It’s taking all my effort not to assume they think I’m overreacting, and they’re all fine with Clementine dating someone who almost killed me.
“Thanks, James. Appreciate the update.”
“You’re welcome,” he says and walks away.
Taking Ruby’s hand, I lead her out through the gate.
“What’s that?” she asks, pointing at my Ferrari Amalfi, finished in Flyers colors—navy with pale blue racing stripes down the sides.
“This is Bertha,” I reply proudly.
“Bertha?”
Ignoring the amusement in her voice, I hold the door open and gesture for her to get in. “Yes, Big Bertha. Six hundred and forty horsepower in this baby. Isn’t she a beauty?”
“Where’s it been?”
“She’skept at Burlington. Or Foxleigh,” I say with pretend indignation. As if she’d think I’d leave Bertha anywhere else. “I can’t exactly park her outside the cottage. Some idiot tractor driver would scratch it.”
“Sensible,” she says with a smirk that’s all sarcasm as I close the door, round the front, and get in.
Checking our seat belts, I hover my finger over the engine button, and I turn to Ruby. “Ready?”
She nods. The 3.9-liter twin turbocharged V8 roar is music to my ears.
We make it to London in an hour and forty-five minutes, and my hand is resting on Ruby’s thigh the entire drive.
“Miles, are you sure you want to go out tonight?” she asks as we come off the motorway. “We can turn around.”
My eyes slice to her before focusing on the road, and it’s like she’s read my mind. The entire journey, anxiety has been steadily increasing.
“Why are you asking?”
“Because the closer we’ve gotten, the harder your hand’s been digging into my leg.”
I glance down and immediately loosen my grip.
“Whoops. Sorry. Didn’t mean to.”
“Seriously, Miles. Do you actually want to go tonight?”
The truthful answer is no. I’m still sitting in my raw hurt, and every time I think about Clementine and Torres, I want to punch something. Thinking about it has my fingers clenching the steering wheel.
But I can’tnotgo. I’m supporting Holiday because that’s what family does.
“I’ll be fine,” I tell her. “As long as you stay by my side all night and never let go of my hand.”
“You make me sound like a comfort blanket.”
I turn to her, sliding my hand carefully into her curls without ruining them, and wink. “You can lie on top of me any day.”
She looks rightly disgusted. “Oh my God?—”
“Ruby, youaremy comfort blanket.” I lift her hand and kiss it. “But. ..I caveat that with getting the fuck out whenever we want. Plus, it’s Shakespeare, so the likelihood is high that one of us will fall asleep.”
Twenty minutes later, I find the perfect parking space near the theater and cut the engine. Getting out, I round the bonnet and open Ruby’s door.
“Ready?”
