Lost and Found

Chapter 4

Sydney stomped down the stairs and stopped at the bottom. She looked around for the bathroom before turning to Gary. "Could you point me in the direction of the ladies' room please."

Gary raised an eyebrow. "To the left of the bar."

"Thank you." Meredith and Audrey barely made it down before Sydney headed to the bar and turned left.

"Sydney, stop." Meredith said as the arrived at the ladies' room. Sydney went in and stood against the wall as her friends followed her in. "Good grief, woman, are we racing or something?"

"I just wanted to get somewhere he wouldn't follow."

Audrey came in and looked at her. "OK, I'm confused. He told you he helped opened nightclubs?" Sydney nodded. "And now that you know it's more than that, you're mad?"

"Yes!" Sydney moved over to the mirrors. "Why not just tell me right off the bat? Why lie to me?"

"I say this with love, sweetheart, but I think this has less to do with him and more with your trust issues." Audrey stood next to her at the mirror.

"I just...I hate white lies. They drive me nuts." She thought back to all the times her mother had told her she just wasn't feeling well before she died of cancer. Of her father telling her he was just run down before he had his heart attack. Of how Brad would tell her he was happy right before he left.

Meredith stepped towards her. "We know that, but he just met you. It's possible his reasons for the white lie have something to do with his past."

"Let's do some real talk. Do you like him?" Audrey asked.

Sydney nodded.

"Then why are you down here instead of hearing the reason?"

"But if it starts off with little white lies..." Sydney sighed. "I'm being a little high maintenance right now, aren't I?" Audrey nodded. "Shit. Not really a good first impression." She looked at both women. "Can you guys wait down here for about 5 minutes? I think I have to apologize."

Meredith pulled Sydney in for a hug. "Of course."

Audrey hugged her from behind. "We may have to make it 10 if you're going to apologize."

Sydney laughed. She pulled out of the group hug and headed for the door. She took a deep breath and left.

Bryce sat on one of the sofas, his head in his hands. She'd been gone for ten minutes. He was trying to put his apology together in his head when the door opened. He jumped up as she looked around the room. Her eyes went to Nick first. "Could we have a few minutes alone please?"

Nick smiled. "Of course. I'll go grab the others for a dance."

He looked at Bryce as he walked by Sydney, giving his friend a wink before leaving them alone.

"Sydney..."

She held up her hand. "Please, let me say what I have to first." He nodded. "I'm sorry. I overreacted to the news. It has more to do with me and nothing to do with you, although I should point out I HATE lies. I reacted a bit strongly, so for that I'm sorry."

"May I say something now?" She nodded as she held his gaze. He stepped towards her and took her hands. "I'm so sorry that I lied and mislead you about my job. The truth is I dated a woman that only wanted me for my money and since then I have always downplayed my job here to protect myself. I know you're not that type of woman, but I have been saying it for so long, it's almost a natural thing for me to say." He dropped her hands and stepped back. He smiled and held out his hand. "Hi, I'm Bryce Billings, part owner of The Castaway."