feeling.

Killian gapes. “You two knew?”

I gape too. Not because of Whip, but because almost everyone at the table is nodding.

“From the beginning,” Scottie deadpans.

“Well, I didn’t,” Sophie wails. She glares at her husband. “You kept this from me. This? Gabriel!”

He gives her a sidelong look, fondness lighting it. “You wouldn’t have been able to keep it secret, chatty girl.”

Sophie snaps her mouth closed then wrinkles her nose. “It’s true. I would have blabbed to all and sundry.”

“I can’t believe you guys knew,” I say, still not quite able to look at Rye. I’m aware of him, though, sitting there, humming with tension, staring at me like he can’t quite figure out what the hell I’m doing.

Jax laughs shortly. “Honey, if you’re trying to be discreet, you can’t be making out in your kitchen during family dinner.”

Killian makes a noise of disgusted horror.

But I have to smile. “Caught us, did you?”

Jax glances at Rye, likely gauging how much to say. “Unfortunately. But Rye told me to fuck off with the gossip and leave it alone on pain of death, so…” He trails off with a shrug.

At Jax’s admission, Rye’s head jerks up, his eyes wide and slightly panicked. Our gazes collide, and I shake my head slightly, trying to tell him it’s okay.

I put him in a difficult position with vows of secrecy. I can imagine Rye worrying that everyone would start talking and how it would embarrass me. It’s oddly sweet because I know he was protecting my feelings.

Rye sags slightly, but the muscle in his jaw remains bunched. He breaks our gaze first, blinking down at his hands as though he doesn’t know where to look or how to deal with my sudden confession.

I’m sorry, Ryland. It had to be done.

Libby’s amused voice tugs my attention away from Rye. “I guessed but didn’t say anything because I wasn’t sure. It was your body language. People fucking…” She gives a stewing Killian a hesitant glance. “Er…having sex, act differently around each other.”

“Yeah, it was pretty obvious,” Stella says, then smiles at Killian. “Well, to some of us.”

I turn to Scottie, because he’s far too quiet and way too smug. “How did you know from the beginning, Gabriel?”

He gives me a “get real” look. “I knew what would occur the second Rye stormed out of Stella’s birthday party.”

“Oh, you did, did you?” Arrogant ass. He probably did. He’s creepy that way.

“Love, why do you think I set you up with Marshall, who happens to look far too similar to a certain dithering idiot here? I’d had it with all the sexual tension dressed up as antipathy. Thought you both could use a little motivation.”

“That’s some Machiavellian shit right there,” Jax says with a laugh.

For the first time, Rye stirs, shooting a dark glare at Scottie. “Dickhead. You gave me so much grief about it. And now you’re claiming you were matchmaking?”

Scottie doesn’t even blink. “More motivational hurdles, mate.”

“Bullshit.”

Stella hums thoughtfully. “I don’t know…I’m still not convinced Scottie didn’t set me up with John.”

Jax huffs out a disbelieving laugh. “Us? No. You were only pet sitting. He didn’t even want you to bother…Fu-ck me.” Gaping, he points a cookie at Scottie. “Make that Machiavelli’s evil brother.”

I have to bite my lip not to smile, because these sorts of machinations are exactly Scottie’s style.