I take a step toward him, my hands shaking but my heart steadier than it’s been in months. “Pope,” I say, my voice cracking a little. He turns, and the second his eyes meet mine, I feel the last of my walls crumble. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, my breath catching in my throat. “I’ve been so scared. I didn’t trust you, didn’t trust myself. But I was wrong.”
He steps closer, his eyes softening, and I can see the tension leaving his body. “I know,” he says quietly. “But I’ve always been here, Ruby. I’m not going anywhere.”
My chest tightens, but it’s not fear anymore. It’s relief, mixed with something else—something warmer, safer. I meet his eyes, feeling the weight of every unsaid word between us. “I see it now,” I whisper. “And I’m ready.”
The silence that follows isn’t heavy or awkward. It’s filled with understanding, with the promise of something more. Pope steps forward, gently cupping my face in his hands, his touch grounding me in a way I never thought possible. For the first time in so long, I feel safe. Not because I’m hiding, but because I’m finally letting myself be seen.
As we stand there, surrounded by the stacks of the half-built library, the tension between us melts away, replaced by something deeper, something real. I don’t know what the futureholds, but with Pope by my side, I’m ready to face whatever comes next.
And this time, I’m not running.
Chapter Ten
Pope
The sun is sinking behind the mountains, casting a warm, golden glow over everything but I can’t seem to shake the tension running through my body. My hands still, resting on a beam as I watch Ruby approach. She’s moving slowly, like she’s carrying something heavy, but not physically. I can see it in the way her shoulders are drawn tight, her gaze slightly downcast. She’s holding something back—again—but tonight, I can feel that it’s different. She’s ready to let it out.
The site is quiet, just the rustle of the wind through the trees and the occasional creak of wood settling around us. But it’s the silence between us that holds the most weight, pressing down on me as Ruby steps closer, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her notebook. My chest tightens. I’ve been waiting for this. She’s finally going to let me in. Something about the way we worked together to cast off her ex has bonded us, but I’m not sure if it’s in a good way.
I shift, crossing my arms, trying to keep myself calm, but my heart’s pounding like a hammer against my ribs. She stops in front of me, close enough that I can see the way her handstremble. Her eyes meet mine, and there’s something raw in them—something I haven’t seen before.
“I’ve been holding back,” Ruby starts, her voice quiet but steady. She pauses, as if gathering her thoughts, then takes a deep breath. “I haven’t been fair to you. And I’m sorry for that. You’ve been nothing but kind and generous to me.”
Hearing her say those words hits me like a gut punch. I wasn’t expecting her to apologize. Hell, I don’t even think she owes me one. I uncross my arms and step forward, keeping my voice low, calm. “You don’t owe me an apology, Ruby,” I murmur, trying to ease the weight on her shoulders. “You’ve been through hell. I get it.”
But she shakes her head, that dark intensity still in her eyes. “It’s more than that,” she says, her voice trembling slightly. “It’s not just about what happened with him… it’s about me. The way I shut people out, the way I convinced myself that I don’t need anyone.”
The way her words tumble out, it’s like she’s letting go of something she’s held onto for far too long. She pauses, searching for the right words. “I was wrong, Pope. I do need someone. I need you.”
Hearing those words from her, it’s like everything inside me shifts. For so long, I’ve been fighting to break through those walls she built around herself, pushing to show her I’m different. And now, she’s finally letting me in. That protective instinct I’ve always had around her flares up, but this time, it’s not about shielding her from danger. It’s about being there for her, helping her heal.
I step forward, closing the gap between us. My hands find her face, my thumbs brushing gently over her cheeks. “I’m here, Ruby,” I murmur, my voice low and rough with emotion. “I’ve always been here. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Her eyes well with tears, but she doesn’t pull away. Instead, she leans into my touch, her fingers curling around my forearms like she’s holding on for dear life. “I was so scared, Pope,” she whispers, her voice shaking. “So scared that if I let you in, it would end up just like before. That you’d want to control me, that I’d lose myself again.”
Her words twist something deep inside me, making my chest ache. I can see how deep those scars run, how much damage that bastard did to her. But I’m not him. I never will be.
“I’m not here to control you, Ruby,” I say, my voice firm but tender. “I don’t want to take anything from you. I just want to build something with you. Something real. Something that lasts.”
The weight of everything we’ve been through hangs in the air between us, thick and heavy. But there’s hope there too—a possibility for something new, something better. I lean down, pressing my forehead against hers, my voice dropping to a low rumble. “I’m in this, Ruby. All the way. I don’t want half of you. I want all of you. Your heart, your trust, everything.”
Ruby closes her eyes, a tear slipping down her cheek. “I want that too,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “I just… I didn’t know how. I didn’t know how to trust again.”
Hearing her say that, it feels like a win—a small one, but a win nonetheless. I tighten my grip on her, pulling her against me, my arms wrapping around her waist. “You don’t have to do it alone,” I say, my voice soft but certain. “We’ll figure it out together. You and me.”
I lower my head, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. It’s not about passion or heat this time—it’s about comfort, about showing her that I’m here, that I’m not going anywhere. My hands move gently, one resting on her lower back, the other sliding up to cup the back of her head, holding her close.
Ruby lets out a shaky breath, her hands gripping the front of my shirt as she leans into me. For the first time in a long time, she’s letting herself be vulnerable, letting herself feel safe. Really, truly safe. It’s a hell of a thing to witness, and it makes me want to hold her tighter, protect her from everything, even her own fears.
As we stand there, wrapped in each other’s arms, I can feel the shift between us. It’s subtle, but it’s there—Ruby’s walls coming down, her heart opening up to me. And I know, without a doubt, that I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving to her that she made the right choice.
“I know it’s not going to be easy,” I murmur, my lips brushing against her hair. “But I’m all in. I’m not just here for the good days. I’m here for all of it.”
Ruby pulls back slightly, just enough to look up at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and something deeper—something that feels a lot like love. “I know,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “And I’m ready. I’m ready to try.”
I glance around the construction site, at the unfinished walls and beams surrounding us. “It’s like this library,” I say, nodding toward the structure. “We’ve been building it piece by piece, working through the hard parts. It’s not perfect yet, but it’s getting there. And when it’s done, it’s going to be strong. It’s going to last.”
Ruby smiles, a real smile this time, and it lights up her whole face. “Just like us,” she says softly. “We’re going to last too.”
