Page 57 of Holding You
She sets the cup down and looks at me.
“Are you ready?” She walks past me and out the door.
Ready for this game, yes.
Ready to keep myself under control while living with Ruby? I’m about to find out, because if the look on my daughter’s face said anything just now, it’s that whatever kind of relationship I choose to have with Ruby, I better not fuck it up.
“Why are you limping?”Luca asks.
I managed to sneak into his house and get through most of the evening without anyone noticing, but now that I’m getting up for another slice of pizza, I can’t hide it.
“Soccer mishap,” I answer, keeping it short.
“Susie?” Miles asks.
I shake my head.
“Max?” Hudson asks.
I shake my head again.
The Asher brothers share a look, then Luca laughs and asks, “Ruby?”
I nod.
“How?”
“We were playing a little two on two-on-two in the backyard before I came here. We were battling at the net, and she kicked my shin a lot harder than I would expect her to kick a ball.”
Luca doubles over in laughter while Hudson shakes his head.
Miles just stares at me. “How is that going, by the way?” he asks.
I grab another slice of pizza from the box on the table and return to my seat.
“Good. It’s only been a couple of days, but good.”
“I saw them at the beach today. Ruby, Max, and Susie,” Luca says. “They looked like they were having fun. She said you were working. That sucks.”
I nod and open my mouth to reply, but Miles beats me to it.
“Don’t take advantage of her.”
Dutton and Linc had been discussing real estate, but now their attention is on Miles and Me.
“I’m not.”
“Then why?—”
“Miles, chill,” Luca cuts him off. “Ruby plans to take advantage of him, too.”
Miles’s eyes widen.
“Not that way, no. I’ll definitely be watching Max for her too. She needs a break as much as I do, and I’ll be happy to help her.”
The air in the room feels heavy.
I’ve always gotten along with the Ashers, but it feels like as of late, Miles has a new opinion of me. I don’t enjoy it.
