"I'm curious. Do you think honesty is situational, or absolute?"
I shook my head. "That sounds like a trick question."
"Where's the trick?" he asked. "It seems pretty basic to me."
"Except it's not," I said. "Nobody's honestallthe time. Theycouldn'tbe." Technically I'd lied to Ryder barely thirty seconds ago, when I'd told him my day was fine – except now I couldn't admit it without looking ridiculous.
Ryder said, "So it's situational."
"That's not what I meant."
"It's what yousaid."
"No, I didn't." I sighed. "I just meant that sometimes people bend the truth for perfectly good reasons."
"Bend, huh?"
"Bend, break, whatever."
"Or maybe," he said, "they're just looking for the easy way out."
I felt like I was on the witness stand, and I couldn't imagine why. I was done dancing around it. "Is this still about the bike? Because if you want it back, I totally understand."I didn't actually. I loved that bike. But I'd rather give it back than be grilled about how much I ride it.
He gave me a look. "So you're not lying now?"
"What?"
"If I took it back – which I wouldn't – you're telling me you'd honestly understand?"
I stared. He was right. But he was also wrong, because honesty didn't have to be cruel. "Fine. You're right. I wouldn't. But I'd still rather give it back than be hounded." I crossed my arms. "And that's no lie."
Ryder said itagain."Right."
I was glaring now. "Will you stop saying that?"
He shoved a hand through his hair and turned away, staring off into the distance while I stared athim, wondering at his sudden change.
If this was about the bike, I understood why he'd be frustrated and maybe even miffed. But it's not like I wasneverplanning to ride it. I was just putting it off until I talked to Maisie and returned the loaner.
As my thoughts churned, I studied Ryder's profile, wondering what to do.Should I try to explain?
No. I'd already done that.And besides, I had an awful suspicion this wasn't only about the bike. All day, Ryder had been out of touch. And this wasbeforehe'd noticed I was still riding the loaner – unless he'd seen me ride away this morning.
Searching for clues, I asked, "So, why didn't you stop by the coffee shop today? I mean…it's not like youhaveto. I'm just wondering if something else happened, like maybe you got a call or something that upset you?"
Slowly, he turned to look at me and then paused, as if weighing his next words. Whatever he was about to say, I just knew it wouldn't be good. But all that came out was, "I've gotta go see Griff."
"Oh." The statement shocked me, but not in any way I'd expected. "So…is something wrong with him?"
"Nope."
"What about Maisie?" A twinge of panic rose in my chest. "She wasn't hurt or anything, was she?"
He looked annoyed by the question. "No. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, I don't know. Because you're acting like somebody died?"
He shrugged. "People die every day."
