“I like everything you play, Ruby.”
She quirks a brow and cocks her head to one side. “Sweet talking isn't going to get you out of that bed any faster. Stand without wobbling or wincing, and I’ll consider it.”
“Your bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired. Why don’t you come on over here and sit on my face? Give me a taste of that pretty pussy.”
“Liam! You can’t just say shit like that.”
“And yet I did. Come on, baby. Give me something to live for.”
“Not funny.”
“It’s a little funny.”
She pads over to the bed and slips under the covers next to me. I lift my arm in invitation, and she rests her head against my chest like the spot was always made for her. Or maybe we were made for each other.
“Are we going to talk about it?” Her voice is barely more than a whisper as she absently traces circles over my heart. She’s been more timid than usual since we left the hospital, and I’m afraid Ruby witnessing the fire did more damage than I realized.
I dip my head and breathe against her hair. “What do you want to talk about?”
“You nearly died.”
I nod.
“I almost lost you.”
“But you didn’t. I’m ok.”
She looks up at me with glassy eyes, and her bottom lip quivers. “I’m… not.”
Just when I think I know Ruby inside and out, she peels back another layer and shows me something new—something real and breathtakingly vulnerable, stripped of all pretense and poise. An unpolished gem, flawed but no less perfect in my eyes.
In the absence of comforting words, I cradle her cheek and kiss the top of her head.
“I was so scared. I’ve never felt that kind of fear in my life.” Her hand trembles.
I place my palm over hers, lending her what little strength I have left.
“I don’t know how to do this. How to live with the thought that every time you run into a burning building, I could lose you.”
It feels like someone has their hand wrapped tightly around my throat. “I’m sorry. I’m so goddamn sorry.” I choke out the words as a pang of guilt hits me square in the chest.
That’s when her first tear falls, then the next one, until she buries her face in my neck and weeps—brutal, heart-wrenching sobs.
It hurts me to see her like this, more painful than the concussion or the broken ribs. I smooth my hand up and down her back. “Shhh. It’s ok, baby. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
I can’t promise her forever, so I don’t.
“I was scared, too,” I murmur. “When the adrenaline faded, just before the ceiling came down, I thought I’d never see Aiden grow up. I thought I’d never hold you in my arms again—never make things right with Connor.”
Never kiss her.
“Every regret seemed to come crashing down around me until the darkness came and took it all away.” I swallow around the lump in my throat before I continue. “I woke up thinking I was in heaven because… thereyouwere.”
I let the silence linger for several long moments as her breathing returns to normal. She glides her hand along my beard, looking up at me through bloodshot eyes.
“They weren’t going to let me in the ambulance, but Chief Grant told them to let me go. Why would he do that? He doesn’t know me.”
“He knows who you are. Everyone at the station knows who you are.”
