Ruby looked at him thoughtfully. “But not like your actual twin, right? Only Kelly can be that.”
Cole laughed and put an arm around her. “Right. Kelly is my actual twin. But I think she would be okay with you being my twin for today.”
Ruby looked at Ava. “We should call Kelly and tell her the bedroom is mine now! She won’t have anywhere to sleep when she comes to visit.” She covered her mouth with her hand and giggled.
Ava laughed. “Yeah, we can do that.”
They gave the person behind the counter their orders and sat at one of the little shop tables with their cones. Ruby looked like the happiest person on earth, and tears sprang to Ava’s eyes. If only she could have been taken out of her parents’ household at Ruby’s age as well, her life would have been much better. Then her eyes drifted to Cole.
His family gave her the family she always wanted. They showed her what it was like to have people to rely on and treated her like their own. And now Ruby would have that as well.
Cole tapped her foot under the table, and she looked at him just as ice cream dripped onto her hand. “You okay?” he mouthed.
Ava smiled at him and knew she probably looked like a lunatic with a melting ice cream cone as she stared off with tears in her eyes. “Perfect.”
“This is the best day ever,” Ruby whispered, devouring her cone.
Ava met Cole’s eyes over the table, and she knew she had the dopiest grin on her face. Ruby was right. It was the best day ever.
