“I meant what I said earlier. You’re it for me, little one.”
“Whatever.”
“I’ll wait as long as I need to,” I say quietly, resting my head against her door.
I should just storm in and take what’s mine. The temptation is strong but I know in the long run it’ll just make her hate me more.
“Well, if you change your mind, I’ll be right next door.”
I get no response this time, so I leave her to it and kick my own bedroom door closed behind me.
It’s only ten minutes later that I hear her door open and her storm down the stairs. The slamming of the front door shakes the house before she disappears.
I fall back on my bed with a sigh.
What I said was true, I’ll wait for her to calm down and realize that I’m serious although I don’t really want to.
34
Ruby
The memory of how it felt having his body pressed up against mine in that office and the knowledge that he was only on the other side of the wall quickly became too much and not long after telling myself to just stay put and do my homework, I end up pulling my sneakers on and storming out of the house in favor of hanging out with Poppy and Harley at Aces.
I knew they were meeting the team there but I’d refused to go in case the guys dragged Ashton along. I know he’s good, Stephen has bragged about Ashton being captain of his team back in Seattle, so I can only assume that Jake’s going to want him to be part of next year’s team, and that means he’ll be dragged into the fold.
They might have all stood by me earlier but that’s only because he’s the new boy. I’m sure that in a blink of an eye, he’ll be one of them.
I spend the evening with the girls but while they are all busy chatting away and reliving the weekend, I’m lost in my own head, although I’m not so lost not to notice that I wasn’t the only one with my head in the clouds because Harley wasn’t really present either. But no matter how many times I ask her what was up, she refuses to tell me. I can only assume it’s that guy. And although I understand that she might not want to talk about it, I wish she’d give me something so I’d know how to help.
The sun has long set by the time I pull back up at the house, unfortunately, the second I walk into the kitchen I realize that I should have stayed out longer because I walk straight into what looks like a happy family dinner.
“Ruby, are you hungry? Come join us.”
Tingles race down my spine and I rip my eyes from Mom and find exactly what I’m expecting. Ash with his gaze locked on me.
My breath catches at the heat in his dark depths as he runs them down the length of my body, lingering on my bare legs for several seconds too long seeing as he’s sitting with our parents.
“Um... no, I’m good, thanks. I’m just gonna...” I take a huge step back before spinning on my heels and running from the room and up the stairs.
“Ruby,” Mom calls as I make my escape, but I don’t stop to find out what she wants.
Pushing through to my bedroom door, I throw my purse onto my bed and smile when I catch sight of the flowers sitting on the side.
“Ruby?” Mom calls, inviting herself inside.
“What is it, Mom? I have tons of homework.”
“I just want to... wow, these are gorgeous. Who are they from?”
“Uh... you?” I ask like she’s lost her mind.
“I didn’t get you these, Ruby,” she says, plucking the card from its clip and turning it over. “Wow, someone sure thinks highly of you.”
“It... they’re really not from you?”
“No, Ruby. They’re really not from me.”
“Stephen?”
“Baby, Stephen doesn’t buy me flowers, I doubt he’d buy them for you.”
“Huh. Do you think...”
“That they’re from Ash?” she finishes for me when I trail off. “I think there’s a good chance, sweetie.”
I drop down onto the edge of my bed and she comes to sit beside me, reaching out to take my hand.
“I know I was mad, and I said some things that I probably shouldn’t have in Seattle. I was shocked, stunned actually. I just didn’t see it coming. I didn’t even consider you’d look at Ash like that, or he you, for that matter. You’re my baby girl, and it’s easy to forget that you’re growing up and turning into a young woman.
“I’m not going to sit here and tell you that I’m okay with what has developed between you two because, quite frankly, I’m not. Ashton isn’t exactly the kind of boy I always hoped you’d end up with. He’s hot-headed, angry, he’s got a bad reputation, and some of the things he’s done, including being arrested for possible possession of drugs. On paper, he’s not exactly the kind of boy any mom wants for their daughter.
“But...” she says before I get a chance to try to defend Ash. Although, really, everything she just said is true so I’m not entirely sure what I could say. “I’ve seen how he looks at you. I’ve heard the way his voice softens when he talks about you—”
“When has he talked about me?” I interrupt, feeling like I must have missed out on something here.
“It doesn’t matter.” She shakes her head and gives me a smile. “He knows he messed up sending you away like he did—”
“That wasn’t all he did.”
“I’m sure it’s not, sweetie. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but maybe you should just give him a chance. Hear him out and then decide where you want to go with your relationship once you have all the information. After all, he’s not going anywhere anytime soon, so you’re going to have to come to some kind of truce at some point. I refuse to live in a house where people are fighting.”
“I don’t know, Mom.”
“You don’t have to decide what to do right now.” She twists so she’s facing me and looks into my eyes. “You’re a smart girl, Ruby. If I had any doubts that you’d act before thinking of the consequences, then we wouldn’t even be having this conversation, but I trust you to do what’s going to make you happy. And if that’s Ash, then so be it. The heart wants what it wants, and what our parents or others think doesn’t really come into it.”
“Talking from experience?” I ask, intrigued by her story with Stephen and Dad.
“Yeah, your grandmother hated Stephen when we started dating. Thought he was going to corrupt me.”
I snort a laugh because we both know that Grandma was right.
“We’ve got to make our own choices and trust our own instincts. I was wise enough to choose Stephen when we were a lot younger than you are now, so I have to trust that if I knew back then, then so do you.”
She gives me and smiles that I quickly return. “Thanks, Mom. I really appreciate your understanding.”
“I just want you to be happy, sweetie. I hate seeing you hurting like this.”
She pulls me into her arms and holds me tight.
“Having said all this though, your father is probably going to shit a brick when he finds out.” I can’t help but burst out laughing.