Page 94 of Silver Tears

He nods his head seeming satisfied. I’m just glad I was able to cover up the bruise on my cheek with makeup, otherwise I would have had a hard time getting past my brother.

“Well, goodnight,” I say, as I stand to my feet and rush off for bed. When I reach my room, I pull my phone out of my pocket and throw myself down on my bed. I dial Ruby’s number.

“About time!” she answers. “I thought maybe you’d fallen into a wormhole.”

“I’m sorry,” I grimace. “There’s a shit-tonne going on Rubes.”

“Is everything okay?” she asks me softly.

“Yes and no. No as in Lenny tried to rape me the other night and I fought him off and stabbed him and yes in that I just had mind-blowing sex with Seb Collings.”

I think I’ve rendered Ruby speechless as she doesn’t respond at first. “Oh, Mills are you okay? I can’t believe that fat, slimy bastard tried to put his hands on you. Please tell me you stabbed him in the dick!”

I smile. “Sadly no. But now I’m scared, Rubes. I’m scared he’ll come back to finish what he started or that he’ll hurt Charlie and mum to punish me.”

“But you’re okay? He didn’t?”

I shake my head. “No, thank God. I dread to think what he would have done to me if I hadn’t been able to fight him off.”

Rubes sighs down the phone. “But you did, so try not to think about what could have happened now. I take it Seb knows?”

“He does,” I tell her, rolling over onto my tummy on the bed. “He’s really been there for me. I don’t know what I would have done without him.”

“Hmm,” Ruby says. “Sounds to me like the two of you are getting close. Tell me about the sex. I can’t believe you lost your virginity to an Ace! I never saw that one coming.”

I laugh out loud. “Me either. It was amazing. He was gentle and considerate.”

Ruby squeals in delight down the phone. “I’m so happy for you!”

“Talking of Aces, want to tell me why my brother saw you with Rafe and Vee the other day?”

There’s no response from her end.

“Rubes?”

“Promise you won’t judge me?”

I wrinkle my brow. “I’d never judge you. You’re my best friend, Rubes.” I assure her and it seems to do the trick.

“They asked me out with them. I like them. The both of them,” she admits, her voice barely a whisper. Like she’s talking about something secret.

“You like them both as in—”

“As in, we’ve kissed. I’ve kissed both of them, when we’ve all been together.”

I sit up on my bed, my eyes wide with surprise. “Holy fuck! Sorry, it’s just, wow. I didn’t know you were even attracted to girls.”

Ruby laughs nervously. “Neither did I, until I met Vee. They’ve asked me round for a movie night this weekend.”

“A movie night,” I repeat. “Is that code for more kissing and maybe other things?”

Ruby blows out a breath. “I don’t know. I think so. I kind of want to explore this. Is that wrong of me?”

“No, Rubes. Why would it be wrong?” I ask her, hating hearing the shame in her voice. “This is the modern world. People should be free to be with whoever they want to be. Just because society says relationships are about two people that doesn’t mean everything else is wrong. If you like them both and they both like you then go for it. Just don’t get hurt, okay? Vee and Rafe have had each other for a long time, you’re a new piece in their already established relationship.”

“I won’t,” Rubes reassures me. “Vee says they both want the same thing.”

I sigh. This was not the conversation I was expecting to have with my best friend tonight. “Wow, when did our lives get so complicated?” I ask her, laughing.

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