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According to Ryan, I knew the ESPN version.

The phrase had frightened me when he said it. Watching Briggs lean toward him now made the fear sharpen into something I couldn’t ignore. Briggs had not left his side at the cabin, it was almost like he was safeguarding him and running interference so I couldn’t get close to him. I recall that thanksgiving night when I went to the ABC apartment and Briggs made it clear he drew the line in the sand and he was not standing on my side.

I couldn’t help but wonder now, why?

Bliss and Aura stood near the champagne display speaking to one of Bliss’s aunts. Bliss found me before I reached them. Her smile disappeared as her attention moved over my face, and Aura followed her gaze a second later.

Bliss excused them quickly. Her aunt squeezed my arm as she passed, telling me how beautiful I looked before returning to the ballroom.

“What happened?” Bliss asked.

“I need to talk to both of you.”

Aura glanced toward the patio. “Where’s Ryan?”

“Doing the meet-and-greet with the guys.”

“Did you fight?”

“Yes.”

Bliss took my hand. “Come with us.”

I allowed them to lead me into one of the smaller sitting rooms beyond the ballroom because I wanted walls between this conversation and two hundred guests. The room had been arranged for people who needed a break from the music, with two cream couches facing a fireplace and tall windows overlooking the eastern gardens. Voices moved faintly through the closed doors after Aura shut them.

Bliss turned toward me. “Tell us what happened.”

“I found Ryan outside with my mother.”

“What?” Aura asked.

“They were talking. Mom was crying, and Ryan was holding her.”

Bliss’s face changed. “Did your mom tell you why?”

“She said she apologized to him for Thanksgiving, my treatment, and the ways she failed both of us. Ryan accepted her apology.”

Neither of them appeared surprised.

The realization tightened my spine. “You knew they were going to talk?”

“No,” Bliss said. “I knew your mom wanted to apologize. I didn’t know she planned to do it tonight.”

“I heard Ryan tell her he still loves me.”

Aura released a breath. “That isn’t new information.”

“I know. That isn’t what started the fight.” I walked toward the windows before turning back. “I got angry because he forgave my mother. Ryan said forgiving her costs him nothing because she can’t break his heart again. Then I asked what they talked about, and he told me whatever happened after he left belongs to him.”

“He’s right,” Aura said.

“I know he’s right.”

Her eyebrows rose slightly.

“I pushed too hard. Ryan told me he was barely holding his shit together, and I kept asking questions because everyone seems to know things about what happened after he left me, except me.” I folded my arms beneath my breasts. “He said I know the events, but I don’t know the story. Then he asked if the two of you never told me.”

Bliss and Aura became too still. It only lasted a second, but I saw it. “What did he mean?” Bliss asked.