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I walk her to her bedroom when we get back to the club, and she stands at her door awkwardly. “See you at breakfast,” I say, gently kissing her on the head. She nods and goes inside, and I head to my room with a smile on my face, feeling like I’ve done something good for once.
As I’m stepping out of the shower, my mobile rings. I sigh. I have to face her sometime, I know I do, so I press it to my ear. “Mac,” she gasps, surprised I’ve picked up. “I’ve been trying hard to get hold of you. Are you okay?”
“What do you need, Ruby?” I ask.
“To meet up, to talk?”
I hate the hope in her voice, knowing I have to crush it. “That’s not possible.”
“I can come to you. Just give me your address and I’ll head over.”
“I’m not in Nottingham anymore.”
“Oh. I thought you were just taking a break.”
“No, it’s a permanent move. Fresh start and all that.”
“Fresh start,” she whispers. “I’m glad you’ve found it so easy. Have you spoken with her?” When I don’t reply, she sighs. “Have you spoken to Meghan?”
“No.”
“Look, I really need to meet up with you so we can talk. Things have changed. I—”
“It’s not going to happen, Ruby. I’ve moved on. You should too.” I disconnect the call, and the feeling I had just minutes ago is now replaced with an ache in my chest.
* * *
I had a restless night, tossing and turning, thinking over shit that happened months ago. Things that I can’t change, no matter how hard I want to. I tap on Raven’s bedroom door, and when she answers, I’m surprised to see her in her work clothes. “You’re going to work?”
“Yeah. If I still have a job, that is.”
“You can’t go back there. You know how it’ll end. Raven, you need to not see him for a while.”
“It’s my job. I worked hard to get it and I’m good at it.”
“But he’ll reel you back in.”
“He won’t. Look, Mac, it’s the first time in my life I’ve earned real money in the way other people do. I’m not having to sell myself so I can eat. I have savings for the first time in my life, and I’m not giving that up because I fucked my boss. I have rights, so he can’t let me go. I want that job.”
I bite my inner cheek. She’s stubborn and independent. “Fine. I’ll drive you.”
“I can drive myself,” she says, smiling.
“But as my ol’ lady, I’d like to drive you.”
She laughs but gives in. “Fine.”
* * *
I drop Raven at her office, then head back to the club for church. The guys file in, and Riggs stands. “Things seemed pretty settled around here, and then Mac arrived,” he says, smirking.
“Shit, what you done now?” asks Ace.
“He’s only gone and claimed Raven so he can do a chivalrous thing and protect her from Vinn Romano,” says Cree, laughing.
Chains glares at me. “You did what?”
“She needed my help,” I say, shrugging. “You said you couldn’t do anything because your ol’ lady was sick of you two spending time together, so I did what I had to do.”
