Page 24 of Never Tell Secrets

“I was a mischievous little bugger too. “

“For what it’s worth, as crazy as this all is, I’m really glad that Ryan has you as a dad. Just be patient with Natalie. The last ten years haven’t been easy.”

“Alright, thank you.” He rubbed a hand over his jaw again. “I guess this makes us family, eh?”Family.Riley was a permanent fixture in my life now.

“I guess it does. I have to ask, have you told Alfie yet that you’re Ryan’s dad?”

“No. I didn’t want to give him any ammunition.”Ammunition?“I’m not an idiot, Lola. I know he’s a massive manipulator. But he’s a part of my life and you are now too. If he knew you and I were connected he could use that as leverage to get you back.”

“I appreciate that.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “Did he tell you I met with him?”

“No.” He glanced at me, looking surprised. “Are you and he…?”

“No.” I shut down his trail of thought quickly. “You should tell him about Ryan, though. I hate secrets. Besides, if he’s going to keep his word to leave me alone I want him to do it because it’s right, not because I didn’t give him the opportunity to bend me over a barrel again.” Riley arched a brow at me. “Not literally.” I rolled my eyes and he laughed before nudging my sketchbook.

“Can I look?” he asked and I waved a hand, giving him permission. He flitted through the pages while I sipped my coffee. It struck me how relaxed I was now. Once I would have been so nervous to have Riley Fitzpatrick looking through my rough sketches. I’d come a long way. “So, this is what the inside of your brain looks like?” he teased and I gave him a playful shove. “Well, they’ve placed you in floral structure,” he said, reading my brief. “You done much of that?”

“Some. I studied it of course and I completed a project for it that did pretty well. I loved it actually.”

“You want my advice?”

“Always.” I smiled.

“Go big. Now isn’t the time to play it safe.” He held my gaze as he spoke. I got the feeling he wasn’t just talking about the project.

I got home after a long day and the rhythmicthud thud thudof Keira’s sewing machine greeted me as I opened the door. Keira was hunched over at her workspace, surrounded by a river of blood-red fabric. I peeked at the sketch over her shoulder.

“Looks like something out of Moulin Rouge,” I said.

“I know! It’s fun, right? How was your day?”

“All of my designs suck and I spilled coffee on my favourite skirt.” I pointed at the stain.

“Well, that’s a fuck of a day.” She put down the fabric and turned to face me. “I hate to make it worse but…” She nodded her head behind me. I turned and saw a wooden chest on the kitchen counter. “Elliot brought it earlier. What’s going on?” she asked, her voice full of concern. The chest came with an envelope attached, my name written in Alfie’s unmistakable scrawl across the front.

“Alfie said he would send me something that would explain why he is the way he is.”

“Is it a psych evaluation?” Keira muttered.

Ignoring her, I took a deep breath and opened the letter.

Lo,

The contents of this chest will answer every question you ever had about me. It goes without saying that I need you to keep this information to yourself.

I know it is unlikely that after learning the truth about me, you will ever want to speak to me again. Please know that what I feel for you comes from the purest, goodest part of me. Losing you was singularly the most painful experience of my life, yet I am so grateful that I found you. Those months were the happiest I have ever been and if that is all we ever have, I will treasure those memories forever.

I wish you every happiness and I hope that one day you can find a man worthy of you.

The phone number I gave you will stay active for as long as I live. If you ever wish to speak to me for any reason, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Ever yours,

Alfie Tell.

The shrapnel throbbed, a dull ache emanating in my chest. I wanted to call him. To hear his smooth, syrup-like voice soothe my fraying nerves, but I refused.

“So, what’s in it?” Keira asked, sipping her wine.