Page 111 of One Little Lie
“I know.” My voice is uncharacteristically quiet.
“Honey, I understand the draw to him. Really, I do, but I don’t want to see you hurt again. He destroyed you. He snuffed out your light, and it took him years to come clean. I don’t want to see you place all your hopes and dreams in his hands again. Sometimes, it’s okay to be selfish. If he can’t give you this time to flourish, maybe he isn’t the man you think him to be.”
“We haven’t really had a chance to talk about any of it, Mom. It literally happened a few minutes ago.”
“I know, sweetie. Just take care of yourself this time around, okay?”
I know she loves Halton. Even after everything that happened, she found it in her heart to forgive him, but I’m her little girl. I’ll always come first, and she isn’t saying anything I haven’t already worried about privately.
Hatty would destroy himself to be with me, but I’ll find a way to make sure that doesn’t happen.
I’m still holding the phone to my ear long after we’ve hung up. That was not the phone call I was expecting.Holy shit.
“Rylan? Are you okay?” GG’s voice calls out.
Turning, I see her on the side of the lodge digging in a flower bed. I can’t handle her right now.
“Yeah, GG. I’m good. I, ah, I have to talk to Hatty. I mean, Halton. I mean, yeah. I’m good,” I blurt as I run up the steps toward the lodge.
My hand is on the doorknob when Hatty’s raised voice stops me in my tracks.
“Jesus, East. Do you think I can handle this shit? Rylan’s life will include literally everything I hate. Everything that kills a little piece of me every time I have to participate in it. She deserves someone who can walk the red carpet, proud to have her on their arm. She needs someone that can handle the spotlight.”
I stumble back. His words hit me like a two-handed shove.He’s going to push me away again.Or leave. He isn’t even going to give me a choice. I can feel it.
“She deserves the world, man, and I’m broken inside. I don’t know how to do any of that shit without physically hurting,” he yells.
Oh, God. Oh, God. My insides shake and my outside trembles. He can’t be with me without hurting himself, and he isn’t even giving me the option to choose him.
“Rylan?” GG’s voice barely registers.
“Ah, I forgot. Something. I forgot something,” I mumble as I backtrack down the steps.
Walking in a daze, I make it to the back door and run into Colton.
“Ryguy! Loch has a place for you to stay whenever you arrive in New York. He said … Rylan?” Colton holds me at arm’s length, searching my face. “What’s the matter with you?”
I bite my tongue to keep the tears at bay. “Nothing, Colty,” I say with fake cheer. “I’m just so excited. I’ve got to pack.”
His shocked expression tells me he wasn’t expecting that.
“When are you leaving? Loch said you have a couple of weeks before Nova needs you.” He crosses his arms as he scrutinizes my face. Colton isn’t known for being very perceptive, but he chooses this moment to learn the skill.
“Oh, I know,” I trill. “But I have so much I need to prepare for. I need to get the lay of the land. Check Nova’s portfolio and the surroundings to make sure we’re on the same page. Creatively, you know? It’s just best if I get there as soon as I can.”
“How soon is that, Rylan?”
Hatty’s voice makes me jump. I don’t dare turn his way.
“I’m going to catch a bus tonight.”Shit. Do they have buses here?“Or maybe a train?” I giggle, and it sounds borderline psychotic. “I guess I have a lot to work out still.”
“Ry, what’s going on? Halt, you’re going with her, right?” Colton asks over my head.
“Yes,” he growls.
“No,” I squeal at the same time. “No, I mean, Hatty needs to get back to Waverley-Cay. The WB. All that stuff. I’ll be fine.”
Turning to Hatty, I finally dare a glimpse. “I’ll be fine,” I say again.
