And weirder to see her smiling about her role.
“I warned her she had to have enemies if she were to play the dead body,” Simon murmurs to me.
“Good to know what you do to people in your scripts,” I murmur back.
He winces.
“So you have to handcuff me now,” Quincy says to Wendell. “That comes next, right? The detective has to get pushy and handsy with the murderer?”
“Or we may all retire to the dining room or living room to finish enjoying dessert,” Simon says quickly.
“Can I keep being the ghost?” Daphne says over the intercom.
“Can you truly hear us?” Simon says.
“That’s my secret.”
I look at the painting that was hiding Ryker a minute ago, but instead, I see my brother standing next to it. “She’s listening in through your phone, isn’t she?”
He smiles at me.
Ryker.
Smiling in public.
A real smile.
“Victory,” Simon murmurs.
Ryker’s smile almost dips a little, like he doesn’t want to admit Simon gave him a thrill in letting him in on the secret, but he can’t suppress it.
I blink quickly as my eyes start to water. I haven’t ever dated anyone who went out of their way to get Ryker to smile.
Not that any of my other boyfriends had a secret passage in their house, but Simon didn’t have to show it to him.
The boys rush in from downstairs asking for more food, and some of the other guests grab Simon’s attention with more questions about the house and his plans.
Someone touches my arm, and I turn to find the mom of one of the boys who’s been hanging out with Charlie and Eddie. “Bea? You have that new burger bus, don’t you? And you do parties? My husband’s fortieth birthday is coming up, and I was thinking surprise block party.”
The next hour or two is a steady stream of questions about the burger bus and town gossip and whispers about Simon and the house while we make eye contact and smile at each other across the room, and eventually, I realize half the guests have left.
I knew Ryker would take off early, and he did hug me goodbye before he departed, but I don’t realize how late it’s gotten until Hudson hugs me too. “He’s my favorite,” he whispers.
“Your brother?”
“Your boyfriend. He’s nice, but not too nice. That’s good for you.”
“What does that even mean?”
“He can keep up when you get petty.”
I snort-laugh. “That’s possibly not the healthiest part of a relationship. And I don’t do pettythatoften.”
“Still, a guy who’ll show you his flaws is a lot better than a guy who pretends he’s perfect and then dumps you after stealing all of your hopes and dreams.” My brother hugs me again. “Have fun. Be safe. Call if you need me.”
He takes off, leaving me pondering how unexpectedly right he is about relationships, and wondering if that’s why he hasn’t yet gotten up the courage to ask Molly out.
But that all takes a backseat to the butterflies fluttering in excitement in my belly as Simon appears at my side again. “My children are about to depart,” he murmurs.
