I swallow against the tightness in my throat. “You’re Ruby Lynn Hayes. You play stadiums all around the world. You shine brighter than anyone I’ve ever fucking known, and you deserve someone who will be able to proudly share that spotlight with you. You’re the sun, Ruby, and I would only be your eclipse.”
My hands drop away, and I take a step back, putting some distance between me and the woman I love so goddamn muchit hurts. I know losing her would be a far worse fate than never having her at all.
“I don’t want to be Ruby Lynn Hayes. Not to you. I have to perform for everyone else, but with you I get to be myself.”
“You worked your ass off to make a name for yourself. I won’t take that away from you.”
“Liam…” Her voice cracks when she says my name. “Why are you pushing me away?”
Because it’s easier to push you away than admit I never want to let you go.But I can’t say that.
I pull open the passenger door. “Get in the truck, Goldie. I’m taking you home.”
“But…”
“I said get in the goddamn truck.”
Her eyes widen, and she straightens her spine, then she gives me a jerky nod before sliding into the truck.
When we arrive back at the house, Ruby unceremoniously throws open the door and rushes up the front steps. Once she’s out of sight, I slam my palms against the steering wheel. “Fuck.”
Ruby
It’s been a full day since our first fight, and I’ve been keeping to myself. Aiden’s still under the weather, so I’ve checked on him sporadically throughout the day, making sure to come and go before Liam notices me.
Normally, in situations like this, I’d run to Liam for comfort. Who do I run to when the man who usually talks me down is the one who broke me in the first place?
I could talk to Mama, but she’d give me the same old ‘head or heart’ talk she always gives us when things get tough. “Are you going to listen to your head, or to your heart, Ruby girl?” she’dask.
Problem is, my head is telling me to take what I can get, but my heart is saying it’ll never be enough. It seems Liam and I are having the same struggle for different reasons. I want to give him everything, but he refuses to accept it.
Unable to sleep, I head outside, not expecting to see my truck parked in the driveway. Liam must’ve picked up Dolly from the bar at some point. I pop open the tailgate like I used to do all those years ago. I often wonder if I did it subconsciously in hopes that Liam would appear. He always did, without fail, like a physical manifestation of my deepest desires. I doubt he’ll show up tonight.
I cross my arms over my chest and rub my shoulders to soothe the bone-deep chill. That’s where Connor finds me some time later, still perched in the same spot, staring out at the landscape, with no answers to the questions that have been plaguing me all day.
“Didn’t think I’d ever see you here,” I say.
“Went to get a drink and saw you sitting out here alone. Here.” He hands me one of Liam’s hoodies and hops up beside me.
I pull it over my head and take a long inhale, surrounded by Liam’s scent.
“Dolly’s still running? I’m surprised.”
“Hey. Don’t insult my truck.”
He holds up his hands in surrender, a wide smile breaking out on his handsome face. He looks a lot like Liam in some ways, but the smile is different. Lighter. “You always did like it out here,” he says. “Old habits die hard, I guess.”
“Surprised you noticed.”
“I tried not to,” he admits. “It wasn’t me you wanted with you, anyway, was it?”
I shake my head. “Doesn’t matter anymore.”
“He ignored my advice, I take it?”
My eyes narrow on him. “What advice?”
He shrugs. “Told him to kiss you.”
