"So? Are you gonna tell me?"
"I dunno," he said. "Can you keep a secret?"
If this weren't so serious, I might've laughed. "Oh, please. I'm the best secret-keeper in the world." But then I felt compelled to add, "Well…most of the time, at least."
Ryder said, "Gambling debts."
"What?"
"Lotsof gambling debts. He owed money to the wrong people and got mouthy when they tried to collect."
I was staring now. "And you know this, how?"
"I've got sources."
"And you're not gonna tell me?"
"Nope."
"But why not?"
"Because those aren't my secrets to share."
I didn't push it, mostly because there was something else I had to say. "Speaking of secrets…I owe you a bunch of money for rent."
At this, he grew very still. "What?"
I winced. "Uh, yeah. I found out about that. But why'd you do it? I mean, we weren't even together, so…" I let the words trail off, unsure how to finish.
"You wanna know why?" He smiled. "Because you were a good person in trouble, and I know what it's like to lose your home. I didn't wantyougoing through that."
And just like always, my heart went all gooey. "Awwww…that's so sweet."
"Yeah, well…don't tell anyone."
"Wanna hear something funny?"
"What?"
"Don't get me wrong. I really,reallyappreciate it. But that apartment? It doesn't feel like home, anymore. It feels like a place to store my stuff until I figure things out." I sat up straighter. "And I just realized something."
"What?"
"I don't even know whereyoulive."
"Eh, it's nothing special."
I laughed. "Oh, please. Like I believe that."
"No lie," he said. "The place is boring as hell."
I rolled my eyes. "That's not whatIheard."
"Oh, yeah?"
I gave him a playful poke to the chest. "Griff told me you burned down your guest house." I snickered. "Twice."
Ryder made a show of looking offended. "Hey, that was years ago."
