Unknown; Then text me on the damn burner when you can.
The door to Rhiannon’s office clicked open. She walked closer and glanced back at Colleen. “Would you mind running over to the cafeteria and getting me a cup of coffee?”
Colleen glanced at Rhiannon, then at me. Rolling her eyes, she stood. “Will do.”
Rhiannon’s eyes stayed on me as Colleen walked out the door. Another deep breath eased through her as she sat beside me. For a heartbeat or two, neither of us spoke. The only sound was my heart pounding in my ears. I prayed she couldn’t hear it.
Rarely was Rhiannon silent. The fact that she was now made my stomach turn. My throat swelled, too.
I couldn’t tell what she thought or felt. Was there a risk of me getting kicked out of the ranch too? I didn’t know what I would do without this place. I had some money, but not enough. It was barely enough for a deposit, let alone first and last month’s rent somewhere.
But I wouldn’t blame her if she did kick me out. Rhiannon had integrity. She didn’t like liars.
Maybe that’s why I felt so sick. Not just because I didn’t know what she was thinking, but because I had been lying to her for weeks.
Unable to take the silence anymore, I said, “Does it normally take this long to make a statement?”
“Statement’s over with.” Rhiannon crossed her legs and leaned back in the seat. “Simone is just giving him some background. Hopefully she remembers something that will lead Edwards to David.”
Biting my lip, I gave a nod. Because that was all I could think to do. Even spitting out those words tasted like vinegar on my tongue.
“I’m not angry with you.” That should’ve eased my mind, but Rhiannon spoke like she was ordering a coffee. Casual. Blunt. “This place is all about sisterhood. Women supporting women. That’s what you did. You were there for your friend when she needed you. Just like I know you’d be there for any of these girls. I don’t just respect that. I appreciate it.”
My eyes burned with unshed tears. All I could manage was a glance her way. She wasn’t looking at me either. Her eyes were on the fireplace in the corner.
“I really didn’t want to lie to you,” I told her.
“Then why did you?” Her voice was gentle as she turned my way. Confusion overtook her expression. Like a mother disappointed with her child.
I kept my gaze on my feet and shook my head. “I don’t know.”
“Sure you do. You’re a lot of things, Gwen, but thoughtless isn’t one of them. All you ever do is think. And usually, you come to a good decision at the end.”
I could feel those dark brown eyes surveying every inch of my soul, maybe even my mind. Rhiannon had that gift. She understood people just by looking at them.
“So, what made you think hiding this from me was the right decision?” she asked.
Rhiannon would know if I lied. My shaking hands and quiet voice would give me away. I landed on a version of the truth. “The same reason you don’t tell us how you get our fake identities. Plausible deniability.”
She cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean?”
Shit. Not the best way to say it. If she was the anonymous friend who was texting me a moment ago, would she have wanted that answer?
“You keep things from us to protect us,” I said, voice hardly above a whisper. “I figured that if this came out at the ranch, it would make everyone feel unsafe. You would be the one to deal with the fallout. Everyone would be scared, and you’d have to assure them that everything was okay, and I didn’t want to put that responsibility on your shoulders.”
She squinted at me, but a frown tugged at the edge of her lips now. “It’s not your job to protect everyone, you know.”
“It wasn’t yours either,” I said. “Until you made it yours.”
She gave a half smile, shaking her head. “I’ve met my match with you, haven’t I?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever be half the woman you are.”
“We gotta work on that.” She tossed an arm around my shoulders and kissed my forehead. “Because you already are, kid.”
How badly I wished that were true.
“But we’ve got a lot to work on,” Rhiannon said, still holding me close. “Group therapy doesn’t seem to be doing much for you. You just listen.”
