Page 90 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
Chapter Forty-Three
RILEY, JADE, MAX, and Savannah sat in a café in the village of Allure. They’d spent the morning walking through shops and talking about how crazy Claudia was, Max’s wedding, and the house Jade and Rex were having built. Riley tried to add to the conversations, but as each hour passed, the fissures in her heart deepened. She hadn’t heard from Josh since the text he’d sent atfour in the morning, and she couldn’t get the photo out of her head.
“What does my brother have to say about the latest?” Savannah asked. She looked chic in her jeans, long-sleeved white shirt, and suede blazer.
Riley drew in a breath, trying to formulate an answer that didn’t sound whiny or clingy. The best she could come up with was “Not much.”
“Do you think he’s all right? Gosh, maybe heneeds one of us down there with him.” Savannah pulled out her cell phone.
“Treat’s with him,” Max said.
“What?” Savannah and Riley asked in unison.
“He chartered a plane in the middle of the night. He said he was worried about Josh. Apparently, he had tried to call him several times, and he said Josh had a tendency to pull into himself and block out the world when things went awry.” Max sippedher iced tea and then continued. “He’s with him now. He texted me about half an hour ago.”
Treat texted you? Why didn’t Josh text me?
“What did he say? Is Josh okay?” Savannah asked.
Riley was dying to know the same thing. She was relieved Savannah had stepped in to ask.
“He said he’s having a hard time, but they’re going to meet with the PI and get this figured out today,” Max explained.“He sounded pretty firm, like neither of them was going to let this nonsense continue.” She touched Riley’s arm. “Treat said Josh was worried about Riley but that he was in no shape to call and that they were rushing around taking care of things.”
“No shape to call? What does that even mean?” Riley asked.
“I guess he’s really angry about everything, but, Riley, he’s also probably in that befuddledstage that guys go through, where they don’t know up from down when they’re first in love. Imagine being newly in love and thrown in a blender with your lover’s nemesis.”
“I’m living that nightmare, remember?” Riley said.
Jade touched her arm. “Oh, I know that befuddled stage,” Jade said. “Remember, Ri, when Rex was all tied in knots? He was so cute and so passionate.”
Riley knew Jade was tryingto sidetrack her from her hurt over Josh not calling.
“Please.” Savannah pretended to cover her ears.
“No, I mean he was protective and loving.” She winked at Riley. “And passionate that way, too.”
Savannah swatted her arm. “Ew! That’s my brother, okay. Let me think of him as a brother, please. Gross.”
Jade laughed.
“Well, Josh isn’t that way. He’s loving, but he’s not passionate like Rexis. He’s very in control when it comes to his protective urges. I can’t even imagine him getting that mad at anyone,” Riley said.
“Not even Claudia?” Max asked.
“Well.” Riley reconsidered. “Mad, yes, but viscerally angry, I doubt it.”
“Don’t underestimate my little brother, Riley. I bet this situation is making him see all sides of himself that he’s not used to.” Savannah leaned closer to Rileyand whispered, “And please, when he does, don’t use the wordspassionateandJoshin the same sentence. He’s still very pure in my eyes,” she teased.
Riley couldn’t take it anymore. Why hadn’t he called her? Why hadn’t he warned her about Claudia? What was she missing?
“Savannah, you said Josh pulls into himself. What did you mean?” Riley finally asked.
“Josh is the most passive of my brothers.When something goes wrong, he tends to close himself off until he has a way to deal with it.” Savannah narrowed her eyes. “Riley, is he doing that to you? Shutting you out?”
“No.” The word shot from Riley’s lips.
“Oh no, honey. Haven’t you talked to him since you saw that picture? Oh goodness, you’ve been with us the whole time. We’ve been monopolizing your time. We’re such idiots.” She lookedaround the table. “Call him, Riley. It’ll make you feel a lot better.”
