Hallie observed her for a moment then gave in. “Ryker.”
“Ryker Hines?” Faith mulled over the name. “Thatdoessound familiar.” She pulled out her phone and typed it in. “I think I came across that name when I was looking up Brent’s father. He was another up-and-coming player. I don’t know why I didn’t connect him with Jacob, though.” Concentration shifted to a smile as she turned the phone toward Hallie. “This him?”
Hallie snatched the phone from her friend. “That’s him.”
She read over the article, ignoring Wendy and Serenity’s questions. Then she looked at each of them. “This says that Jacob and Ryker were going to be stars. They were on their way to breaking records at a young age. But then Ryker quit.”
“He quit?” Wendy frowned. “Why?”
Hallie shrugged. “Doesn’t say. There’s speculation that there was a falling out between the brothers. They weren’t seen together and after a couple years people stopped trying to figure it all out.”
“A falling out,” Faith murmured. “I guess you could always ask them.”
Hallie snorted. “I’d like to continue being alive, thank you. Jacob doesn’t let you pry into his life that way. And with his current mood of ‘leave me alone’ there’s no way he’ll entertain that kind of question.”
“Is Ryker going to stay?” Serenity asked. “Maybe you could ask him.”
“It’s none of our business,” Faith reminded them, her tone a little sharp. “Or have we forgotten what happened the last time someone meddled in another person’s business.” She gaveHallie a pointed look which caused a blush to beat beneath Hallie’s skin.
“She’s right. I’m not going to ask. Jacob deserves his privacy.”
“So other than his pessimistic attitude and his secret brother, how’s he doing?” Leave it to Faith to shift a conversation she’d been the one to drag out of Hallie in the first place.
Hallie shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m trying to get him to broaden his horizons. I asked him what he likes to do for fun, and you want to know what he said?”
“Playing the guitar?” Faith asked.
Hallie’s stomach bottomed out. How had she not remembered that? Jacob used to play guitar all the time when he’d first moved to the area. She didn’t know why he stopped but it probably had something to do with not having much time to play. Shaking her head, she smirked, “Actually, he said he liked to work, practice, and hike. All of it physical and not something he could do while he’s healing. I never thought to ask him about his guitar.”
“Maybe you should.”
She nodded. “Maybe I should. Any ideas for things he could do besides that?”
Her friends all shook their heads. All of them but Serenity. “Maybe he’d like to learn how to cook. It can be therapeutic.”
“I mentioned cooking, but he didn’t seem thrilled about it. Or anything for that matter,” Hallie sighed.
“What about something you like to do? It’s easier to get someone interested when they’re able to do it with someone else,” Wendy offered. “What do you like to do for fun?”
Hallie immediately thought about her photography. But that wasn’t going to happen. Jacob wouldn’t be interested in that sort of thing and Hallie wasn’t even sure she was any good at it. Besides, it was her thing. She didn’t want to share it with anyone.
Not even Jacob.
“I don’t know. I like to read.”
“Well, then pick out a book and do a book club,” Serenity said. “Figure out a genre the two of you can enjoy together.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Hallie murmured quietly.
“Has there been any improvement?” Serenity asked. “Are things settling at all?”
A smile tugged at Hallie’s lips. “Honestly? Yeah. He’s moving around better. And up until he heard those commentators, he was in a good mood. He’s doing better but it’s slow going.”
“Makes sense,” Serenity nodded. “So he’s doing better as long as he’s not dwelling on his career.”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Well, you’re doing the best you can. And maybe his brother visiting will help.” Faith picked up her phone and put it in her pocket. “Then again, if things are as strained as it sounded, then it could send him spiraling. I hope that being forced to speak to his brother won’t add to what he’s dealing with but pushes him to find some clarity.”
