If Maisie were anyone else, I might've felt insulted.I was no swinger."Oh, please," I laughed. "Who do you think I am?"
"Well…you're someone who knows a lot more thanIdo."
"But not from experience." As I said it, I couldn't help but wonder what exactly Delaney had told her. Whatever it was, it couldn't have been good.
Back in high school, when I'd started dating the captain of the football team, Delaney had shunned me for a whole month. Andthatguy was nothing compared to Ryder Vaughn.
But therealcrux was the borrowed money. In my mind, I could already hear Delaney saying,"You're dating a billionaire, and you needed MY money for rent?"
My only hope was tracking her down and finding a way to explain before adding Ryder to the mix.
"So?" Maisie persisted. "How do they work?"
I blinked back to the present and gave Maisie the basic key-party rundown. Afterward, we debated the logistics back and forth until I returned to the topic of the annoying ex and his evenmoreannoying fiancée. "So, what happened after they left?"
"Nothing," Maisie said. "This college kid came in and rented Shark Bike, and that was that."
"Forget the bikes," I said. "What happened with Griff? Did you guys talk about it?"
Her face fell. "I tried. But he was really standoffish."
The pain in her voice hurt to hear. "How so?"
"He was all quiet and tense, like he used to be, you know, back in the beginning. He said barely a dozen words all afternoon."
I gave her a sympathetic look. "Is that why you're here with me instead of there with him?"
"I guess," she murmured. "I mean…at the end of the day, we just sort of went our separate ways."
As she said it, I had a horrible thought. What if part of this wasmyfault? "Youdoknow, you can have him come here, right? I mean, thisisyour house."
Her cheeks flushed. "I know."
"But…?"
"Honestly?" She winced. "I wasn't sure you'd like it."
My stomach sank.I knew it.Thiswasbecause of me. And of course, I felt doubly guilty because I'd had sex with Ryder just up those stairs –Maisie'sstairs, to be exact. I hadn't even told her, much less asked for permission.Plus, there was the matter of the door.
And thereshewas, keeping Griff away because of me?
I was the worst roommate, ever.With a guilty smile, I told her, "Trust me, it's fine. Like I said, it'syourhouse."
"But that's not all," she said. "The truth is, it feels kind of funny having him come here when I have no idea wherehe'sliving."
I blinked.Wait, what?
I knew exactly where Griff was living, because Ryder had told me. One time, I'd even ridden past the boathouse on my borrowed bike. The place reallywasa dump.
Wasthatwhy Griff kept it a secret?
I studied Maisie's face. "And you haven't asked?"
"Not really. I mean…I've hinted for information, but I haven't asked outright."
I leaned toward her to say, "Maybe you should."
"Maybe." Looking dejected, she sank back against the cushions. "But what if he won't tell me?"
