Page 39 of Royal Desire

Rubezilla.

Ruby Dooby Doo.

Sour Rhubarb.

Roobs McGoobs.

Ruby the Rebel.

The Rubster.

Rube-A-Licious.

Red-Alert Ruby.

Miss “I’m the main character of my life” Ruby.

Ruby The Walking Eye Roll.

And Ru-bitchy.

That last one was when he figured out I was on my period. But I never minded because right after he called me this, he’d kiss me and give me chocolate.

I had them all written down. I was obsessed with writing about Payne when I was young. Some would call it a diary, but I never had the pretty bound books. I couldn’t afford anything like that. I used leftover spirals from school, but I recorded every stupid name Payne bestowed upon me.

Most of them were from our younger years when we were best friends and our mothers forced us to babysit each other. Later, Payne used them to tease me or try to rile me up, though now I know it was his way of flirting. I won’t even get into the pet names he’d whisper in my ear when we were sneaking around doing all the things we weren’t supposed to be doing.

I’d wager that few humans on this earth have as many nicknames given to them by one person as Payne gave me.

I loved every single one.

Almost as much as I loved him.

I always tried to come up with names for him, purely for retaliation, but I was never as quick witted. I eventually gave up. It wasn’t worth the effort. I shouldn’t be surprised he became an attorney. The older he got, the more he was like a human boomerang when it came to words.

Our Wednesday rehearsal turned into a planning meeting for Payne’s private show. And just when I thought we were done, Payne suggested I give him my number in case he thought of anything else before Friday.

I couldn’t very well say no. Felicity was a nervous little rabbit during the meeting, and Blake was so stoked about the performance, he didn’t pay Payne or me any attention. Payne acted like we were old friends rather than me ghosting him, breaking his heart, and ending the most epic young love that Mother Earth has ever seen.

So I did the only thing any overwhelmed woman would do who was frazzled and at the end of her rope hanging onto her sanity for dear life. I was desperate to end the meeting and for Payne to leave the building.

So I gave him my number.

Not a good idea. What was I thinking?

The man has found a way to be in my face at least once a day, every day since I got back to town. I was an idiot to think he wouldn’t do the same, but electronically.

And in the forty-eight hours since, he’s sent me innumerable texts.

Unknown – Hey. FYI, it’s Payne. You didn’t request my digits in return when I asked for yours.

Unknown – I’ve been thinking about the show. I have some songs I’d like to request. Actually, when they come to mind, I’ll shoot them over. I am, after all, full of fucking joy.

Full of fucking joy, my ass. The man’s doing everything he can to get under my skin.

Me – Super.

I can’t think of anything less super.