Page 38 of No Merciful Corruption

The only way through this awkward interaction is to keep myself busy so I make a pot of coffee. While the machine works its magic, Lyss approaches the kitchen island and sits down on one of the stools. She’s never actively sought out my company before so if she’s here, it’s for a reason.

She must not want to be alone.

“How’s your dad?” I ask, recalling his battle with early onset dementia.

“Dad’s fine. I was with him yesterday.”

“Is that why you’re up at this time? Did you come home late?”

She frowns. “What? No, I was at Ri⁠—”

She cuts herself off. Drops her head and returns to stabbing the ice cream with her fork.

Ah…I see now.

“You know, based on—” I stop short. How do I say this is a politely and painlessly as possible? I’ve never felt so bashful discussing sex before. “What you heard. Between Dahlia and me.”

She bristles. “Don’t make this gross.”

“What I’m trying to say is you don’t have to worry about her. She won’t be angry. In fact, I think she’d be happy for the two of you.”

Lyss’s eyes widen to the size of saucers and she turns sharply in her seat so as to avoid looking at me head on. She stares into the distance with parted lips and a rapidly rising and falling chest.

“I…I’m not sure I understand…” she sighs. Squeezes her eyes shut. Then grips the kitchen island and turns to face me again. “How long have you known?”

“A while.”

“Oh my God,” she covers her face with both hands. Voice drowning in humiliation she mutters, “Does Dahlia know?”

“That you and Rian are sleeping together, no, I don’t, and I really don’t think she’d⁠—”

“Wait.” Lyss looks up at me with eyes in ever-changing shades of light brown. “Rian and I aren’t sleeping together.”

Now I’m confused.

“You’re not?”

“No! Jesus, I would never. He’s Dahlia’s boyfriend. Well, ex. Sorry!” she rushes to correct herself. “Listen, you guys swing back and forth like a pendulum. I can’t keep up.”

“You mean he still doesn’t know?” I ask. “What the Hell have you been doing hanging out at his house for the past month then?”

I can’t believe this.

It’s obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes that Lyss is in love with Rian. I assumed that after his accident, and with all the time she’s spent checking in on him, that something had blossomed between them. Maybe Rian finally opened his eyes to what was in front of him or maybe he’d grown attached to her on his own and decided it was time to act on it. To Dahlia’s credit, I really don’t think she’d care if Rian and Lyss got together. The secret would hurt her more than the act itself and from my observations, they seem well-matched.

Rian listens to Lyss and he respects her. She’s always been better at assuaging his temper than Dahlia ever was. They spend so much time together as it is. How has it not gone any further?

“We’re friends. We’ve known each other since before he and Dahlia got involved. They met through me…actually.” Something in her deflates when she says as much aloud.

This has just become infinitely more interesting.

When the coffee machine beeps, I pour us both a cup and sit next to her.

“I think I’ve been in love with him for almost as long as I’ve known him but I never said anything. I don’t know why. It’s so stupid. I had it in my head that I’d be the last person he’d ever want to be with. I kept thinking that if he felt the same, he would’ve done something about it…” She gives a light shrug. “Anyway, none of this matters. He wanted Dahlia and I thought he’d be happier with her so I kept it to myself.”

“Do you regret it?”

“Dahlia’s my best friend. I would never⁠—”