He tucks me in and stands there, watching me. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not enough,” I say crossing my arms.
Then I look at Ryan. “You know, don’t you?”
Ryan shrugs. “He only told me because he was in pieces. He needed to vent.”
“He was in pieces?” I say furiously.
Jamie takes my hand, forcing me to look at him. “He still is, even now.”
I bite my lip hard and start shaking.
“I didn’t want to betray your trust – or his.”
“I really doubt that…”
“You shouldn’t,” Ryan says, interrupting our discussion. “My brother has a lot of flaws, but lying isn’t one of them.”
I sink back into my pillows and into my discomfort. I don’t like that my life is being discussed by a group.
“Is it true?” Ryan continues.
“What?”
“What you told him.”
I sigh.
“I just want to know if it’s true.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It does matter.”
“Ian and I weren’t meant to be together. It was a mistake, right from the start.”
“I agree with you,” he says honestly. “And I think it’s a load of bullshit – but that’s my opinion. My brother seems to think otherwise.”
“Your brother lied to me.”
“He really fucked things up.”
“He hurt me.”
“I’m sorry about that. I know how it feels.”
“He’s not who I thought he was.”
“I don’t imagine he is. People never are,” he says bitterly. “And he doesn’t believe in people, never has. Sometimes he doesn’t even believe in himself. He seems like a rock but I assure you, Ian’s just a little pebble in the middle of a big sea.”
I breathe slowly in fear that the pain will take me away with it.
“I don’t like you, Riley.”
“Wow, thanks.”
“Don’t take it personally, it’s not your fault, I just don’t believe in women. But he believed in you – he still does believe in you and I’m his brother and I love him. I think what’s good for him is you.”
