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Ruby
“Wow, he’s intense.” Peyton sits on the sofa opposite me and stares down at the baby. “What the hell happened between you two?”
“Long story, but it doesn’t matter. Thank you for coming. I… I need to tell Mom and Dad, but I have no idea how.”
“Rip it off like a Band-Aid. They’ll be shocked that you were pregnant, but you’ve stayed away so much the last year I think it will put a lot of things into place. Plus, they get a new grandbaby out of the deal. Trust me, it’ll be easier than you think. I mean, I thought my divorce was going to send them over the edge but they’re really helpful.”
“How are things going with that?”
She glances toward the kids and in a pitched voice says, “Great!” Though, I know she means the exact opposite. “We’re working things out one day at a time. He’s just a really ‘friendly’man is all, and you know howfriendlymen can be with other ladies.”
I reach out for her hand. “You’re doing well with everything. At least it looks like you are. I’m sorry I’ve been missing so long. I got so in my head about this pregnancy and everyone judging me. Dave reinforced that so often that I became an echo chamber of my own insecurities. It sucks. I’m so stupid.”
“You’re not. I get it. I never told anyone, but Rick left like eight months before I announced it to the family, and I knew howfriendlyhe was a year before that. Life is weird. I’m learning you’ve gotta roll with it… which brings me back to the Alaskan. You were looking at him like he was more than a guy that showed up and helped you deliver a baby.”
I glance out the window toward the marks his tires left in the snow. There’s an ache in my chest when I see them. “I don’t know what happened. I met him down at the library while he was looking for maps for hunting. After I gave them to him, he started following me.”
She laughs. “Oh… so he’s a stalker.”
“I don’t know. He was there when Dave was being an asshole and he beat him up the other night. It’s terrible, but I was kind of glad for it. Dave hasn’t bothered me since and he was on me every night before.”
“So how did that translate into the looks you guys were giving each other?” My sister sips her tea and pulls the blanket she’s cuddling in up to her chin. “Because those were some looks!”
“Yeah, I don’t know. We just got to talking and there’s an energy between us. I can’t describe it.”
“You can’t describe it?” She bites a grin. “Did you guys fuck? I’m pretty sure that would describe it.”
My stomach clenches again at the thought of his growl between my legs. At the thought of the orgasm that shot through me like wildfire. At the thought of him never touching me again. It’s overwhelming. Everything is. “Not really. I mean, he like… he… ya know.” I make a circular motion between my legs, and she gets the gist.
“Oh shit! You went for it. Was it good? I gotta say, everyone in town is talking smack about these guys… but they’re hot, right? Likereally hot!”
I laugh. “Yeah, I don’t know what he wants with me, but yeah…”
“So… why didn’t you want him to stay?”
I shrug. “He goes back to Alaska the second they find this bear, and then what? I follow him? I’d like to think I could, but the reality is, I’d miss Rugged Mountain.”
“So maybe he’d stay.”
I lower my head. “No. He’s got his whole family out there. Besides, whatever we’re feeling right now will wear off when real life hits. I mean, the man has never been tied to anyone, ever. He’ll get bored and leave, and I’ll be left with a baby to raise and a broken heart.”
She grins. “So, you’ll end up like me. We can build a commune for broken-hearted women and talk shit about dicks all day. It could be the start of something great, but you’ve gotta get your heart broken first.”
“No thanks.”
She reaches toward me. “Look, I’m the first person to say avoiding love at all costs is the way to go, but I get to say that because I tried. You haven’t yet. I see you two together. You need to try, or you’ll regret it.”
“Another time, another place… maybe. But right now, my focus needs to be on this baby. You’re strong. You’ve always been strong. I’m… me. If I fall in love and my heart gets broken… I won’t be okay.”
“You’re strong, too. You had this baby all by yourself. You’ve been pregnant for nine months all alone. Ruby… what if it works out? What if he’s the best thing that ever happened to you?”
I glance out the window with my heart in knots. “Do you see that?”
She follows my stare. “If you’re seeing Dave with a giant grizzly bear, then yes, I’m seeing that.”
Folks in town have spoken about this bear for so long that I don’t think it’s registered how big he is.
“What do we do?”
