Thanks to the minimalist aesthetics I inherited from my mother, I lived an organized and clutter-free life. Which meant I didn’t have much to pack up. I placed a box in the center of each room, tossed out whatever I didn’t need, and neatly wrapped the rest in brown paper and bubble wrap. I was done within two hours and sat back to admire my handiwork. The house looked naked now without my paintings, décor, and other personal effects. It had been home for the past year, and I was sorry to leave. The last thing I expected was that I’d be forced to leave by a crazy ex. But pretty soon, Anthony would be out of the picture, I was sure of it. Then, I’d be less stressed out and actually enjoy my life again. Fingers crossed.

I’d agreed to meet Ryder in an hour at Waterfront Café. Questions burned through my skull, demanding answers. If he chose to tell me the truth, I would trust him, maybe even give him a chance. But if he lied, I’d know it. After all, it hadn’t been too difficult for Galliana to find out the truth about him. Two can play mind games, Ryder.

I swiped some berry lip balm over my lips, some blush on my cheeks, and headed out for our rendezvous. Waterfront Café was crowded with people eager to grab a bagel and coffee before work. I staked out a round table in the corner and nursed a cappuccino while I waited for him. The way I was dressed, in my work clothes, made this feel like a business meeting or job interview rather than a quasi-coffee date with a man who bothered the hell out of me for some reason. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. He was an enigma, his past a giant question mark. I wanted to hear him confess his crimes. I wanted to hear his side of the story. Why I felt any sympathy for a man like him was beyond me. Yet…there I was, waiting. I definitely had a few nuts and bolts loose in my head.

“Hey.” I turned around and saw Ryder holding out a cup of coffee. “Oh, I guess you didn’t need this, then.” He placed the extra coffee in front of me, then took the seat beside mine. “It’s so busy in here.”

“Do you want to go somewhere quieter?” I asked.

“No, it’s fine.” Ryder popped open his coffee lid and began tearing open sugar packets. He emptied two into his black coffee and stirred it around. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

I sucked in a sharp breath and squared my shoulders. “Here’s the thing, Ryder. Everything about you confuses the hell out of me. You seem like a great guy, but there’s something about you that’s—I don’t know. Before anything can ever happen between us, I need to know the truth.”

Ryder paused for a moment, took a sip of his coffee, then set it back down again. “What have I lied about?”

“What did you do time for, Ryder? I’ll keep an open mind, but I want you to be honest with me. If I can’t trust you, I won’t help you.”

“Who says I need help?”

“Cut the bullshit. The first night we met, you lied to me. Now I’m giving you a second chance. Come clean.”

“Tough customer. Did something happen, Cally? You seem distraught.”

I ground my teeth. “Answer my question, Ryder.”

Ryder’s eyes shifted from my cup, to my gold knuckle ring, and then trailed up until they locked with mine. Just as quickly, he focused on the signboard hanging behind me and squinted, as if he was reading it. After another beat, he took a large gulp of coffee, winced a little, then looked me straight in the eye. “Callista, I—the truth is, I’m a registered sex offender. Did three years in Maxfield for third degree rape, a Class C felony. There, happy now? That’s what you wanted me to say, right? I’m not proud of it. But it’s not exactly a secret I could’ve kept forever. A quick Google search would’ve…fuck, this coffee tastes like shit.”

I’d already known the truth before I even showed up at the café, but somehow, hearing it made it real. I hadn’t wanted to believe the truth, even though I trusted Galliana’s skills as a P.I.

Ryder tried to keep a straight face, tried to remain calm, but I could tell his mask was slipping. I could see his facade cracking like plaster.

The man sitting across from me, casually sipping coffee…was a rapist. I came to meet him despite knowing the truth. And the truth was so fucking bad. This wasn’t some crime he committed as a careless young man. It happened three short years ago. I was insane for meeting him. All logic seemed to fly out the window where Ryder was concerned. I was having coffee with a convicted sex offender, and somehow I didn’t even feel like throwing up or running away. What the hell was wrong with me? “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” I asked.

“It’s not exactly something I like to shout from the rooftops,” Ryder said. “It’s already bad enough that I have to declare it to potential landlords, employers, and sex partners.”

“What happened?” I asked, raising my voice a bit too much and attracting some unwanted attention from bystanders. What I really meant was Were there extenuating circumstances? Are you innocent? Did you stand trial?

Ryder rubbed his temples. “Listen, Cally, forgive me, but I don’t feel like doing a show and tell right now. Or undergoing your interrogation. If you asked me out here just to grill me—”

“I came here to find out the truth. Something you’re keen on hiding,” I pointed out. “Now, I’m going to ask you again: Do you need me to help you?”

“What makes you think—”

I balled up my napkin and squeezed it. Hard. He’d told me his truth, now I’d tell him mine. “I have a P.I. She tells me you’ve been following me around. She showed me photos of you digging through my trash. Should I continue?”

“Why—”

“At first, I needed her to gather evidence that Anthony was stalking me, in case I decided to press charges. But I had no idea she’d come back and tell me that I had two stalkers instead of one. Imagine my surprise when I saw photos of you everywhere I went. Bit of a shock, wouldn’t you say?”

Ryder’s eyes widened and he was suddenly very still. Then his shoulders twitched, and he looked down at his tensed knuckles. “I can explain. I—I need your help, Cally. There, I said it.”

I stood up and placed my hands on my hips. “Now tell me why the hell I should help my latest stalker instead of turning you in.”