Ryder gets up and walks over to the fridge, rummaging inside before digging out a fruit punch Gatorade. He walks back and puts it in front of me. “I thought maybe you’d need this.”
I take the bottle, which he’s opened, and down half of it before my thirst is even close to quenched. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He glances at Hailey.
“I’ve got a few things to attend to.” She rises from the table, picking up her mug on the way.
It’s obvious Ryder told her he wanted to talk to me alone, so when she leaves, I get right down to business. “All right, I’m listening.”
My brother’s handsome face is marred by a frown. “I wanted to apologize.”
Surprised, I raise my glasses and perch them on top of my head. My eyes have adjusted to a mild throb. “For what?”
“I didn’t realize I was scrutinizing you so hard or how that would feel moving to a new town when you’re already on display.” His expression creases in concern. “Sure, I told you about the job because I thought you’d be great for it, but I wanted you to move here because I thought it would be fun. Because some of my favorite times are when I’m with you and Hailey and Sophie. And I thought maybe you might have felt like I did when I left, especially after the whole Travis thing.”
I take a sip of Gatorade, cleanse my palate with water, then down the rest of my coffee. Ryder stands and refills my cup.
When he returns to his seat, I ask, “How did you feel when you left?”
He puts his elbows on the table. “Like I was trapped by who I was growing up. Like I was stuck and needed a new start.”
My brother and I are a lot alike. Hailey is the rock, the calm, quiet one. Ryder and I are the wild troublemakers. We understand each other that way. “I did feel like that.”
“Last night, after you were so disgruntled to see me and said you felt like you were in prison, I realized I had inadvertently done that to you. Which is the last thing I want. So I’m sorry, and I promise I’ll stop, if you can promise to not completely hate seeing me.”
For some reason I can’t possibly fathom, my throat tightens. I hold my coffee mug up to my lips and clear my throat. “That’s a fair compromise.”
“Good.” He scrubs a palm over his strong jaw. “Let’s clear the air on the Charlie situation, even though it’s awkward.”
I straighten, going on high alert. “Okay.”
“I might not know why you were following him that day, but it’s clear you are going to hook up, if you’re not already.”
Unsure where he’s going, I remain silent.
“You’re a grown woman and you don’t need my permission, but be careful, okay. Charlie’s the kind of guy that avoids attachment at all costs.”
My brow furrows. “Look, I know he’s your boss, but I won’t?—”
“No, you don’t understand.” He cuts me off, shaking his head. “I’m not saying he’s not attached to you. I’m saying he is.”
I can’t help asking the question. “Why do you think that?”
“Because if he could help it, you’d be the last woman on earth he would go for.”
I frown. “Hey, what’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing. This is not fun to talk about with your sister—give me a break here.”
“All right. Sorry.” Contrite in the face of his peace offering, I do my best to explain. “Every time I try to get away from a bad week, all I get is another bad week. It’s making me edgy and maybe a little defensive.”
“It’s not you, it’s what you represent. You’re my sister, he’s my boss, and you’re going to have a professional relationship. One of those things alone should be enough for Charlie to cross you off his list. All three of those things should make you—as he told me once—someone he wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. You have three strikes against you, so the fact that it doesn’t matter tells me he can’t help it.”
I nibble on my lower lip. “What do you want me to say?”
“Nothing. Just be careful. I don’t know why, because he avoids all questions about his past except for the basics, but attachment makes him wary.”
“I’ll consider myself warned, but it’s not going to matter.”