The side of Ryder’s mouth lifted in regret. “Everything’s going to be okay,” he promised. “But why don’t we table the whole you-going-to-New-Zealand conversation for later, yeah? We need more answers first.”
“I suppose you’re right,” I agreed.
“Of course I am.” Ryder’s teasing tone and quick smile were somehow exactly what I needed right now.
“We should also get Trevor on the line, don’t you think?” There went Reed, poking a hole through the calm I’d managed to grab hold of with that. “See if he knows Hobbs?”
I locked both arms around the pillow. “Charlie Team.”Trevor gave up a dream assignment because of me.Guilt and blame triumphed again.
“Go make the call,” Ryder ordered, and Reed shot me an apologetic look before taking off.
“You okay?” Natasha asked, drawing my eyes to the screen. “Anything we can do to help?”
“You’re doing quite a lot already.” I shook my head. “But thank you.”
“You play piano, yeah?” Natasha’s out-of-the-blue question had me sitting up taller. Freeing my hold on the pillow a smidge. “I remember Trevor telling me how talented you are.” She gestured toward the hall. “Maybe playing would be a good distraction? Someone on Wyatt’s rich side of the family gave us a piano for a wedding gift. It’s never been touched.”
“Yeah, well, it’s been touched now.” Such a brother thing to grumble into a closed fist, and I couldn’t help but let go of the pillow to send a solid elbow into his side.
“Ah, you already played?” Natasha smirked.
Something like that.
Ryder twisted around on the couch to face me. “Wait, you play piano?”
Yeah, I do more than make out with your best friend up against them.I had to be blushing. At least I wasn’t spiraling. Natasha had helped after all. Kind of, sort of.
“Reed and I heard music a few times since we’ve been here, but I thought it was a radio you were playing because it was so good,” my brother continued. “That was you, wasn’t it?”
“Guilty.”Among other things.“I played a long time ago.”All I have left are memories and a drawer full of regrets and lace underwear.
“I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me.” Ryder looked genuinely hurt that I’d failed to mention this. Now the music notes on my sweatshirt were probably clicking into place for him.
“We’ve been busy dodging bullets and discussing how our exes are enemies of the state.” My attempt at humor didn’t land and probably came across as sarcastic. “No time to share.”
He called me out, not letting it go. “Why didn’t it come up in the last two months?”
I looked over at Alejandro as if he could somehow save me from these questions. He had his arms folded, back to the wall, eyes on the floor.
“I’m surprised you didn’t run a background check on me when we met,” I said under my breath, turning to Ryder again.
Ryder rolled his eyes.
Okay, I deserved that.
“I went to school for music,” I relented. “Performing is how I met Trevor. I was young. We didn’t plan to get pregnant so fast, but it happened.”
“I’m going to check on Reed.” Alejandro left the room before we could make eye contact, probably sensing this was a brother-sister moment even though I wanted him here.
Natasha’s screen went dark without so much as a goodbye.
“Guess it’s just the two of us now.”
Ryder reached for my hand and set his on top of it. “Tell me.” His eyes narrowed. “Tell me everything you can handle sharing.”
“Now?” I lifted my brows, unsure. “With everything going on?”
He took the pillow from me and set it aside. “Please.”
