"He'll whop me for sure, but damn if I can't stomach seeing him so out of sorts." He glanced at me, forgetting the handkerchief when I narrowed my eyes. "Mr. Welis said someone had reported him. That he was … ah … well, that he was following after some of the students and making them uncomfortable. Said some fella told him Isaac had been seen following his girlfriend back to her dorm. So they canned him. Didn't want there to be no ruckus."
"Oh for Pete's sake." Trent. That bastard. He just couldn't stand the thought of not getting what he wanted, and was willing to ruin lives to get his way.
When I glanced back at Lenny, I could see that he knew. That he and Isaac and even Mr. Welis probably knew exactly who had made the report and why, but there was nothing they could do about it but follow procedure. My blood went from icy cold with fear to a rising anger in the space of a few heartbeats. "This is my fault," I told Lenny, livid that Trent had orchestrated this. "Trent … my ex … whatever he was. I know he did this."
"That's what Isaac reckoned too, that it was that fella … the one you used to go around with. He's got a far reach, that one."
"Lenny, where is he?" He automatically started shaking his head, even picked up his mop as though he'd determined to ignore me. "Please, I just want to check on him."
"He's fine. Just waiting out the end of the week and trying to head off to New York and see if he can't … "
"Head off to New York?"
Lenny paused, cursed to himself as though he hadn't meant for the slip of information to worm its way from his mouth. "You didn't hear that from me."
"Lenny, please. Just tell me where he is." He rolled the mop and bucket away from me, starting on a new section ten feet away, throwing up his hand to stop me when I tried walking across the wet time. I like to think of myself as a strong woman, someone who may look fragile and be willing to act the part of a polite, well-bred young lady. My go-to way of dealing with horrible things was to keep smiling, to always have a kind word, to look for the good in things even when they were rotten, but still one who could hold her own in a storm, or not fall apart if the unexpected happen. But right then, I felt all hollowed out, empty. I could only stand there and stare at Lenny and that mop of his moving across the floor, to devastated to even cry.
Finally, when I didn't move, he looked back at me, and I must have cut a pretty pathetic figure because suddenly his resolve splintered. "Oh, hell, Miss Riley, I can't stand that look." He held the mop handled between his fingers, head shaking as he watched me. "That little cottage out on Lakeside? I reckon he told you about his uncle's little camp out there?" He had. Isaac promised to bring me there one weekend when he wasn't working so hard, but we'd never found the time. I nodded, walking backward as Lenny continued. "Fools, the pair of you. And don't you go telling him I told you all his business."
"I won't!" I turned, started to sprint away and slipped a little on the wet floor, laughing at Lenny's loud curse. "Sorry!"
"And don't you be driving out there by yourself!" I threw a wave over my shoulder and heard Lenny continue. "I mean it! You get a ride or you take the bus but don't go off on your own!" His voice got fainter and I doubted Lenny believed I listened to his warnings as I took the steps two at a time, my mind set on one goal and my heart feeling like it might leap from my chest.
Ryan didn't question anything I said because that's what family does-stands with you and helps you when you need help. He sat next to me in his Impala, twisting his fingers on the steering wheel like he hoped the small distraction would keep him from speaking.
He lasted a whole two minutes.
"Speak." It was all the permission he needed.
"I'd say this no matter what guy was in there, sis."
"Uh huh. I know you would."
To my left Ryan's stared glassy-eyed, as though he was willing me to stay put for fear of what waited for me in that small cottage on the lake. Isaac was there. There was a shadow blocking most of the lamplight from the side window-I'd know that shape anywhere. Those shoulders I'd touched and held half a dozen times. That strong, wide back I'd run my fingers over. That thick, long neck, I'd kissed and cradled until the sun dipped low onto the horizon.
"I just … " Ryan's breath was warm, fogging the windshield when he exhaled. "You're my kid sister."