Page 163 of Ride the Sky

I chuckle. “Try havin’ five siblings. You ain’t alone a day in your life.”

She sniffs harder, trying not to cry. “This is hard, and I hate it.” It’s the most frustrated I’ve heard her since I’ve known her.

I nudge her shoulder. “You don’t have to be happy all the time. You’re allowed to be pissed.”

Ruby sits up, stretches out her legs. “That’s right. That’s what I am. I’m pissed.” She says it with so much determination that I grin.

Voice barely above a whisper, she says, “I have so many good things in life, and I hate feeling ungrateful about what I can’t have.”

Fallon’s face flashes in my mind. “There ain’t nothin’ wrong about wantin’ something so damn bad it hurts.”

“I feel bad.” She looks down at her hands. Her yellow diamond shines in the sunlight. “I can’t give Charlie what he wants.”

“Charlie wants you.”

Ruby looks at me and takes a ragged breath. “What if, after all this…in a few years, he realizes I’m not what he wants?”

“Don’t be doin’ that.” The past hits with a pang. My throat grows tight. “You know what Charlie’d be doin’ if you never came here? Probably passed out in a ditch like an idiot or cursin’ at the sky or some shit.”

She lets out a laugh and leans her head on my shoulder.

“He didn’t smile, he didn’t do a damn thing until he met you.” I choke back the emotion. “You gave me my best friend back.You gave me my brother. Hell, you damn near made this ranch.” Turning my head, I meet her tear-filled eyes. “I don’t think that man could live a day without you, Fairy Tale.”

It’s how I feel about Fallon. Without her, the entire world is bullshit.

“I can’t live without him, either.” Ruby’s dark lashes flutter. “He’s my Cowboy. I just wish we could—”

The remainder of her sentence is swallowed up in a gasp so loud I jump.

“Wyatt.” Her hand is lifting mine, her gaze lasered on the gold band on my ring finger.Fuck. “Really?” she asks, delighted. “You and Fallon? Officially?”

I scrub a hand through my hair, squeeze the back of my neck. “I love her.” Damn if it doesn’t keep getting easier to admit.

Amusement stains her face. “We all know that. And it’s about time.” Her voice is dreamy. “I feel like I’ve been waiting ten full years to see you two smooch.” Then she sits up straighter and hits me with a glare so fierce I blink. “Do not fumble this.”

“Why does everyone keep threatening me with death?” I grumble.

“Because,” she chirps, brushing hay off her skirt, “everyone’s happy when you’re happy, so stay fucking happy.”

I stare at her for a long second then bust out in a laugh so big it echoes through the room.

Happy. It’s what my brothers want for me. They’ve been trying to tell me that my entire damn life. Pushed me, beat my ass, grumbled, bossed. Because they cared. Hell, I think it’s time I finally listen.

I give her a grin. “You ready to go back home?”

She exhales, smiles. “Yeah.”

We’re exiting the training center when a big shadow rounds the corner.

“Found her,” I call out.

Relief breaks across my brother’s face like a sunrise. “Sunflower,” Charlie croaks, and Ruby rushes into his arms. “Don’t do that to me.”

She winds her slender arms around his neck. “I’m so sorry, Cowboy.”

My heart pounds as I watch them talk for a minute in low hushed tones. Then, feeling like I’m intruding, I climb into the UTV.

“Wyatt.”

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