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“I’m sorry,” Ruby said softly.
“Oh, don’t be. We’re all fine now. In fact. Miranda, Dalton’s ex-wife, is one of our closest allies. I mean it is the South. We love eccentricity. We practically kneel at its altar. But some things are still coming slow. Some folks still believe that there is only one kind of love, and anyone who isn’t checked off in that narrow box is an abomination. They think that we’re sex fiends or something, like that’s all we have time for. Good Lord, if I had as much sex as some folks think people of my type do, I’d never get anything done. Hell, I wouldn’t even be able to drag this cute little butt out of bed, I’d be so exhausted from all the sex. I mean, really. I’d like to ask those folks how someone like Ellen gets around to taping her show every day with all the non-hetero sex going on.”
Ruby smiled at that, her eyes drawn once more to Travis.
“I know you and your man have had some difficulties.” Tim stared at her.
She yanked her head back.
“Your husband told me told me it’s complicated.”
“Ex-husband,” she corrected. “And yes, it kind of is.”
“So are the two of you…”
“No. We’re just…I don’t know what we’re doing but whatever it is isn’t permanent.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because, like you said, it’s complicated.”
“Complicated is just a word people use when they don’t know what damn word to use.”
“But it covers a lot of bases.”
“It does.” Tim paused. “But it’s also a word to hide behind. What is it you want, Ruby?”
“To be happy.” She didn’t hesitate. “To not struggle every day trying to find it.”
“Darlin, there is no clean, easy road on this planet that will lead you to true happiness. That’s the God’s truth. But there is a path carved out of the earth, out of the dirt and stone. That path is full of potholes. Deep, malicious craters filled with all sorts of nasty things.” He shook his head. “We all hit ’em. Try as we do not to. It’s inevitable. But the real winners in life and love are the ones who get out of those potholes. The people who move forward no matter what. The trick, though?” He winked at her. “The trick is to get to your final destination with someone you love at your side. Someone who was in those potholes with you. Someone who helped dig you out. And maybe that someone was responsible for some of those holes. That can happen. Maybe they were even responsible for the big ones. But that’s life, isn’t? It’s messy and confusing and, yes, complicated. If it weren’t, we’d all be bored to tears. Am I right?”
She didn’t know what to say, so she stayed quiet.
“We all have the power to make change just as much as we have the power to change. Life has a funny way of bringing us all full circle. You just have to make sure that when you hit your next pothole, that someone beside deserves to be there. ’Cause he’s the one who’ll lend a hand and help get you out.”
Tim’s words brought tears to her eyes. And, feeling silly, she sniffled and leaned over to hug the man.
“I’m so glad we met,” she whispered.
“Me too, darlin’,” Tim said with grin. “I plan on visiting your spa soon. Travis says it’s real nice.”
“Anytime. I mean it.”
Dalton cleared his throat, and Ruby and Tim got to their feet. “Travis is going to bring the boat back in. We should get going.”
The sunset painted the dark horizon with streaks of red and gold as they pulled back into the marina. The stars were just coming out, and the water was calm. There were several boats moored nearby with lights on, including the boat that Dalton and Tim were renting. The four of them exchanged numbers and said their goodbyes…
And then there was just Ruby and Travis.
The look in his eyes made her body shudder. She was hot. And cold. And so damn jittery, she had to put down her wineglass. The air between them was thick, full of the past and more than a few potholes.
“It’s not too late. Barely gone nine. We can pack up and head back to Crystal Lake, or I can make us some coffee and we can enjoy the night.” She felt the power of his dark eyes on her. It was a tangible, real thing. So real, it felt as if he was touching her. So real, it made her knees go weak.
A month ago, she would have pushed back. She would have told Travis to pack the car and take her home. Who was she kidding? A month ago, she wouldn’t have been here. But maybe a month ago, she was stuck in one of the potholes Tim had talked about. A deep one. Maybe Travis had just pulled her out. Because truthfully, she hadn’t felt as alive as she did right now, in this moment, here with him. Not for a long, long time. And for once, she was going to set aside the past. For once, she was just going to be.
“I’m going to have some more wine, if you don’t mind.” Ruby moved past Travis and grabbed the open bottle. She poured the rest of it into her glass and then took a seat on the back of the boat so that she could look out at the water. The breeze had picked up, but she wasn’t cold anymore. In fact, she was hot, and more than a little bothered.
Decision made for him, Travis grabbed a cold beer from the cooler and joi
