She glanced at her friend. “What?”
“I’ve been messaging with Ry all afternoon.”
Closing her eyes at the mention of Rylan, she tried to brace for the strike of pain in her chest, but it didn’t help. It still hurt, still sucked the breath from her lungs, and brought tears to her eyes.
“He’s not married to that woman. He was. But they’ve been divorced for over a year, and the boy isn’t his.”
“Ha!”
“Mazey!” Alyssa gripped her hand. “Did Stuart ever deny he was married once you found out?”
“Hard to deny it when his wife was right in front of me.”
“And yet Ryisdenying it.”
“To you, maybe.”
“Hard for him to tell you when you ran away and turned your phone off.”
“Whose side are you on?” she huffed.
“Yours. His.” Alyssa shrugged. “I’m friends with both of you. I’ve worked with Ry for almost a year, and I might not know his inner secrets, obviously, because I had no idea he was divorced, I think I know his character though. He’d never cheat or lie. It’s not in him. Think about who he is with you.”
“Stuart—”
Alyssa threw up a hand. “Do. Not. Put that dickface in the same basket as Ry. I know you’re hurting, Maz, but you don’t have the full story. You’re letting what someone else did to you in a different time and place cloud your view of this situation.”
“What are you suggesting I do?”
“When Ry gets here, listen to him. Don’t jump in. Let him explain everything to you and then take some time to think about it.”
“What aren’t you telling me? I can’t handle more secrets and lies.”
“It’s not my story to tell, but I will say you deserve to be happy, and I think Ry can make you happy if you let him.”
“Really?”
“Maz.”
“Fine. I’ll listen to him.Ifhe shows up.”
“He will. He just can’t . . .” Alyssa sighed. “He can’t leave his house right now.”
“Why? Because he needs to get rid of the wife and kid?” she lashed out, springing to her feet. “Obviously, I’m not the most important person in his life.”
“Stop!” Alyssa stood in front of her. “He can’t leave his house until the police leave.”
Mazey’s mouth flapped. Words escaping her. “Police?”
Alyssa closed her eyes. “Damn it. I wasn’t going to say anything. Ry needs to be the one to explain all this.”
“Too late now, you may as well go on. Why are the police at Ry’s house?”
“Because his ex-wife kidnapped her son.”
Her mouth dropped open. That little boy . . . “I have to go.” Spinning around, she did a full three-sixty trying to find her bag. “Where’s my bag?”
“You didn’t come with a bag.”
