Page 100 of The Moment He Saw Her

“Not ones that affect anyone but me,” he said.

“What secrets?” Sawyer demanded.

“Mine.”

“We don’t have secrets between us!” his eldest brother roared.

“And we digress,” JD said. “The point here is, bud, that Libby is a good person and clearly had a reason to hold her secrets close. Going out on a limb here, do you think she just wanted to live her life anonymously for a while?”

“Because it can’t be easy being the daughter of Phillip Caldwell,” Brody added.

“I could google their net worth, but that seems invasive,” Dan said.

“Look, I get it. You’re doing that intervention shit, but I don’t need it.” Ryder made himself sit up and look at his family.

“Right, like we didn’t need it all the times you did it to us?” Zoe asked.

He sighed.

“The thing is, Ry,” Brody said. “You’re the deep thinker among us. The one that works through shit and then?—”

“Doesn’t act on anything?” He’d said it to stop the discussion, but as soon as he saw his family’s expressions, Ryder knew it hadn’t had that effect.

“You think you’re a failure, bro?” Sawyer asked, looking devastated.

“No, that came out wrong.”

“Not sure there’s a right way to have that come out,” Dan added.

They were all looking at him now, with varying stages of concern on their faces.

“You’re not a failure,” Brody said. “You’re the rock in our family. The brother who is always there when we need him.”

“The cautious brother who doesn’t rush into things like the rest of us, so he gets shit right before he commits,” Dan added.

“The one I knew I could talk to without him exploding because he didn’t like what he heard,” Zoe added.

“I never exploded!” Sawyer roared.

“And I rest my case,” Zoe said, looking smug. “But the point is, Ry, you’re our rock.”

It shocked Ryder to hear how they felt about him.

“And now we want to be there for you,” Brody added. “So do you or do you not want Libby Caldwell in your life, Ryder? Because if not, then when she leaves, that will be it, and whatever you guys had will be over, but if you do?—”

“We’re too different,” Ryder said.

“Yeah, because let’s face it, Birdie and I are identical in nature,” Sawyer drawled. This had everyone but Ryder laughing.

“And I repeat, do you want Libby Caldwell in your life, or are you happy for her to leave and maybe go back to that shit weasel who doesn’t love her enough to let her be in his wedding photos?” Dan asked.

“Sorry? What did you just say?” JD asked.

“Long story.” Dan waved his hand about. “My point is, bro,” he said, looking at Ryder, “do you want her to live her life with another man and not you?”

No!The answer was instinctive, but he held it inside.

“And now I need to go because it’s girls’ night at Nina’s, which is always awesome. Birdie and Phoebe are already there.” She got off the sofa after kissing her man. “So make sensible decisions and think with your heart and not your head, Ryder.” She then kissed him on the forehead and left.

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