Page 125 of What Are The Odds?
“I didn’t tell her, Holloway.”
“Then who fucking did?”
“Summer.”
“Yeah? How did she know? We agreed to take this to the grave.”
Ryker shifted. “Like you didn’t tell any of your guys.”
One. Will. There’s no way he would’ve told a soul. And I doubt it was something Tripp or Ryan had repeated either. Which meant we circled back to Ryker.
“The leak was on your end.”
“Maybe,” he admitted. “Does it matter?”
“Of course it fucking matters. She left.”
“Left?”
“Flew back home.”
Ryker dragged a hand through his hair, exhaling a whistle. “Shit.”
“Yeah,” I clipped, clenching and unclenching my fists.
It didn’t matter as much to Ryker. I could tell by his reaction. He wasn’t breaking apart inside like I was. His whole world hadn’t come crushing down. Because he hadn’t been in love with her. Maybe he would’ve fallen if he got closer first. But I had. And now I was paying the price.
“Wanna get drunk?” he asked.
I jarred back. “What?”
“It’s either we drink or we fight, and I really don’t want to break anything partway through the season.”
The only slither left in me that could focus on something other than this shit show knew he was right. Without another word I ambled to my car. Ryker followed me, slipping into the passenger seat without saying anything either.
*
Here I was again, back at Lastlings. An uncountable number of beers deep, surrounded by girls from my past, and worlds apart from the one I belonged with. Alcohol could’ve gone two ways. Thankfully it was taking off the edge rather than fuelling my anger. There were so many unanswered questions. How Ryker knew Grace knew. How he knew Summer had told her. And I still wanted to know how Summer had learned of the bet. I might not be taking my anger out on Ryker, but I couldn’t say the same about one of his lackeys.
“I was talking to Grace in the gym when Summer walked past,” Ryker started.
At my flared nostrils, Ryker exhaled.
“Relax, Holloway. I know Grace is your girlfriend. I was literally just talking to her.”
“And?” I prompted.
“Summer made a comment about the bet still going. Grace asked what she was talking about. Summer happily filled her in.”
I dropped my elbows on the table, hands clenched in front of me. I closed my eyes, attempting to block out all the chaos happening in the bar so I could focus on what Ryker was saying. But all I got was the spins. I was too drunk.
“When Grace looked at me, I froze,” he went on. “I guess that was confirmation enough.” Ryker cocked an eyebrow. “She really left?”
“Yep. Suitcase and all.”
Ryker shook his head, staring at the TV in front of us. “I’m sorry, man. We were idiots.”
“Fucking idiots,” I agreed.
