Page 77 of Riding High

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After twenty-four hours in hiding, Eden walked into the courtyard behind Elmsleigh House, exhausted.She sank onto the kitchen steps, powered on her phone and braced herself.Missed calls.Messages.Troyden.Mick.Henry.More from Mick.

Nothing from Jed.

So, this was what a broken heart felt like.A sharp, jagged rip, a relentless, aching thud.Breathing felt impossible, the thick tension in her lungs making it difficult to inhale.The early morning air tasted like regret.The summer sun, having turned its back on her, held no warmth.Her heart ached with the weight of what could’ve been, the endless possibilities never to be realised.Eden wrapped her arms around her knees, waiting for something, anything: a sign, a nudge, the strength to move on.

The door creaked open.Troyden wore cargo shorts, a flannel shirt with sleeves rolled up and carried two mugs in his hands.His assessing gaze told her everything.He knew that her world, and maybe Jed’s, had split open and fallen apart.

‘Walk or sit?’he asked.

‘I’ll walk if you want to?—’

‘We’re sitting,’ he decided, dropping beside her and handing her coffee.She clutched the warm mug, thankful for something solid to hold on to.

‘What did Jed tell you?’she asked, her voice raspy.

‘You two fought, and you might or might not tell me why.’Troyden frowned.‘I’m presuming it’s serious.’

She inhaled, steeling herself, then laid it out.The truth.The evidence she’d gathered and taken to the police.Her reasons for turning his good friends in.She offered to show him the detective’s messages, to give him the number so that he could call and verify her claims.When she finally stopped talking, her stomach twisted at his silence and her heart dropped at his sober expression.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said, voice small.‘I didn’t want to hurt your friends.’

Troyden took a long sip, watching her.‘So, after seeing them at the cocktail party at Bythesea Hall, you bolted.’

‘Yes.I didn’t want a scene, and the police wanted me to keep my distance.’

‘Then, after you and Jed fought, you packed up and left Elmsleigh.’He tilted his head.‘Why did you run, Eden?’

She frowned.‘It was partly instinctive, a need to get away.And partly because I thought I wouldn’t be welcome here anymore.’

He exhaled sharply.‘Let me get this straight.They stole money, ripped off charities and me, and you thought I’d kickyouout of my home and life for reporting them?’

Well, yes.‘They’re your friends.Tara is Jed’s mum’s best friend.’

‘So?’His jaw locked.‘What does that have to do with them stealing?’

Her breath hitched.‘Are you saying… you believe me?’

His eyes softened.‘I think if you were lying, you wouldn’t be offering up evidence.The police wouldn’t be investigating, searching offices and issuing warrants if there wasn’t something to your claims.’

Tears burned.God, having him believe her was such a relief.Air, a thin stream, lightened the grip on her agonised lungs.‘Thank you.’

Troyden tapped her knee.‘You still owe me an apology.’

Eden’s heart plummeted to her toes.‘I don’t understand?’

‘You owe me an apology for not coming to me, for not asking for help.You’re part of this family, Eden.You don’t go through things alone when I am willing to stand next to you.’

His words landed deep.A sob rose, part relief, part hope.There was a light in the distance, and it was tangible, real.Their relationship was salvageable.They could get through this.Her and Jed’s relationship was on life support, and it would take a long time for those wounds to heal, but she might not lose Troyden.There was the possibility of something new, better and deeper, between them, and Eden sucked in her first proper breath that day.

‘Are we… okay?’She needed to check, desperate for reassurance.

‘I’m angry,’ he admitted, his voice still tight.‘Not at you.Okay, a little at you for making me worry.But I’m furious at your mum and at my brother, at everyone who made you believe you couldn’t count on family.But I’ll get over it.’

Then he stood, pressing a quick kiss to her hair.‘Check out of the B&B.Move back into your room.Today.’

Eden nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks.She wasn’t alone.She still had her uncle.But Jed?That was another story.