“Where is he?” I ask without moving. I’m not that brave just yet, the way Rye cares is chasing the cold from my bones.
“He’s about to be escorted away by security guards. One of them is here with us near the door. He’s a good person, I promise.”
I hum in answer, but also to give myself some time to figure this out. But he goes on speaking, acting as though we’ve always been a team.
God, how I want that.
“The Mothers from Rejoice are going to be very keen to join us. They saw him pulling you away. How do you want to handle that?”
I sit up, needing to see his face to get a better read on him. Bad move on my part, and not because of the sharp pain radiating as I twist to look at him. Rye in the flesh, and not wearing a lick of makeup, is breathtaking, heartbreaking even.
He smirks, making him devastating.
“Hey, Sin. I’m Ryder or Rye to you. But to everyone else,I’m Ben,” he whispers, his eyes locking onto mine. My mind echoes with the words he said—how he saw the galaxy in my eyes. And now, I understand. Because that’s exactly what I see in his too.
It’s too much, and my gaze drops, but he gently lifts my chin, guiding my eyes back to his. “Tell me what I can do to make this better for you. Please.”
“I don’t want them to know,” I admit.
I’m pretty sure it’s not a great way to start anything by asking someone to lie, or to omit some pretty important, and relevant, details.
He shocks me, when he agrees in an instant. “Easy.”
“Really?”
“Of course. This is about you. I would like a doctor to check you out. And I have a lawyer friend I’d like you to talk to about this. To at least arrange a restraining order.”
My eyes burn, and I feel like I’m about to cry. The surge of emotion takes some deep breaths to contain. “I won’t do that.”
“Why?” he asks. And it’s not a bark at me, demanding a reason, it’s a gentle call for me to explain.
He goes to say something else but the security guard interrupts. “Incoming. Two women wearing Rejoice blazers. They look worried.”
I scramble to put distance between us, not wanting him to be caught in a compromising position with a student. He helps me to my feet but leans in so his words are low and just for me. “I still want you checked out properly. And the lawyer might have another way to handle the situation.”
Being around Brody has always felt like having a cheese grater scraping against my skin—raw and abrasive. Impossible to ignore I’ve learned to stay hyperaware—conditioned by how many times, and how badly, he’s hurt me. That instinct has become second nature, a defence I’ve come totrust. But Ryder… Ryder evokes the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Physically. Emotionally. Maybe even spiritually.
I have no idea what the future holds, but the broken parts of me ache for something more—for a chance to exist without always hurting.
I nod, agreeing to his terms, before dropping another bombshell on him. “They think he’s my brother.”
“What?” He scowls, completely stunned. “Jesus Christ. Are you serious?”
“Yes. But right now, I’d rather not have to talk about their monumental failure. I want to get away from here as fast as possible with no fuss.”
He’s flabbergasted, but on top of that a flame of anger flickers in his eyes.
Since I’m not quite sure if he’s getting more and more pissed by the second because of what I said, or if it’s a realisation that all this is simply too much for him to be a part of, I stay quiet.
I don’t think I made a mistake sharing what I did with him, but if he decides to tell the Rejoice staff, I’ll deal with the fallout. Undoubtedly, that would include leaving Unity as well as hearing about what a disappointment I am for the rest of my days back home.
My stress levels continue to build the longer he takes. I think the air gets caught in my lungs, until he reaches out and gently squeezes my hand.
“I’ll do whatever you want, Sin. But I want you to consider what I said about talking to the lawyer I trust.”
From behind us, the security guard makes another noise. I look at him, and he was waiting for my attention. “I’ve written my personal phone number there. You call me if you ever need help.”
“Thank you,” I say, carefully climbing to my feet. Thesound of other people in the hallway continues to grow, and I manage to straighten my hair and clothes as the guard opens the door for the Rejoice staff.
