“Alone? Is that a good idea?”
“It’s a small town. I’m bound to seesomeoneI know. Besides, your best friend literally owns the place.” She slides into the driver’s seat and reaches for the door handle, but I slap a hand against the frame to stop her before she can close it. She raises one brow.
“I’m going with you.”
“No. You should stay with Aiden.”
“It’s late. Aiden’s asleep and Connor’s spending the night.”
“Great! You can have some guy time, then. Watch sports ball, compare body counts, or do… whatever it is men do when women aren’t around.”
Her clipped tone stuns me. I’ve never had her anger directed at me. “What’s this about? Did I do something?”
She barks out an insincere laugh. “Why do you assume this has anything to do with you? Maybe I just need a break.”
“Fromthis”—I gesture to the house—“or fromus?” I press her hand to my chest and hold it there.
She pulls back rapidly. The blatant brushoff stings more than I care to admit. “From life, Liam. I just want to go out and not think for a while. Is that a crime? ‘Cause if it is, you can handcuff me right now.” She mockingly holds out her arms, wrists pressed together.
“Keep it up, and I’ll give you something better to do with that smart mouth.”
She rolls her lips together and glances away from me with a slight tremble in her chin. Staring straight ahead, her voice low and pained, she says, “I wish you would.”
In a stunning moment of perfect clarity, I step away from her truck and slip my hands into my pockets. She stays there for a brief moment and closes the door without sparing me a second glance. I watch her leave with my heart in my throat, knowing I deserve every bit of her scorn.
As her headlights disappear from view, my mind replays every almost kiss, every shared breath, every deliberate deflection. My lips have traveled all over Ruby’s body, from the hollow of her throat to the base of her spine. I’ve savored every single kiss but one, denying myself—and her—that final, monumental step.
Connor eyes me as I slump down in the armchair and absently rub at my aching temples. “Those were Ruby's revenge jeans. You fuck it up already?”
“Fuck off.”
He grabs the remote and mutes the TV. “What’d you do?”
“I think she’s mad that I haven’t kissed her.”
Eyes wide, he says, “You haven’tkissedher?”
“I’ve kissed her, but I haven’tkissedher. I’ve been avoiding it.”
“I’m not understanding. Explain it to me like I’m five.”
“We’ve done… other stuff. I just haven’t kissed her on the mouth.”
“So, you skipped first base and what? Struck out?”
“No, I hit a homerun, but it’s contested.”
“I have no idea what that means, and I’m running out of baseball references. But I do know Ruby is way out of your league.”
I toss a pillow clear across the room.
He draws his arms up to block it, chuckling. “Ok ok. Look. I’m the last person who should be giving you Ruby advice, but I’m gonna do it anyway. Ready?”
I toss up my hands, palms facing the ceiling, and stare at him expectantly.
“Kiss her.”
“That’s your advice?”
