“For what?”
“Legal help. He didn’t care about the article outing him. He cared about the implications on you. He wanted a way to force the paper not to run anything that might involve you. In the end, Jeff had me draft up papers and meet with the editors. Really, it was just a scare tactic, since my stepdad refused to take it further. He told me what to do and handed the case over, which was pretty scary since this was my first time flying solo but, hey, it worked. And thankfully the paper didn’t even call my bluff on that whole false-light claim.”
There was that term again. “What exactly is that?”
“It’s like defamation or libel, but instead of protecting your reputation from damage, it protects you from emotional or mental harm. And the statements don’t necessarily have to be false, just misleading. Of course it’s such a gray area with all this digital media.” She waved her hand as if dismissing the whole thing. “Between you and me, it’s not even recognized in Texas courts now. But we managed to get confidentiality agreements signed and threatened to sue if they ran anything that could harm you emotionally or mentally. Basically, I went in there not as Ryder’s attorney but yours.”
“Ryder did that? For me? But he can’t stand Jeff.”
“Exactly. He came to me first and told me the truth about Jeff and Mom. That asshole needed to pay, so I helped Ryder out. And I did a little snooping of my own. Turns out Mom’s prenup is void if he cheats.”
“He told your mom the truth, then?”
“No, he chose you.”
“What?”
“He told Jeff to help you or he’d tell Mom everything.”
“But it kills him to carry that secret around. I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t he tell your mom and get it off his chest?”
“I guess the pain of hurting you was harder to bear.” She shrugged.
“Oh God.” I shook my head. “I don’t want him to choose me over your family. This secret is destroying him. He shouldn’t have done that.”
“It was his decision.” She placed her hand on my shoulder. “And I don’t think it was a hard one for him to make.”
“But your mom. You probably hate me. I’m so sorry.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I don’t think she’d leave Jeff either way.” She sighed. “People make crazy choices in the name of love.” She smiled. “But, Brinley, I don’t think Ryder’s choice is crazy. My brother is one of the best guys I know. He maintains a cool exterior but inside he’s the complete opposite. I think he distances people because when he loves someone, he does so without caution. And sadly, the people he’s allowed in in the past have let him down. He swore to never be like them, but now he thinks he’s no better. He let you down and he can’t forgive himself. I’m not saying you have to be his friend again, but if you could forgive him, maybe he’d be able to forgive himself.”
“Can I ask you something, like girl to girl, not as his sister?”
“Sure.”
“Did he use me? Ever? He’s remorseful now, but at any point, when this first started, was I just points to him?”
“To be honest, I don’t know. But my gut says no. I was there the day he found out Noah put your picture on the website. I had to break them apart. Ryder wanted to kill him. If you’d been a conquest to him, why didn’t he post your info on that site himself?” Her phone chimed with a text and she glanced at the screen. “My brother doesn’t lie to me. We’ve always been close. I know he can be an ass with girls, but the way he talks about you is different. Honestly, Brinley, I think he loves you.”
Hearing that from someone other than drunken Ryder pulled at me. Did he really love me? Did I even want him to? It scared me, because when it came down to it, I felt the same way.
Paige’s phone beeped again and she said, “I have to go. My friend’s meeting me next door for lunch.” She grinned and lifted the swimsuit in her hand. “But I couldn’t resist Zoey’s spring break sale.” She pointed to the bikini in my hand. “Nice choice, by the way. That’s Ryder’s favorite color.”
I stared at the suit. Was it? He did wear this color a lot. No wonder I was drawn to it.
“Well, I’m glad we had a chance to talk. Hopefully I’ll see you around,” she said with a smile, then headed toward the counter to pay.
I stood there, trying to absorb everything I’d just discovered, then went to find Fallon, eager to tell her about my encounter with Paige.
If Ryder had done all this for me, I couldn’t really be mad at him anymore. But could we still be friends? Who was I kidding? I could never be Ryder’s friend. I was way too vested for friendship. I freaking loved the guy. Now the question was, should I tell him?