Page 15 of Heart & Hope

Ruby opens her mouth to answer, but her face is vacant, those brown eyes stuck on Ma’s face.

“Ruby?” I say.

She shakes her head. “Yeah, sorry, coming. It was wonderful meeting you, Louisa.”

“You too, darlin’,” Ma says, but soft concern still lines her face.

Outside, Huddo is stalking toward the house. I stop Ruby in the middle of the yard. She waves me off and tries to step around, but I don’t let her pass. “What was that?”

“Nothing, I... I—Your family, your home is amazing, Reed. You’re lucky, is all.”

“I take it yours isn’t?”

“Huh, well Addy, she’s?—”

“Adds is your friend, not your family.”

“I—” She closes her eyes.

I wrap an arm around her shoulders. Don’t care if she thinks it’s appropriate or not. She’s upset. Utterly unacceptable. I walk her to the gate. Mackinlay is standing by the barn, Addy crouched on the ground. I had almost forgot he was home. Been back a week, and still it feels like my big brother’s time home from tour goes way too fast.

I guess that’s my cue to deliver her back to her friend. And apparently the only person she has. That fucking makes me livid. When Ruby hesitates at the gate, I stop and remove my arm. “What is it?”

“Don’t— Don’t bring this up with Addy, please. She has enough on her plate. And I don’t need to burden her with my shitty family. Or lack of. I mean, she knows what my family’s like. This is not a normal reaction for me.”

I study her face but nod. Huddo walks out of the house toward Addy who is now sitting against the barn, Charlie on her lap. I make my way over to my brothers and Ruby falls in beside me.

“Hey, I’m Mackinlay.” He offers Ruby his hand with a glance at me. She takes it and says hello.

Addy looks up to Hudson. “Everything okay?”

“Yup.” Hudson eyes Charlie. “Happy, buddy?”

“Pretty sure at this point he thinks he’s Addy’s dog. Sorry, Huddo,” Mack says.

“I see that.” He bends down and tugs his little ear playfully. “Ma wants you two to stay for dinner, if you can. She wants help planning her birthday party.”

Ruby claps her hands, jumping on her feet. “Yes! We are so doing that.”

“Sure, we can stay a while,” Addy says, smiling.

Mack glances between us, raising a brow. I clear my throat and crook an arm for Ruby. “Milady.”

She giggles and hooks hers through mine. And I would make a fool of myself every day of the week to make sure sorrow never crosses her face again. She bumps my shoulder with hers and mouthsthank you.

I lean down until my mouth is an inch from her ear. “Anytime, Ruby Robbins. That’s what friends are for.”

“Friends already? That was quick.”

“What can I say? I’m a friendly guy.”

When her beautiful brown eyes flicker up at me, her smile blooms and wobbles.

Sweet Jesus, what the fuck, gorgeous girl?

It’s a Wednesday, but I stand at the gate waiting for a girl like it’s fucking prom night and I’m seventeen all over again. And I feel it. The same feeling that’s reared its ugly head on occasion over the last decade, the tight ball consuming my gut, rising behind my ribs.

Ruby is coming out today to work on the details for Ma’s party. When Harry found out this is what she does for a living, he insisted on paying her, but she refused to take his money. She stood Harry down. That made Ma laugh. I think the old man has met his match in this small blonde with more spark than a wildfire in summer after the driest winter.

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