Page 64 of When the Woods Go Silent

Ruby hesitates, still not saying anything, but her body turns slightly away from me. It wants to go to him, and I’m starting to feel a little dumb, begging her to stay in like we do all the damn time. She deserves to be happy, and I know she really likes him, even if I don’t. My heart stutters as I remember his words -Ruby will pick me if I want her to.

I know it’s not true. But the echo beats in my brain like a hollow knock on a door at midnight. Out of place. Unexpected. And terrifying.

“Just... are you sure? Are you sure he’s a good guy?”

Ruby sighs, and there’s an edge of annoyance in the set of her jaw. “I feel safe with him. I like him, Rose, even though I don’t know him well yet.”

And because she calls me Rose, and not Rosey, I know it’s time to back off or risk some hurt feelings. If I really want to stay true to our besties before boys promise, I can’t be the one picking at the problem. Most likely, I’m just making up more reasons not to be happy again.

“I’ll check in with you, though. Drop a pin or whatever.” Ruby is trying to sound reassuring, lighten the mood, but I can still sense her frustration. These last few years when I lived in the city and she was at home, living alone after her mom died, I know she got used to doing whatever she wanted without anyone questioning her.

We both did. Sure, we always gave each other advice and opinions over dozens of phone calls and texts. I certainly don’t need to act like a parent now, helicoptering over her.

“Okay. I hope you have fun,” I say, giving her the best smile I can scrounge up.

“I’m sorry about Arlo. Maybe Torrence has another friend-”

I hold up my hand. “It’s fine, I don’t need that. I’ll meet someone when it’s the right time. I just had a weird feeling about Torrence the first night I met him. And Kier seemed so... I don’t know. There’s bad blood there.”

“He was kind of an asshole.”

I can’t help the glare that crosses my face, and Ruby raises an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth edging up.

“I guess I won’t say anything about your asshole if you don’t say anything about mine.”

“Girl, I want nothing to do with your asshole,” I say, the giggles beginning as the tension between us starts to unravel. Ruby laughs, and I start to feel better.

Until she says, “Good, because I was beginning to think you were just jealous of Torrence.”

“Jealous?” I bite down on my lip as soon as the word snaps out. Ruby’s gaze cools, and the mood goes heavy and uncertain again, like the sky before a thunderstorm.

“I won’t abandon the store, Rose. But let me have this. Him. Let me be happy, and maybe you can let yourself look for happiness, too.”

She turns on her heel and is up the stairs to our apartment before I can even process the words.

Fucking hell. Is that really how she feels? I need to reel it in, no matter how suspicious I am about Torrence. My friendship with Ruby is everything to me. Maybe she’s right, and I’m afraid to let her have something that I don’t have. Something I’m not sure I’ll ever have.

Deep down, I’ve always been afraid that Ruby will outgrow our friendship. That she’ll sink into a relationship with a man that eclipses everything we’ve built together.

We say besties before boys, but when it comes down to it, people get married, have kids, move on. Sometimes the world really does ask us to choose.

I don’t chase after Ruby, though. We both need some time to cool off. If she’s into Torrence, the best thing I can do now is support her and be here later if he breaks her heart. And absolutely, positively refrain from saying,I told you so.

I grab a sparkling water and settle into one of the plush velvet armchairs that overlooks the street beyond our wrap-around porch, and I don’t move an inch when I hear Ruby’s footsteps on the stairs. I watch her head outside and down the sidewalk, and I try to smile a little at her back and wish her happiness, even if my heart doesn’t want to trust Torrence to be the one to give it to her.

Dusk falls on the street, and still I sit in the window, letting my mind wander safely over ideas for the store. My stomach settles from the nausea and eventually reminds me that I never ate a real meal today, but before I can decide whether to cook or order in, a dark shape on the sidewalk catches my attention.

I instantly recognize the long-legged stride and sloped shoulders, and a little thrill skips through my chest.

Kier steps onto the porch, not seeing me in the side window, and cups his hand over the glass in the front door. He’s looking for me, and he has a handful of flowers.

I hurry to the front door and smile at him through the glass.

“Need more books already?” I ask, opening the door and gazing up at his handsome face.

“How could I possibly read when all I could think of was how rude I was earlier?” he says, his faint Irish accent coming out much stronger than before as he holds out the flowers. They’re a kind I haven’t seen before, with large vibrant petals and a heady smell like lilacs. I gather them to my nose and feel the smile stretch my face.

“I’m sorry, Rose. I don’t want to rehash what I said and spoil the apology, but I hope you can forgive me for being an ass to you and your friend.”

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