“He’s not worth jail time.”
“Ryder’s going to sue him, right?”
“I…don’t think so.”
Renni gasps. “Why not?”
“He doesn’t want to, and even if he does, I won’t let him. It’s just going to draw attention to the tape, which will only make Shaun happy by giving him the publicity he wants.”
She rests her chin in her hand. “So what’s the option? Are Ryder and Mira going to blackball Shaun?”
That would just about kill him, but I doubt that. Both of them looked like they wanted to strangle me. “They haven’t said anything like that.” I sigh. “I’m sure the wedding’s called off.”
“That’s bullshit!”
“Even if he doesn’t call it off, I don’t know if I want to go on with the whole thing.”
“Oh come on. So you had sex. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Shaun’s the asshole for going public with private stuff, not you.”
“Yeah, but Mira has it right. She told me when a man has sex, he’s a stud, but when a woman does, she’s a slut. Nobody cares about the fact that Shaun violated my trust…or my privacy. The only thing that’s important is that I’m on that tape, naked and getting screwed.” I rest my elbows on my knees and place my forehead in my hands. “How am I going to face Mom and Simon? They’re still in town. And Bethany and Oliver?” I squeeze my eyes shut. I want to disappear into a hole and never come out.
Renni puts an arm over my shoulder. “Your family is sensible, and they love you. I’m sure they’ll support you.”
“I don’t know, Renni. It’s pretty bad.”
“So what are you going to do? Just sit here moaning about the situation? You’re tougher than Shaun or a hundred snide assholes on Twitter and Facebook. You’ll get through this and come out of it stronger.”
Tears well in my eyes. This is the kind of talk I wanted from Ryder. But he’s too wrapped up in his past, thinking about Lauren. I brush them away, but more keep falling, streaking my face.
Renni plucks a Kleenex and hands it to me. “Avoid the Internet for a while. Just turn it off. And if you want, we can have ice cream and you can spend the night here. I just got your favorite. Gary’s casa es tu casa.”
That earns her a watery choked up laugh from me. The offer’s so tempting. If I stay at Renni’s brother’s place, nobody’s going to bother me.
At the same time, I don’t want to run. I haven’t done anything shameful, and I shouldn’t have to hide like I did something wrong. “It’s okay. I’ll go back. I need to anyway, to see my parents off.”
Renni nods, her expression stoic.
“But I’ll take you up on the ice cream.”
“Okay. I’ll get your favorite from the fridge.”
My favorite is Häagen-Dazs pineapple coconut, which Renni can’t stand. She’s more of a vanilla girl. She only ventures out to chocolate flavor when she feels particularly adventurous.
Fresh tears threaten to spill, and I blink them away. And when she brings the ice cream out along with a carton of vanilla, we sit side by side and eat in silence.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ryder
I know the minute Paige leaves the house. The men at the security gates alert me via text.
Should we follow?
The question is innocent. By “follow” they mean to sic a security detail on her.
Meanwhile a part of me thinks if I have her followed, I’ll know where she’s going, possibly figure out what she’s up to.
But it feels like such a gross betrayal to do that. Just because she might’ve betrayed me doesn’t mean I’m going to stoop to the same level. No, I respond.
Pissed off and antsy, I go downstairs to raid the kitchen. We had all kinds of expensive stuff for the party, and I know there have to be leftovers.
I stop short when I see Elliot at the counter with Elizabeth. “What are you still doing here? Mira said everyone left.” I walk around them and get myself a bottle of scotch and a glass, which I fill to the rim. Elizabeth’s radiating enough disapproval to give me a tan, but I don’t give a damn.
Elliot tsks. “Everyone as in every guest. We’re family.” He pushes his empty tumbler my way.
I snort, but pour him two fingers’ worth.
Elizabeth peers behind me. A glass of chilled Riesling sits in front of her. “Where’s Paige?”
“Out.”
“I didn’t see her leave.”
“You wouldn’t have, if you were in the kitchen.” The house is too big to notice who’s coming in or out. That’s why I have security, gates and the wall.