"A different one. Monday, when we had our movie date. Earlier that night, did you stop by?"
"I wouldn't say it wasnight. I mean, the sun was still shining, so…" He never did finish.
"But you did?" I made a sound of disbelief. "And you never thought to mention it?"
In a careful tone, he replied, "Ithoughtabout it."
"And…?"
He exhaled slowly. "And I figured you'd only worry."
My tone grew sarcastic. "Oh, so you were protecting me? Is that what you're saying?" And then, when he made no reply, I asked, "And you didn't think I'd find out, anyway? I mean, Maisieismy roommate."
"Yeah, and Griff's my friend."
"So?"
"So maybe you're not the only one I'm protecting."
Ouch.I opened my mouth, then closed it again, trying to figure out what to say. His loyalty to Griff might've been touching if only it didn't feel like disloyalty to me.
The silence between us lingered until Ryder broke it by saying, "And your roommate – I don't think she likes me much."
"Why do you say that?"
He gave a humorless chuckle. "You wouldn't have to ask if you'd seen her. Your friend has one hell of a glare."
I couldn't even imagine.Maisie was unfailingly polite. And yet, if shehadbeen glaring, was it any wonder?
At the time, she'd just learned that her boyfriend had been missing overnight without any explanation.
I shifted gears. "Back to theothernight…when you called me after whiskey, where were you exactly?"
"Why do you ask?"
It felt like a dodge. "Maybe I'm curious. Is it a secret or something?"
"It's no secret," he said. "But I want to know what you're getting at."
"Who says I'm getting at anything?"
"Tessa," he said, his voice losing all trace of humor. "We both know you're getting at something, so why dance around it?" But then his voice softened. "You wanna come over and talk?"
I gave a bitter laugh. "I can't, because if I disappear now, Maisie will think I've gone to see Griff."
His voice went suddenly flat. "Griff."
"Yes. Meaning your friend."
"Iknowwho Griff is. But why would Maisie think that?"
"Because on that night he was missing,Iwas missing, too."
"What?"
"Not missing-missing. I just mean, I wasn't at home."
He didn't sound thrilled to hear it. "So, wherewereyou?"
