She trusts my judgment.
For the last eighteen months, all I’ve told myself is that I’m stupid and naive. That I made a terrible decision and that I deserve all this suffering because of it. That I can’t be trusted.
But Agatha is taking that nagging voice in my head and shutting it down. She trusts my judgment.
Ryder squeezes my hand, and I look at him with gratitude. “For what it’s worth,” he says, “I trust your judgment, too. Not just because it has to do with trusting me?—”
I laugh, and he winks before he continues. “But because I know you. And you’re a grown woman with complete thinking ability.”
I swallow hard and look down at my hands so I can think clearly.
Okay. So one option is to let Tristan tell my family. I know what their reaction will be—they’re going to lose it. They’ll basically want to lock me up even longer and make me break things off with Ryder. So I’ll have to either rebel against them, ruining our family relationship, or listen to them and be stuck even longer than I already have been.
But if Ryder leaves…
I turn my head to look at him, and my breath catches in my throat. I can’t do this. I can’t decide.
Then Ryder nods at me, that small gesture instilling confidence in my abilities. With his encouragement, I keep mulling it over.
If Ryder leaves, we’re just hiding again. Sure, I’d be taking control of my own life by keeping the information on my terms, but that’s not right either. And Tristan will think he won.
What if…
My thoughts are interrupted by a buzzing phone.
Mine.
Which means it’s either my dad, brothers, or Bethany.
We all look at each other, the dread in Ryder’s eyes mirroring mine.
Ryder checks his watch and scowls. “Tristan said he’d give me fifteen minutes. I should’ve known better than to trust him.”
Swallowing hard, I stand and walk to the kitchen counter where my phone sits covered in flour. But the name on the screen is unmistakable.
Adam Stone.
Of course my most hotheaded brother would be the one to call me first.
I answer the call. “Hey, Adam.” My voice shakes, but what else can you expect?
“Lily? Are you all right?” The softness in his voice shocks me, and I almost burst into tears. My beastly brother, the one who swore to protect me, is affecting me more with his gentle tone than if he were angry.
“I’m fine,” I reply.
“Lily, listen to me. I…I know about you and Ryder. Please tell me he isn’t there right now.”
I don’t say anything.
Adam mutters something under his breath.
Another voice speaks on the call. “Adam, this is what I warned you about.”
“Who is that?” I ask.
“Hi, Lily. This is Mr. Calhoun.”
I swallow. What’s he doing on this call? Can’t I just talk to my brother?
