Page 21 of Firecracker

I take a deep breath and push call. Brody answers on the first ring. “Where the fuck are you?” he yells in the phone.

I close my eyes and take another deep breath before speaking, “Where’s Isabella? Is she okay?”

“Ruby, where the fuck are you? Don’t make me ask you again. Are you really in New York like Isabella said?” He is seething. I can feel his anger through the phone.

I push my shoulders back. “Yes, I’m in New York. Is Bella okay? Answer me that.”

“Yes, she’s okay. She’s with my parents. I didn’t want her to see me like this or hear us fighting.”

My heart relaxes knowing my baby is with his parents and not with him.

“Ruby, get your fucking ass home now. We have shit to discuss. We’re not getting a divorce.” His voice is softer but still stern.

Tears bubble up in my eyes only to fall once I close them. Stay strong.

“Brody, I’m not coming home. It's over. Sign the divorce papers.”

“Fuck you. I’m not signing those papers,” he screams into the phone. “I will fucking come get your ass if I have to. You’re not leaving me. We need to talk about this,” Brody growls through the phone.

A knock on the stall door startles me. I didn’t even hear anyone come in.

“Ruby, are you okay? It's Gin,” Ginger says calmly.

I wipe the tears away and try to sound cheerful, “Yeah, I’ll be out in a minute.”

Brody screams into the phone, “Who the fuck is that? Is that Izzy? That bitch has always hated me. You go and run to your little friend. You think anyone will want you? You’re nothing without me. You think she’ll save you, fucking think again. You’re not divorcing me. You have twelve hours to get the fuck home, or I’m coming for you.” Click.

Brody hung up. I start to cry.

Ginger is now rattling the door. I know she heard everything.

Fuck. I need to go home.

Why did I think he would let me go. I need to go home before this gets any uglier. I had my fun, but I need to go back to my reality. Sobbing into my hands, I try to pull myself together but I can’t. I hear a lot of commotion, and suddenly the doors lock pops open, Quick is standing there with a posse of men behind him.

Covering my face to hide my crying eyes, I try to speak, “I’m sorry. I-I just need…”

Quick crouches down placing his hands on my knees. “Ruby.”

Ginger speaks from behind all the men. “Okay, guys. As you can see, no one is in here hurting her. Give me some room. I just needed one of you to open the door not all fucking five of you.”

I look up to see Ginger pushing all the men out of her way while Quick reaches up wiping away the makeup that I’m sure has smeared down my face. He lifts my chin until our eyes meet. “Ruby, are you okay? Who was that on the phone?” he asks with such a kind and calm voice.

When I answer I try to look down embarrassed but with Quick’s thumb and forefinger holding my chin, I can’t look away from him. “My husband,” I say in a whisper.

“Your husband. I thought you said in the truck soon-to-be-ex-husband,” Quick clarifies.

“He’ll never sign the divorce papers.”

Quick’s jaw clenches. “What do you mean by that?”

Biting my lower lips I try to control myself. I need to stop crying. “I need to catch a flight home.”

Simultaneously, Ginger and Quick say, “Fuck. No. You’re not.”

Ginger, who’s standing behind Quick says, “Look, Ruby, I know we don’t know each other all that well but sweetie, I will not let you go back to that. I heard your whole conversation. Does he hit you?”

I look to Quick.

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