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She opened her mouth to respond. There was a knock on the door. She frowned.
“I don’t know if you’re expecting someone, but we really need to sort this out.”
He smirked as he walked to the door. “Believe me, no one I’d be expecting would dare show up here before noon.”
She’d been dressed and showered at 7:00 and could have shown up then, which she was about to tell him when a familiar voice called through the door.
“Ryder, it’s us. Mom and Dad. That nice doorman let us up.”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if trying to contain his irritation. He didn’t look like he had much success. He flung open the door.
There stood Cheryl and Warren. Vicky was quite fond of them, of course. But this wasn’t exactly the best timing.
“Oh, good,” said Cheryl, looking Ryder up and down. “We weren’t sure you’d be up.”
“I wouldn’t have been if it weren’t for—”
“Victoria!”
Cheryl stopped short upon spotting her. Cheryl looked back and forth between Vicky and Ryder. A look of confusion spreading across her face, mixed with a little hurt.
“So it is true, then?” she asked. “Why did you lie to us yesterday?”
Apparently, the Princes had seen the photo. She’d known they would eventually. She’d just hoped she and Ryder could have gotten their plan straight first. Well, it couldn’t be helped. She supposed they could just bring them into the discussion.
“The boy hasn’t exactly made a habit of being forthcoming with us, now has he, darling?”
Ryder clenched his jaw so hard she thought he might break a tooth.
On the other hand, it might just be simplest to keep the lie between the two of them . . .
Cheryl reached out, putting her hand on Vicky’s. “Are you happy together, sweetheart? That’s all we care about.”
Oh. “Well, I—”
Cheryl’s bag suddenly burst out playing a tune.
“Oh dear. Hang on.” She pulled out her phone and looked at it. “Oh! It’s Noah!”
She tapped the screen and put the phone to her ear. “Noah! Honey! Why are you calling? I thought you were away for the weekend.”
Ryder squeezed his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Poor Ryder. This was not exactly the morning he’d been planning, she was sure.
“No, your father’s here. But I shouldn’t stay on the phone too long.” She whispered, as if somehow they wouldn’t hear, “We’re at Ryder’s.”
Vicky caught his eye and mouthed, I’m sorry. That brought the corner of his mouth up the tiniest bit. Which made her insides warm the tiniest bit. Huh. Not that it mattered because—
Cheryl let out a sound somewhere between a squeal and a shriek. “You’re what? She did! Oh my goodness, wait till I tell everyone!”
A sudden, sinking feeling swept over Vicky. Tell them what?
“Okay, Noah, honey. Yes, I’ve got it. Oh, I’m so excited! Okay, sweetheart, I’ll see you when you get back. Give my love to Sabrina.”
She hung up, then turned to them, grinning. “Noah is engaged!”
She had already half guessed, and yet it hit her like a punch to the gut. She forced a smile, but a moment later, Warren cleared his throat and nodded in her direction. Cheryl blanched.
