I let out a hollow laugh. “Nope.”
“Look, I know I’m probably the last person you want to talk about this with, but I’m here, and I know my brother better than anyone else. You can talk to me. We could… be friends.”
“Yeah? You wanna make bracelets? Do a blood oath? Matching tattoos? Oh! I know. Secret handshake.”
He bumps his shoulder against mine, smirking. “Ha ha. Very funny.”
“I have my moments.” I hold out my pinky finger between us, and I flash back to a similar moment years ago when he promised he’d stick by me if I ever made it big in Nashville. The promise was hollow then, but we were kids, and what kid hasn’t broken a pinky promise or two? “Friends?”
He links his much larger finger around mine and echoes the word back at me. “Friends.”
I lean my head on his shoulder and look up at the stars. “He’s holding back because of my fame. Wow… that sounds so pretentious.”
Connor chuckles and picks up my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You know, I read somewhere that Dolly was married for almost sixty years. They kept their relationship private because her husband didn’t like the limelight. WWDD is a good litmus test for life. So, Ruby Lynn Hayes… what would Dolly do?”
I smile quietly to myself. “Probably write a song about it.”
“Yeah. I bet she would.”
We stay like that for a while until the screen door opens again and Liam appears, hands stuffed in his jeans pockets. He looks disheveled, but he’s still the most beautiful man I’ve ever known, inside and out. It hurts to see him knowing he’s determined to keep me at arm’s length.
“Better late than never,” Connor whispers. He hops off the tailgate. “‘Night, Ruby.”
“Goodnight, bestie,” I say, waggling my pinky finger.
Connor approaches Liam and whispers something before patting his shoulder and striding into the house.
“Mind if I join you?”
I shrug indignantly and look away.
The truck dips as Liam climbs into the back. He settles with his back pressed against the side wall, one leg hanging off the tailgate, while he props his arm on the other. The carefree posture is doing something for me, but I wish it wouldn’t. I wish I didn’t care.
“I’m sorry for the way I handled things last night,” he says.
“The part where you almost kissed me again or the part where you barked at me to get in the truck like a stray fucking dog?”
“All of it. Baby?—”
There’s that stupid fucking nickname again. I love it and hate it in equal measure. I want to melt for the tenderness of it, but all it does is lure me in with promises of things Liam doesn’t seem willing to give me. I refuse to beg for scraps of his affection. I won’t allow myself to be reeled back in by sweet endearments and platitudes.
“No. You don’t get to call me that. You don’t get to say you don’t want me, then call me baby in the next breath.”
“When did I say I don’t want you? That couldn’t be further from the truth. I want you so goddamn bad it hurts. Wanting you is not the problem.”
“Then whatisthe problem, Liam?”
“Keeping you.” His voice is pained, like it cost him so much to say the words out loud. I can see in his eyes that it did.
He drops his knee and leans forward, placing one hand onmy thigh. “I’ve seen what loving someone can do. I’ve seen it tear apart families. Cause kind men to become cruel.”
“Your parents,” I murmur, finally putting the pieces together. “Liam, that’s hardly the blueprint.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You grew up in a picture perfect family on a picture perfect ranch. You spent your childhood in a kind and loving home. I… didn’t. Every person I’ve ever loved has left, and the ones who didn’t… they did everything they could to break me.”
I place my palm on his cheek, needing to touch some part of him. “I’m not them. I know you put up walls to protect yourself, but you don’t need them with me. Your heart is safe in my hands. I promise.”
His palm traps mine where it lies, and he leans into my touch. “I don’t know if I can be what you need.”
