“Everyone is going to be so excited to hear you and Ryder are married. Personally, I think the town thought he’d be single forever.”
“Wait, what?” I reached my hand out to stop her from going back into my place.
“This is a small town. People will know you’re married.”
“That wasn’t part of the deal,” I stammered. “You said pretend to be married and then I’d get the book.”
Sinclair’s eyes narrowed. “You act like Ryder is a leper.”
To my mind he was, but I couldn’t tell her that. Sinclair and Ryder were close. Closer than most siblings were. Maybe it was because they were twins. Not that I understood these things. I was an only child. I barely had parents, much less siblings.
“He and I are oil and water, you know that. This is just a bet. I know you’re all lovey dovey now with Wyatt, and want to spread all the love like glitter, but Ryder and I won’t end up like you two. He’s the—” I stopped from saying that he was the last person I’d ever end up with.
“He’s what?” She quirked a brow at me. “Funny? Kind? Sweet? Easy-going?”
“Not my type.”
Sinclair snorted. “No man is your type, Trina.” She headed back to my apartment.
“What does that mean?” I tried not to be hurt by her comment.
“It means your requirements for men—heck, for your friends—are so high that almost no one can meet them.”
“I’m not that bad.” Was I? Sure, I didn’t suffer fools, but I wasn’t so bad that I didn’t have friends.
Sinclair’s eyes softened as she looked at me. “You’re pretty bad. Don’t get me wrong. I think you’re a terrific friend. You’re loyal and steadfast. You’ll scratch out the eyes of anyone who goes against someone you care about. But there are plenty of people who are worthy of your love and friendship that you dismiss.”
“Are we talking about Ryder?”
“Among others. Look, I know Ryder has a relaxed way of going through life. But he sticks when it counts.”
“He loves you. You’re his sister, so of course he’s going to stand by you come hell or high water,” I pointed out. “He doesn’t stick with his lady friends. This town is littered with hearts that he’s broken.”
She quirked a brow at me. “Is that what you’re worried about? That you’ll become a notch on his bedpost?”
“No.” I blurted it out a little too fast.
“Ryder isn’t a heartbreaker. He’s a young man who like all other young men, and most young women, enjoys sex. Just because he hasn’t found a woman to commit to doesn’t mean he’s against relationships.”
“You’re not saying I’m the right woman.” Now I knew she was just toying with me.
“I’m saying that it’s unfair to judge a single man for being single. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find out there’s more to him.”
Taking a breath, I said, “That won’t happen. He’s not my type and I’m not his.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” She waggled her eyebrows.
“I am.”
She gave me a disappointed stare. “Sometimes I think a good romp with my brother could help you lighten up. You both surely have the sexual tension.”
“We do not!” Perhaps there was something in the water that was making me crazy to take this deal, and causing Sinclair to say ridiculous things.
She laughed and slung her arm around me. “Come on, Mrs. Fake Ryder Simms, let’s get you to your new home.”
I glared at her, but surrendered. I climbed into my car while Sinclair got into hers and we drove out to Ryder’s place. As we left the city center, I was hit with the realization that my day-to-day life was going to change. Maybe not at work, but my off-work routine would. I wouldn’t be able to order take out and delivery from the Chinese restaurant. I couldn’t walk downtown to pick up forgotten necessities, although I rarely ever forgot anything. My morning walk around the town square would be out.
Ryder’s house was outside the hustle and bustle of our small town. He wasn’t quite out in the sticks like the farmers, but he was away from town on several acres. Out there, it would be quiet and lonely. Well, except for Ryder, but he wasn’t my idea of good company.
I groaned and slapped my hand on my steering wheel. Why had I agreed to this stupid bet? Pride, of course. What was that saying? Pride goeth before the fall? I was falling for sure for accepting this bet. I had to focus on what I’d get when this was all said and done; my book.
The book was the one other time in my life where my rational self took a vacation. I wasn’t one for sentiment or girlie, flowery things, but that book suggested that at one moment in time, I was. I’d created it when Sinclair found out she was pregnant. She didn’t tell me that Wyatt was the father, but she did share that her baby-daddy was gone, leaving her alone. She was so afraid and worried. While I’d never been pregnant and alone, I knew how scary life could be when it felt out of control. I wanted to cheer her up and help her realize that she wasn’t alone. So, I put together a book with drawings of silly things like fairies and unicorns, and pages of poems that, at the time, I thought were worthy of Emily Dickenson, but upon reflection years later made me cringe.
In my defense, the book worked. Sinclair loved it. She’d even named her daughter after one of the fairies I’d made in the book, Alyssa. She told me it helped her to feel loved and supported, so I’d felt it had been worth being vulnerable and letting out my inner softy. That was, until Ryder got a hold of the book. God, even now, my cheeks flamed with embarrassment and anger over that.
I could remember the humiliation like it happened yesterday
