Page 110 of Lessons in Heartbreak

And if it was ...

My eyes pinched shut while I played through that. But I couldn’t see a single outcome where we made sense, or where I’d ever want to risk bringing that man—with his big, wonderful, solid, stable, loving heart—into the life that I was destined to live.

But if it was him, then I had to thank him. It was the least I could do.

After a moment, I picked up my phone and called the city offices. “Hey, it’s Ruby. I need you to do me a favor.”

Chapter Twenty-SevenGriffin

A week later

I knew it was coming. Her first text came through just as I’d sprawled out on the new loungers in my backyard. Didn’t even know what it said, and I was already smiling, heart turning over happily in my chest.

Ruby:Hi.

Me:Hi.

Three little text bubbles danced across the screen, and instead of leading her into conversation, I simply wedged a hand behind my head and waited to see how she was going to handle this.

Ruby:Are you busy right now?

Me:Terribly.

Ruby:Oh. We can talk later.

Biting down on my grin, I snapped a picture of my legs in the lounger, the pool and trees and grass beyond it. I sent it without anything else.

Ruby:Looks rough. I’m out of practice feeling sorry for you, but I might be able to conjure something up.

Me:You should. I’m all alone. No one to play Marco Polo with.

Ruby:You cheat at that game anyway, so I wouldn’t play even if I was there.

Me:Just because you’re the loudest swimmer in eastern Colorado doesn’t make me a cheater. I have excellent senses, you know.

Ruby:Whatever helps you sleep at night.

Me:If you were here, huh? Is this your way of saying you want to come for a visit? I’ve got six extra bedrooms.

Ruby:If you’re trying to elicit sympathy, I’d work on your approach.

Me:Trust me, I know better than to try. That’s why I like you, birdy. You keep me humble.

The text bubbles appeared again. Then disappeared. It happened two more times, and I exhaled slowly while I waited. Then my phone vibrated with an incoming call, and I sat up so fast I almost dropped my phone.

“Hey.”

At the breathless sound of my voice, I winced. Fuck’s sake, it sounded like I’d just sprinted a mile before picking up.

“Hi. I hope it’s okay that I’m calling.”

My eyes slammed shut, an immediate tightening in my throat at the sound of her voice. Fuck, I’d missed her. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her that, but I held back. For now.

“Yeah, birdy,” I said, my voice rough and quiet. “It’s good to hear your voice.”

“You too.” She sucked in a quick breath, and I could see her face so clearly in my head. Could imagine that little furrow in her brow. “I, um, I practiced what I was going to say, and now that I’m actually talking to you, I feel like I’m going to burst into tears.”

The tremble at the end of her sentence had me smiling softly. “What’s going to make you cry, sweetheart?”

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