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“We were childhood best friends. She was my high school sweetheart. I proposed when we graduated.” I smear a hand down my face. It feels wrong to give the Cliffs Notes version of what Maggie and I were, but as I look at Ruby, I want it out so I can move on. Dwelling in the past is not an option anymore.
“It was the last competition of the season. She was a barrel racer.” I blow out a slow breath, memories burning. “I was there when it happened. Her horse got spooked in the alley and fell on top of her. She was killed in front of my eyes.”
Ruby gasps, a hand lifting to her mouth.
“That’s why you looked like that.” Her blue eyes glisten with unshed tears. “Why you didn’t want me to ride. When I got too close to that horse. You yelled. You looked sad.”
I should have known I couldn’t hide everything from Ruby. My girl is smart.
She listens as I tell her how my life exploded with Maggie’s death and how I didn’t know how to get it back. How I ended up at Runaway Ranch and how my brothers followed me.
“That’s the long story.” I reach over and take her hand, lacing my fingers through hers. “Short story is—I came to find you.”
Ruby’s silent for a long minute. “I’m so sorry, Charlie.” She gives me a sad little smile. “To lose someone you love ...it would be awful.”
She stares at the horizon, then she sighs. “I found her photo.” Guilt stains her voice as her pained gaze sweeps to mine. “She was beautiful.”
I curse, hating that I left her alone to think God knows what. “I should have told you.”
“No. That’s your business.” She casts her eyes down. “We all have secrets.”
I can’t hold it in anymore.
No more distance.
I stand and trade seats with her, pulling Ruby into my lap. I secure her in my arms and tuck her head against my shoulder. I’m still not over her almost getting away.
“You can talk about her, Charlie,” she says, smiling up at me. “You don’t have to hide her away. You don’t have to run anymore.”
Her hand is on my heart and my heart is in my throat.
This. This is why I love her.
I realize that, all these years later, I’m still punishing myself, still paying penance for Maggie’s death. For dragging my brothers out here.
It feels good, feels right, to share this with someone.
I’m a lifetime away from the man I was at the start of the summer. Taking Ruby up that mountain, growling at her, having no idea how much she’d change my heart.
How much she’d bring me back to life.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “For telling me.”
There’s one more thing we need to get straight.
I rotate a fraction to look down at her. “You’re running too,” I tell her.
Sitting up, Ruby pulls her slender shoulders back. Her chin trembles, and fear settles in her eyes, rendering me breathless. “I am.”
Her flinch sets my soul on fire. My hands fist. But I force myself to focus on Ruby. She’s what’s important.
After a long silence, she speaks. “You’re right. I ran away.” Her voice breaks, breaks me. She looks toward the balcony as if she’s searching for the answer in the sky. “I—Charlie, I—I’m—”
I silence her confession with a kiss.
Fuck playing this game. The deal we made doesn’t matter. I won’t push Ruby into her truth. Whatever she has to tell me, it won’t make me love her any less.
“When you’re ready.” My hand lifts to cup her cheek. My heart hammers in bone-deep fear. In rage. “Just tell me one thing.”
