Page 18 of Caden

“I’m not moping.”

“The fuck you aren’t.”

He’s right. I’ve been a downright pitiful son of a bitch since Ruby ended our weekend early. With Grandma Judy still in town, I’ve tried to be respectful and keep my distance. Returning to the hardened version of myself whenever she’s in my orbit. But it’s fucking eating me up inside.

I know now it was never just lust.

I’ve been in love with Ruby McCray since the moment we met.

But that fact doesn’t change our circumstances.

“You going to tell me what the hell this is about?” Marshall presses.

“You going to tell me about your super secret weekend away?” I fire back. Marshall came back a day early after I called him about the fire. At least I was able to tell him the ass wipe was sitting in a jail cell and no longer a threat to his sister. But he never admitted what he was up to.

“I left town so you two could figure out your shit without worrying about what I’d think.”

“Bullshit.”

“It’s true. I was sick and tired of you and my sister doing the dance. So I went to hang out on a beach so you two could get out of your own way.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just admit it so we can stop tiptoeing around the truth,” Marshall says.

“Admit what?”

“That you’re in love with Ruby.”

My entire body stiffens. Have I been that obvious? “I’m not doing anything about it.”

“Why the hell not?”

I look at him then, as though he’s grown a second head. “Seems like a shitty way to thank the man who saved my ass overseas.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“You took a bullet for me, man. Your sister is off limits. I get it. I respect it.”

“You’re fucking dumber than I thought,” Marshall says with an obnoxious laugh. “What the hell do you think it would say about me if I thought mybest friendwasn’t good enough to date my sister?”

“What—”

“You two have had the hots for each other since day one. And somewhere along the line, you went and fell in love. I know it.Everyoneknows it but you two, apparently. So why are you fighting it?”

“But—”

“Stop fucking moping. Ruby’s at home with Grandma Judy, replanting the garden.” Marshall claps me so hard on the shoulder the slapping sound causes Gram to let out a bark. “Go get her.”

I’m on my feet before my brain can fully register what’s just happened.

“Oh, Caden?”

“Yeah?”

“You hurt her, I’ll make sure no one ever finds your body. You know that right?”

For the first time in a week, a smile chips away the stone cold frown I’ve been wearing. “I would expect nothing less.”

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