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She shakes her head.
Merry leans over and whispers something to her.
I raise my voice. “Merry, I swear to the ghost of Christmas Future that I will chase you until you run out of gas if you so much as think about trying to bail.”
She leans back into her seat with a chastised look on her face. Good.
I focus all my attention on Ruby. “Red, please. I can explain.”
“You can explain your father and what you said in high school and the stuff on your computer andNora?” The last word is a yell.
“Yes.” I press my forehead to the cold glass. “But can we do this back at home?” I know it’s a huge risk to ask this, especially when I’m almost certain she’s already packed her things and was having Merry drive her to the airport. Just the thought is like an arrow through my heart. Ruby can’t leave. Not when I’ve finally brought her home.
“Home?” She wipes her nose.
“Home. Remember the little Christmas house with the pink lights? The ones you like so much?”
“You knew.”
“Yes. I kept tabs on you. I couldn’t help myself. I’ll tell you everything. Just come back home with me. Please, Red. Trust me.”
She stares at me for a long moment, and for a split-second I think she might turn her back on me.
But she doesn’t. She opens her door and hops out.
“Merry, the back.” I jerk my chin.
“Yep, okay, yes. On it.” She presses a variety of buttons until she finds the one for the back hatch release.
I grab Ruby’s bag and stuff it into my back seat then help her into the front.
When I get back in the car, my heart can beat again. I have Ruby. She’s not in danger. Though she is livid at me. I can deal with that as long as she’s safe.
She crosses her arms over her chest and stares straight ahead as I drive us back home. “Explain.”
“Nora’s a dumbass. I didn’t know she was at the shop, much less that she was going to pull that stunt.” I shake my head.
“You promise?” She sniffs.
“Yes.” I take her hand, and I’m relieved when she doesn’t pull away. “She’s jealous of you. Always has been.”
She snorts.
“You don’t believe me?” I squeeze her fingers. “Why do you think she was always talking shit about you? Why did she feel so threatened when you came back to town? Come on, Red. You’re a smart woman. You have to see it. She’s jealous.”
She chews her bottom lip for a second. “Okay, that actually makes sense—not that I’m saying I agree, but go on. What about your dad?”
“What he thinks doesn’t matter to me. Only what you think matters, Ruby. I swear. If he told me today he’s going to disinherit me if I stay with you, I’d be perfectly fine with it as long as I had you.”
She finally looks at me, her eyes watering. “You mean it?”
“Every word.” I kiss the back of her hand. “The shit I said in high school was just that, shit. That moment we had—it was everything. I was an asshole back then, but I think my soul recognized yours all the same. Even then. Everything you heard me say after that—to Todd or Nora or whoever—was to keep you all to myself, to keep you safe. Todd was a douche, and Nora, well, she hasn’t changed.”
A ghost of a smile crosses her lips before she frowns again. “What was all that stuff on your computer? Photos of me. You had someone beat up my boss?”
I pull up at our house and avoid the busted mailbox to park. “Yes. When you left, I realized I’d been a prick. But I couldn’t just come to you and say that. Words aren’t shit. I had to prove it. So I decided to be someone you could be proud of. I worked hard to start my shop and help around town. And, yeah, I watched you. I couldn’t help myself. I had to know you were safe at school and then in the city.”
“Stalker,” she mutters under her breath. Then she arches a brow. “Okay, but tell me the truth. Did you place all those orders that had Grams calling me to come home?”
