As soon as I slide my shoes off, I push my window up and struggle to get onto the roof. If I weren't on a mission, I would have taken the time to change out of my tight skirt, which would have helped me swing my legs out of the windowsill.

I have to run to Ryan's window and I hop up and down to keep my feet from burning on the roof shingles. Ryan must have anticipated me coming because his blinds are up and the window is unlocked. I tap on the glass to inform him of my entry but waste no time shimming the window up. As soon as he sees me, he strides over and helps pulls me inside.

"I was hoping you'd take the hint," Ryan says as soon as he has me safely inside his room and pushes the glass down.

"What hint?" I ask him, while I strut over to the edge of his bed. I plop down and rub the bottom of my burned feet.

"About going to take a nap. I lied to Austin so I could try and sneak in some time with you." He walks into his closet and I watch as he pulls a change of clothes from his hangers. He slides his white tee off and replaces it with a thin red V-neck. My hands have gotten to glide over his abs but this is the first time my eyes have gotten to enjoy them since we are always in the dark. He balls up his dirty shirt and tosses it on the rocking chair before coming over to me.

"Speaking of lying to Austin, is there any other lie you have told him recently?" I ask nonchalantly and Ryan looks to me confused, "Where are you going with this Sawyer?"

I glare at him and reply, "I'm just wondering why Austin told me you'd never mess around with someone as plain and, oh what was the word Austin used? Oh, as plain and as sad as me." Ryan looks to me before tilting his head back and laughs. I smack him in the shoulder and he puts his hand up to surrender.

"Yes, my dear Sawyer. I think that was the biggest bald-faced lie I have ever had to tell your brother. I really had to work on my poker face as I was feeding him that line of bullshit." I'm still playfully frowning and Ryan puts his arm around me, "Sawyer, you in the skirt you got on right now have been running through my mind all day. No sad girl wears an outfit like that." He smiles as he pulls my chin toward him with his fingertips. He softly kisses me and I run my hands through his hair. I pull back but our foreheads remain touching.

"I know I can't ask you about work, but I have something I'd like to tell you," I say to Ryan and he pulls his head away from mine. He still has a grip on my hands and he nods for me to continue, "I ran into Kenny today. At Wade's Bakery in town." Ryan sits stone-faced so I continue, "I'm not sure what all you know about the Carmichaels, obviously, but if any of our conversation can help you-"

"You didn't approach him, did you?" Ryan asks me, suddenly worried and I shake my head.

"No, but there was no avoiding him either. It was literally just the two of us in the bakery and he spotted me as soon as I came in."

Ryan looks to me as he says, "Kennedy and Simon are not good guys Sawyer. From now on I want you to steer clear of them."

"Ryan, I didn't go out of my way to be weirdly felt up by Kenny. Trust me, I'll gladly stay away from them. I'm not like, trying to take anything into my own hands here."

He frowns at something I said and asks, "What do you mean felt up?"

"Maybe that was poor word choice. He just is creepy I told you that. He ran his eyes all over me and before he left, he put his hand on my arm, like this." I repeat the grip on Ryan and he shakes his head at me, "That's odd."

"Yeah, and put that with his comment about me looking ravishing in my dress tomorrow and I was officially willied out."

Ryan's eyes widen and he shakes his head, "What?" I nod my head in disgust before continuing, "But he said he's going to see me tomorrow, which means he's going to Founder's Day. He also told me he moved to Nottingham to be close to the water."

"Did he say anything else?" Ryan asks and I nod, "Yeah, that he and Simon both live there together and they try and go out on their boat every day. That he spends his day fishing." Ryan looks deep in thought while his gaze falls to the floor. His chin rests on his knuckles and his other hand still holds mine.

His train of thought finally arrives at some destination because he suddenly looks to me.

"Did he say anything else about his boat? Or if he and Simon fish with anyone else?"

I shake my head, "No. That's really all he said. Oh, and I guess he also said he couldn't handle the chaos of New Orleans so that's why he came back to Mississippi." Ryan snaps his head up and looks at me.

"New Orleans? When was he in New Orleans?"

"Not long ago. Just this past March, Whitney and I met him out there for Mardi Gras. He probably lived there, I dunno... less than six months."

"You actually saw Kennedy in New Orleans when you went?" Ryan asks me and I nod, "Yes. Whitney and I stayed with him for two nights. Right in the city." I must have said something that sparked some curiosity because Ryan becomes eager for information.

"Do you remember where you stayed? Did you see anyone else with you?"

"Ryan it was Mardi Gras. If it weren't for pictures, I wouldn't even remember what I wore or what I did. I hardly remember where I stayed."

"Do you know if it was a house? Or hotel or anything?"

"It was a small boutique hotel. We charged everything to our room. I do remember that." Ryan runs his hands over his face, annoyance peeking through.

"I really wish I could bring you in as an informant, but both Austin and I agree that we could never put you in harm's way. I really wish all this could be on the record. I have to figure out a way to discover this information without your help."

"What if Whitney posted pictures from our trip online? Could you use those without my consent?" I ask and Ryan nods, "Possibly. Did she post anything that could prove your whereabouts?"

"She has pictures of us in the hotel room and in the lobby. You might be able to get some information from that. But I know Kenny isn't in any of the pictures, he said he's not photogenic. I remember that too." Ryan stands from the bed and walks over to his dresser to grab his burner phone again. He turns to me but I can take a hint. I push myself off the bed and walk back to the window. As soon as I swing my leg out Ryan says, "Hey Sawyer." I look back to him while my legs dangle out the window, "Yeah?"

"I do appreciate the info. But don't ever think that's why I am into you. I'd never want you to think I'm just sleeping with you for intel."

"No, I know it's not like that. I know you just take pity on the sad, plain girls." I wink to him and he smiles before flipping his phone open. I push his window down and skip back over to my window.