Page 72 of Waiting for Redemption

Everyone remains still and silent, but Ruby’s eyes stay locked on mine. Looking for an answer to what we do now.But before she can try to find a way out of it, I pull her in close and my lips come crashing down on hers. I don’t know when I’ll get the chance to make this happen again, so I take my time savoring every moment. When her hands find their way to the nape of my neck and she kisses me back, the small flicker of hope I’ve been holding onto begins to grow into a flame. Daring to burn down every wall she has up trying to keep this from being real.

Our friends applaud and cheer as Hendrix runs up to us, bringing our kiss to an end as he wraps his arms around our legs.

“This is the best day ever.” He tilts his head back to exclaim.

“I agree.” I smile down at Hendrix who looks between Ruby and me with the biggest grin on his face, but when I look up at Ruby, she still seemsoff.

“Alright little man, you ready to go?” Max asks Hendrix, picking him up like a football.

“Can we have ice cream tonight?” he yells through his giggles.

“I don’t see why not. Cece is up and down all night, we might as well be too.” Max shrugs, before planting Hendrix’s feet back on the ground.

After we’ve said all our goodbyes and it’s just Ruby and me next to the water, the tension filling the air is almost unbearable.

“So, Hendrix is staying at Max and Shane’s?”

“Umm, yeah. They asked if he could stay over tonight to give us some timealoneI guess.” She laughs nervously.

“Okay. Well, do you wanna head back to the house then?” I ask, trying to break through her closed-off demeanor.

“Actually.” Her head drops as she fidgets with her dress, allowing the slit to fall open just enough to show off her tattooed thigh. “We uh, have a room over atThe Vista,” she admits, as her cheeks turn pink.

“Oh?”

“Yeah, but we don’t have to use it. The girls probably just got it for me to get ready closer to the courtyard or something.” She waves a hand dismissively, making me smirk when I realize she’s nervous.

“Let's use it.” She slowly looks up at me, and I have to fight every instinct urging me to kiss her again.

“Are you sure? What about Maverick?” I love that she asked about him.

“Tuck can take him. He’s always trying to steal him from me anyhow.” I shrug.

“Okay,” she agrees. I hold my hand out to lead her up the hill, but when we’re only halfway up her heel gets caught in the back of her dress.

“Shit,”she mutters under her breath as she tries to unhook it.

“Come here,” I say, scooping her up in my arms causing a gasp to escape her lips. “I got you.” I walk all the way across the street and into the hotel lobby before planting her feet back on the ground.

“You did not have to carry me all this way.” She smiles, adjusting the sleeve of her dress.

“What kind of husband would I be if I didn’t?” I wink at her, grabbing her hand as we walk towards the elevators. Thanks to Lauren I already have a room key, and Imayhave called ahead to have the room “tidied”before we returned. When we walk in the door Ruby immediately kicks off her heels, shrinking about five inches then she rounds the corner and freezes.

“I can’t believe them. This is way too far,” she says in a quiet but angry tone.

“What do you mean?” I ask, setting my cap on the table.

“It’s so stupid,” she scoffs, though an embarrassed hue of red begins heating her cheeks.

“The girls tried to convince me to pretend that today wasreal. I agreed just to avoid arguing with Lauren, but they took it too far with this. I’m so sorry.” She moves toward the bed, likely to begin removing the rose petals that have been placed on the mattress, but I quickly stop her before she has the chance.

“They didn’t do it,” I admit, seeing the confusion spread across her face. “I did.” A deep blush appears on her cheeks as she nervously bites the inside of her cheek.

“Why?” she asks quietly, glancing at the bed then back at me. I hate living in this state of constant misunderstanding with Ruby. I never planned to come back and make thingsmorecomplicated, but ever since that day at the soccer fields it’s been nonstop planning—a backstory, a wedding, a plan to keep Hendrixfaraway from the asshole who’s appeared out of nowhere to try and take him. But tonight it’s finally just me and her, and I fully intend on clearing up any confusion that may still live in that pretty mind of hers.

“Because I wanted to.” I shrug, smirking down at her.

“I don’t understand.” I sigh, leaning against the desk directly behind me.

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