Page 69 of The Longshot

“That someone came by to see you yesterday.”

There’s an immediate shift in the room. All at once, the air feels lighter, brighter, and without even realizing it, I pull back from the countertop and stand up straight. Ruby doesn’t even need to confirm that that someone was Gary. I know in my heart it was.

“That seemed to brighten your spirit, now didn’t it?” Ruby is visibly pleased with herself as she folds her arms in front of her chest, shifting her weight from one side to the other as she raises a brow.

“Gary came by?” I have to ask just to be safe. “He… came here?”

“Well, not here per se,” Ruby clarifies. “But to the house, yes. Yes, he did.”

“Why?” I’m reluctant to ask but desperate to know.

“I mean, isn’t it obvious?” she retorts. “He wanted to talk to you, duh!”

“Talk to me about what?”

Ruby’s face drops. “Chelsie, be for real. He obviously came by because he wanted to talk about the way things ended the other night. You just missed him too. He came by not long after you left for Mum and Dad’s. The poor guy looked like he had hardly gotten any sleep.”

I’m left speechless—hell, the air that once felt lighter now feels like it’s now been sucked out of the room as Ruby explains Gary’s desire to speak to me. All the while, I can’t help but visualize his face, his eyes, and his immediate willingness to try to make things right between us.

Had he, too, been thinking about things just as much as I haven’t been able to stop?

Is he still thinking about it?

“And… uh…” I nervously play with the strings of my apron as they fray away. “What did you say to him exactly?”

Ruby pouts. “Well that, that stays between Gary and I.”

“Gary?” It’s strange to hear her call him that, despite the fact that it’s the only thing I’ve ever called him.

“Yeah.” She reaches back for the broom. “You were right. Gary is much better than Wilks.”

I watch her regain the broom from the ground and sweep for a few seconds longer before the impatience gets the best of me. “So, you’re really not going to tell me what you said to him?” I mimic her once-folded arms. “What he said to you?”

Ruby stops. “How about rather than worrying about what I said to him or vice versa, you go and talk to him yourself?” she suggests with a coy smirk. “You know, instead of staring up at the clock waiting for him to show. He’s not going to, Chelsie. He’s not.”

I catch my breath in my throat. There’s nothing worse than the truth when you’re vulnerable. I knew deep down he wouldn’t come by today, but hearing Ruby saying it out loud suddenly makes it that much more real…

Am I delusional?

“That was harsh,” Ruby revokes her comment almost instantly before my thoughts can escalate. “I didn’t mean it like that. Listen…” she attempts once more, softening her voice. “Crawfield is playing tonight. Maybe you should go?”

“To watch the game? No way.” I’m quick to talk myself out of it without even really considering it as an option. “Thanks for the suggestion though, Rubes, but I’ll pass.”

“Why not?” Her smile is replaced with a frown. “I mean, it’s obvious you like him, Chelsie. So, what’s the big deal?”

“The big deal?” I repeat back to her. “The big deal is that I ruined things between the two of us the other night because I couldn’t get out of my own head. He’s probably had enough of my teeter-totter of emotions. Besides, you said it yourself. He’s not coming here.”

I attempt to work my way around her, but she blocks me, now placing a hand on either side of my shoulders to steady me in place.

“Listen, Chels,” she speaks. “The only reason I said he’s not coming here is because I told him not to. I told him to let you take the lead. To call the shots. And maybe that was wrong of me, and I’m sorry if I overstepped, but I just thought that maybe if the ball was in your court, it would be easier?”

My eyes widen at her truth. “And uh—what did he say to that?” I can’t help but seek some clarity.

She smiles. “Let’s just say that that boy would give anything for you to give your relationship a chance.”

My heart flutters, and all at once, it’s like the choice becomes abundantly clear. I need to see him. I need to tell him that whatever this is between us, whatever uncertainty I might feel, I don’t want it to end before it’s even properly begun.

I meet Ruby’s eyes with a newfound sense of determination, one she smirks at.

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