If Connor responds, I don’t hear it. A single tear escapes as I turn away from them. I retreat to the table, avoiding looking around at our friends as I grab my clutch and pull out my cell. Dialing the familiar number, I stalk through the exit clutching the phone like a lifeline.
I don’t know why I didn’t call my parents, but I didn’t even think twice as I tapped on Liam’s contact instead.
Liam’s voice comes over the line after the first ring, and that’s when I finally break. Crumpling to the steps outside ofthe school.
“Ruby? Are you ok?”
“No. Can you pick me up?”
“I’ll be right there. Stay on the line, alright? I’m getting in my truck.”
“Ok.” The single word comes out as a sob.
“I’ve got you, Goldie. Sit tight.”
Liam
The fifteen-minute drive takes me less than ten. I pull through the parking lot and stop in front of the gym’s double doors, scanning the area for Ruby. My eyes land on a mass of shiny fabric and golden hair at the bottom of the steps. Once I register what I’m seeing, I’m up and out of the truck in seconds, crouching in front of her.
“Ruby?”
She glances up through a curtain of curls, with mascara tracks down her cheeks, and a phone clutched to her chest.
“What happened?”
“Connor. We broke up.”
Shit. It shouldn’t make me happy, but it does. The relief doesn’t last long when another tear cascades down Ruby’s cheek.
“What the fuck did he do?” I growl, my nostrils flaring.
It’s no secret they’d been having problems, but I didn’t expect him to break her heart. If anything, I thought they’d realize they weren’t right for each other and part ways as friends.
“You called my brother?” Connor’s voice draws my attention to the doorway, and it takes every ounce of restraint I have to hold myself back from barreling into him.
“I-I’m sorry,” Ruby’s voice is barely audible as she caves in on herself.
“Come on, man. I think you’ve done enough damage, don’t you? Go inside. I’m gonna take her home.”
“That’s my fucking girlfriend.”
“I’m not your girlfriend anymore,” she says. “You made that very clear when you left me to be with Ashley.”
What the fuck?
“You cheated on her?” I spit.
My sorry excuse for a brother has the most amazing girl in his arms every goddamn day, and he fucking cheats on her? If I had a shot with Ruby, I wouldn’t so much as look at another girl.
He shakes his head. “Nothing happened. We were just talking.”
Ruby swipes at her tears and stands on shaky legs. I reach out to steady her as she spins to face my brother.
“You were ‘just talking’ about how I’d never amount to anything while you had her pinned against a locker. Her hands were all over you. You know what? Fuck this. I’m done. I never did like dumpster diving, and you and Ashley are both trash.”
She storms off to my truck and rips open the passenger door, gathering her skirt as she steps inside, and slams the door behind her.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?”
