Page 90 of Waiting for Redemption

“Yes ma’am.” He bolts down the hallway making Maverick perk up from his spot on the floor. Ruby sinks into my side, wrapping her arms around my waist as she exhales.

“So, you know the Halloways,” She states, looking up at me.

“Jimmy Halloway is the reason I got put into wrestling in middle school. I fought that asshole so many times I almost got expelled. Apparently, his rotten fruit didn’t fall far from the tree,” I scoff, running a hand through my hair.

“Thanks for making Hendrix laugh by saying you’d put him in a trash can again.” She giggles.

“Well, I’m glad he found it funny but I don’t lie to Hendrix. I will one hundred percent throw that grown man into the trash if his kid says some shit to mine.” The words come out of my mouth before I can stop them and my heart immediately stops as I wait for her reaction. She remains still for a moment before slowly sitting up beside me, her black hair falling beautifully around her face. I can’t quite get a read on the look she’s giving me, so my first instinct is to apologize.

“I’m sorry. I don’t… I didn’t mean to say anything to overstep.” She studies me a little longer, an agonizing wave of nerves settling over me before she finally speaks.

“You really think of him that way, don’t you?” My mind quickly runs through memories of us playing soccer at the park for the first time, the day I picked him up from school and we went to Spurs, the protectiveness I feel over him that I’ve only ever felt for one other person—the woman who he gets his…everythingfrom.

“Yeah, Honey. I really do.” I struggle to get the words out without letting my voice shake. “I have for a while now, but I never wanted to seem like I was inserting myself somewhere I didn’t belong. I love that kid, Ruby. I love him as much as I love you. I just want him to know I’ll never stop showing up for him. That’s part of why I couldn’t stay away when I knew he started soccer. I needed to be able to cheer him on, even if he didn’t know it, and tell him one day that I was there. That I never missed a thing.” With tears streaming down her face she pulls me into her, capturing my lips with hers.

I wrap my hands around her waist as she climbs onto my lap, parting her lips to allow my tongue easy access to hers. Kissing Ruby for the first time six months ago was incredible, but making out with mywifeisabsolutely indescribable.

“Are you really mine?” she asks, rubbing the tip of her nose against mine.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been anyone else’s, Honey.”

“Let’s go to bed.” She stands up from my lap with a smile, giving me thosecome and get meeyes.

I’ll never stop chasing after you, little wife.

But before I chase after her I see her phone light up on the couch and take it upon myself to update the group chat.

Me

She won’t be coming… for you.

Taylor

Shane

Leah

Lauren

I’m done.

CHAPTER31

RUBY

“I think I love your husband.”Lauren laughs, pouring our margaritas into glasses.

“Hey, watch it,” I warn, giving her a playful glare. She gives me a surprised look with her mouth hanging open.

“Not likethat, duh. But that text wasbold.”

“Well, he wouldn’t be Tank if he wasn’t.” I feel the butterflies fluttering around in my stomach just at the mention of his name.

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