Page 41 of Raising Hell: MMF Edition

I glare at him for a second before sighing and letting my head sag. “It is not in my nature to love another.” Heavy silenceenvelops us as I gather the strength to say what needs to be said, sensing the importance of the moment. It’s a tipping point.

A precipice.

A pivotal juncture that has the potential to shape my extensive life.

“But I do,” I finally say, forcing myself to meet their gazes instead of avoiding them. “I love you, Ruby.” Her eyes widen as I shift to Cas. “And, as fate would have it, it turns out I love you as well, Casimir.”

For a terrifying moment, no one says a word. Fear wraps its icy fingers around my heart and constricts, stealing the oxygen from my lungs as I swallow. It’s the only sound in the silent room.

Did I misreadeverything?

Preternaturally still, Cas only stares, the red glow building behind his solid black eyes. And then he moves, scrambling over Ruby to climb in my lap.

“I’ve loved you for years,” he blurts, and relief whooshes through me like a strong wind, allowing me to take my first full breath in what feels like days. Once his words register in my brain, it’s my turn to be shocked.

“You never said anything.”

Cas scoffs and rolls his eyes, the action easing the tension. “You never wanted me to,” he says gently. “Imagine if I burst into the room, confessing my love for you when we were supposed to keep things casual. What would you have done? You would’ve run, and it would’ve been over.”

The truth in his words makes me wince, so I just nod as he continues. “It was selfish of me, but I wanted you… any part you were willing to give me. Any piece of yourself that could be mine, even if for a short time.”

“Cas,” I whisper, my chest physically aching at the realization.

He shakes his head, turning to Ruby. “And I’ve loved you since the minute I laid eyes on you. You were always it for me.” She leans in as Cas wraps his arms around us both, and something inside me is lighter at the weight of them against me.

They’re mine.

After a few moments of peaceful quiet, Cas pulls back. “Please, Ruby… let us help you. Tell us what’s wrong.”

Her eyes bounce between us as her shoulder slump, then after what seems like forever, she deflates with a long breath. “It’s Johnny.”

“Who’s Johnny?” I demand, ready to bury a body, while Cas is thoughtful.

“Your ex?”

Ruby winces as she nods, her cheeks flushing. “It shouldn’t matter, and I shouldn’t care… IknowI shouldn’t care… and I swear I wasn’t even cyberstalking him, but a friend of mine shared a post and I saw it…” My eyes widen with every word, only comprehending half of what she is saying, and Cas is just as puzzled.

“Slow down,” he soothes, smoothing her hair away from her face. The stubborn red coil pops right back over her forehead, and he just smiles, tucking it behind her ear. It calms her, and she tries again.

“Johnny is my ex,” she explains, meeting my eyes. “We were together for years until he left me for someone else… someone younger and prettier.”

“Stop that,” I growl, and she gives me a rueful smile.

“It’s not like I miss him, because I don’t. I rarely even think about him, but someone shared an announcement about their engagement. The party is tonight at a ritzy, exclusive club, and they both look stunning while I’m sitting here in my PJs crying in bed. It’s… pathetic.”

Cas and I exchange glances and nod in unison. “Alright, let’s go.” So much confusion paints her face that I touch my hair, wondering if Cas’s mishap spread to me.

“We can’t just… go.”

“Why not?” I ask. “Is this party somewhere private?”

Cas waves a hand dismissively. “Doesn’t matter, we can break in.”

“N-no,” she stutters, shaking her head. “The nightclub is ‘technically’ open to everyone.” She flexes her fingers in the air with the word, and I furrow my brow at the action. “But the line always wraps around the building, and you only get in if you’re hot enough.”

Cas gasps, loud and dramatic, as his hand lands over his heart. “Are you saying I’m not hot enough?”

Ruby’s posture loosens a fraction, a smile playing on her lips. “You are definitely hot enough… both of you are… but me…”

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