Page 105 of The Moment He Saw Her

“Yes is enough for now. We’ll work on the rest,” Nina said.

“Tell me you never loved that shit weasel ex?” Cill asked.

“I should have because he was perfect for me, but?—”

“He was perfect for your daddy, not you,” Jonathan said.

“So let’s make a plan on how you can get my brother to talk to you.”

“’Kay,” Libby said, feeling her eyes flutter shut. It all suddenly felt like too much for her to think about, and then she couldn’t.

Chapter31

Ryder’s skull throbbed because he’d brought out the whiskey and drank a vast amount of it to get Libby out of his head. After a shower that was mainly just him leaning his forehead on the stall and letting the warm water pelt his tired body, he’d dressed in the clothes he’d wear today. Sweatpants and three shirts. On top of his thermal, he wore his curling one with “Lyntacky A Team” on the front, and over that, he wore the one he’d wear for the relay that had “Duke #3” on, which his mother had printed for him and the rest of her sons.

Pulling on a hooded sweatshirt, he found cleanish socks that passed the sniff test and then his sneakers. Running down the main street in these conditions would likely result in a serious injury, but right then, he didn’t care.

Where is Libby?

He missed her in his house. Missed hearing her humming and the sounds of her moving around in her room.

“Fuck.” His head ached thinking about Libby and that maybe he wouldn’t see her again. She’d hurt him with her lies, but he also knew now that she’d never deliberately set out to do that.

Leaving his room, he passed hers. The door was open, and Dan was snoring softly on Libby’s bed. Not Libby’s bed, as she was staying with Klaus and Lea, but he also knew their son was home. So where had she stayed last night?Is she still in town?

Picking up a pillow that had found its way to the end of the bed, he threw it at his brother.

“Get up. We need to eat and get to the start line.”

Dan’s eyes sprang open. “Morning already?” He stretched. “Cool, it’s going to be a great day. I’ll catch a shower. You get the coffee on.”

Ryder had often envied his little brother’s ability to wake alert. He wasn’t sluggish or in need of at least thirty minutes to get his shit together. No, Deputy Dan was ready for action right off, which was a good thing, considering his job.

Ryder grunted and headed to the kitchen.

He’d toasted bread and made eggs by the time Dan arrived.

“You all good, Ry?”

“Ready to win.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

“I don’t know what I am, and it’s too early for this conversation, so eat and let’s go.”

“Here if you need me, bro.”

“Know it.”

They left soon after and walked to the main street to reach the start line. The street was heaving with people, even considering it was early. The day was icy but clear, and he could feel excitement in the air.

“My money is on you, Dukes. Don’t let me down now,” Nancy from the Circle Left said. She was standing with her husband, Frank, wrapped in a thick coat, scarf, hat, and gloves. In her hand was a small flag.

“Count on it,” Dan said with his trademark smile.

They talked and slapped hands the entire way up the street, and Ryder spent most of it looking for Libby. She was a good person he knew that. Also, that he’d likely overreacted because of his feelings for her. Lashed out instead of taking his usual controlled approach to things. He found her brother near the start line.

“Ryder Duke, right?”

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