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“This thing with Travis?”
She nodded, pushing back the lump at the back of her throat. “I have to end it. He’s not going to be happy, and I should have done it last night. I meant to.” The misery in her heart spilled over, and she felt her eyes water. She swiped at the corners and looked away.
“Why?” Ryder’s question was simple. Straightforward. But, man, the answer was complicated. “And don’t tell me it’s complicated, because that’s bull. Relationships are not complicated. They’re either good or bad. They either make sense or they don’t. They’re either worth fighting for or they’re not.”
“That’s a pretty simplistic way to look at things.”
“You muddy the waters when you start adding noise. Do you love him?”
“I…” Ruby looked down at her hands. At a ring finger that had been bare for so long, she couldn’t remember what it looked like wearing gold. “I don’t think that’s a relevant question.”
“It’s probably the most important question, don’t you think?”
“No.” She shook her head. “It’s not. Because love doesn’t always mean happy ever after.”
“Okay, but humor me. Do you love him?”
Images crowded her brain. Travis smiling up at her. His eyes flashing when he laughed. The way he held her tenderly while they made love. The wicked smile before he threw her in the lake. The glint in his eye when he was up to something.
“There are things he doesn’t know, Ryder.”
“Do you love him?”
“Things I didn’t think mattered until last night.”
“Do you love him?”
“Then there’s my trust issues. My daddy issues. Hell, I have so many issues, a man would have to be insane to want me.”
“But do you love him?” Ryder wasn’t giving up.
Did she?
Yes. The word was a whisper in her head. But it was a secret she needed to hold tight. Love was a complication she couldn’t afford, because she knew there was no future for her and Travis.
She looked her brother in the eye. Could she carry this off? Would he believe her? “No, Ryder. I don’t love Travis. I loved the sex. I loved having someone in my bed. Someone to do the damn gardening.”
Travis cleared his throat, and she froze. Her blood turned to ice, and for a moment, she thought she was going to be sick. She heard the jingle of keys. The slow, steady slap of his shoes against the tile floor. Tasha bar
ked once and then settled back in her bed when Travis walked by her without a word. He opened the front door, and then he was gone.
She was numb. Or maybe paralyzed.
Ryder sat back in his chair. “You are hands down the worst liar. Ever.”
“Do you think he believed me?” she whispered.
A long silence fell, and then Ryder spoke.
“Yeah, Rubes. He believed you.” Another pause. “You going after him?”
I want to.
“No,” she whispered. “It’s probably for the best if I stay put.”
Ryder gave her a look. And if that look was to speak, it would say, bullshit. He got up and hugged her. He kissed the top of her head. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
The sad thing was, Ruby had no clue. She was floundering, and if she wasn’t careful she would drown.
