Jonathan ignores Ryke. “Why are you crying?” he says to Lo, half in repulsion and half in something more human.
“I don’t know,” Lo says, his nose flaring as he tries to repress the silent tears.
He grabs the back of Lo’s neck and brings his face right into his. “Think about this,” Jonathan pleads with a sneer, shaking Lo.
People definitely start looking now. Lo tries to break the hold, putting his arm on his father’s but his grip is too tight, his fingers pressing into the tender part of Lo’s skin.
“Stop,” I say, trying to rush forward, but Rose pulls me back.
Ryke grabs Jonathan’s arm and pries it off of Lo, who stumbles in a daze. “What is wrong with you?” Ryke shouts at Jonathan. “No, you know what? I know what’s wrong with you. You never fucking change. Go back to believing you’re a great fucking man, but I won’t let you ruin Lo’s life.”
Why does he sound like he knows him?
“Is this Sara’s doing?” Jonathan asks. “Where is she?” His eyes dart around the ballroom, looking for Lo’s absent mother.
Lo parts from both Jonathan and Ryke, staring between them to try and understand their relationship. Clearly, it goes beyond anything we imagined.
“She’s not here. She doesn’t even know I’ve been talking to Lo,” Ryke exclaims.
Jonathan’s face twists in pain. “So you took it upon yourself to tear my family apart? After all that I’ve tried to do for you?” His eyes flash hot. “I could have shunned you, but I let you have a father.” Wait, wait, wait…
“I didn’t want one,” Ryke says.
Jonathan clenches his teeth. “You will not turn my son against me, do you hear me?”
“What’s going on?” Lo asks. “What the fuck is going on?”
From behind Jonathan, Connor appears and whispers in his ear. Jonathan nods and then says to Lo. “This is not the time. We’ll talk later.” With that short goodbye, Connor ushers Jonathan away to end an even bigger scene.
“Meet me in the hall,” Lo tells Ryke, not even looking his way.
I follow with Rose. Too many things swim in my head for me to focus. Tears keep falling—the source unbeknownst to me. Maybe from Jonathan’s sharp words. Maybe from Lo’s rehab proclamation. Or the strangeness between Ryke and Jonathan.
We stop in the hallway of the hotel, the carpet a tacky diamond pattern and the wallpaper a shiny gold color, both dizzying my flyaway mind.
“Who are you?!” Lo yells at Ryke. “Don’t fucking lie to me anymore!”
“Calm down,” Ryke says. “Give me the chance to explain, please. You deserve every answer.”
“How do you know my father?” Lo asks. “How does he know you?”
Ryke holds out a hand, palm down, as though trying to keep the peace. “Sara Hale is my mother.”
Oh my…Jonathan said something about being a father to Ryke. Is that why the divorce started? Sara cheated and became pregnant with Ryke?
That would make Lo and Ryke half-brothers.
Lo staggers back and raises a hand to pause the argument while he sorts out his thoughts. And then he looks up with furrowed brows and says, “You’re a bastard child?”
Ryke cringes in hurt, and he shakes his head once, so terse and pained that a tear flows from his eye.
Lo points to his own chest with a trembling hand. “I’m the bastard?”
Ryke nods once.
Lo lets out a strange choking sound, and I try to step forward, but Rose holds me back again. Lo wipes his eyes with his arm and inhales strongly. “Give me your license,” Lo immediately demands.
Ryke pulls his wallet from his back pocket and slides out the card. Before he hands it to Lo, he says, “You’re still my brother. It doesn’t make a difference who wasn’t supposed to be here.”
“Just give it to me.”
Ryke hands it over, and Lo scans the name. His jaw locks, sharpening his cheeks to ice. His hand quakes as he reads the card. “Jonathan Ryke Meadows.” Lo lets out a crazed laugh and he flings the license back at Ryke. He leaves it on the carpet. “What did you say your mother did?” Lo feigns confusion. “Oh yeah? She lives off your dad.” Lo bites his bottom lip and nods.
“Lo…”
He sets his hands on his head. “Fuck you,” Lo sneers. “Why didn’t anyone tell me? You’re Jonathan's son. Sara Hales is your mother, but she’s not mine, is she?”