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“Did his father know?”
“Not that night. But he found out afterward.”
My chest tightens. “He knew Ryder took the keys?”
“Yes.”
“And never apologized?”
“He tried.”
“What does that mean?”
“Dad wrote to him. For years.”
“Ryder never mentioned letters.”
“He sent most of them back unopened.”
Of course he did.
“Dad wasn’t a monster,” Lila says quietly. “He lost one son and destroyed the other one in the same night. He knew it. He just never figured out how to fix it.”
A chair scrapes behind me.
Lila’s face changes.
I turn.
Ryder stands several feet away.
Black T-shirt. Jeans. Keys in one hand.
His expression is unreadable.
His eyes go to Lila. “What the fuck?”
“Ryder.”
“What did you tell her?”
“The truth.”
“Wasn’t yours to tell.”
“I know.”
“Clearly you fucking don’t.” He turns and walks away.
I stand.
Lila catches my hand. “Clara.”
“What?”
“Don’t try to fix him.”
I look at her. “I wasn’t going to.”
