Page 29 of Spark

I don’t hesitate. “You can stay with me.”

She bites her lip, like she didn’t hear my offer. “Stephanie’s coming to stay with Titus when we get back.”

“Like I said, stay with me.”

“I don’t want to cramp your style. It’s only a week. I’ll stay in a hotel.”

“But you’re sick to death of hotels.”

“I’ll survive.”

“Ruby, I’ve got no style for you to cramp. I’m single, remember?”

“Yeah, single and ready to mingle. You always date like a maniac when we first get home. And this time, I’m sure you’ll go balls to walls, considering how horny you must be.”

“We’re talking about one week. I can survive that long. I’ve come this far, haven’t I?”

Ruby considers it briefly but eventually shakes her head. “You’ve only got one bed. I’ll ask Savage and Laila.”

“They’re all the way out in Malibu, though. Aren’t you going to be doing some songwriting sessions for some of Reed’s newbies when we get back?”

Reed’s studio is right down the street from my place. It’s Ruby’s biggest dream—writing songs for other artists. The bigger the better. So, to his credit, our label owner has invited Ruby to sit in on some writing sessions with some of his up-and-coming artists at his studio in North Hollywood.

“We could test out your theory about my insomnia duringthat week,” I add, when she looks like she’s seriously considering saying yes to me. “Come on, Ruby. I’m genuinely curious to see if you’re right.”

Ruby flashes me a side-eye. “You said you don’t get insomnia when you’re home.”

“Did I? Oh. Well, that probably won’t be true with that quarterback still all over the news.” My heart feels like a herd of wild horses stampeding in my chest. In this moment, I’ll say whatever it takes to get Ruby to stay with me, in my bed, for one glorious week.

Ruby nods slowly, like that makes sense to her. “Thanks for the offer. I’ll think about it and let you know once I have more information.” With a big yawn, she tugs on the shoulder of my T-shirt. “Now, will you pleaseforgive me for my sins and be my pillow? I’m sleepy and contrite.”

I laugh. “What happened to you staying awake to shit-talk Kai all the way to Vancouver, as the price of forgiveness?”

“Oh. Yeah. I did say that, didn’t I?” She yawns. “God, he’s such a dick. Your turn now.”

I crack up. “It’s okay, monster. You’ve worn me down.”

Ruby flashes me an adorable smile. “Does that mean we’re besties again?”

“Besties again.” It pains me to call her that, even though I genuinely cherish our friendship. But the thing is I love this girl too much not to have her in my life, one way or another. For a long time now, when it comes to Ruby, I’ve been resigned to take what I can get.

As Ruby snuggles up against my shoulder, I kiss the top of her head. “Sweet dreams, Ruby Duby.”

“Use my head as a pillow, if you start to feel sleepy.”

“I won’t, but thanks.” Unfortunately, I never sleep on airplanes. That’s not a recent thing. My whole life, I haven’t been able to get my body to relax enough to sleep when my brain knows I’m hurtling through space at three hundredmiles per hour in a metal container. And it certainly doesn’t help watching Ruby texting her loved ones her final goodbyes.

“Don’t forget to wipe my drool, as needed,” she murmurs.

“I make no promises about that.”

Ruby yawns. “Sorry for using you as a flotation device, my love. I promise I’ll never pull that kind of bullshit again.”

“You’d better not.”

With her head still resting on my shoulder, she holds up her pinky, and I link mine in hers. But the truth is, even though I’ve been talking a good game, I’d let Ruby use me as a flotation device any time she needed. Even in shark-infested waters. In fact, if I saw this girl of mine drowning, I’d jump in and try to save her without a thought to my own safety, even in the face of great whites circling. So, really, I can’t blame her for using me to save herself this morning when, in reality, I’d demand she swap my life for hers if the opportunity arose.

“I forgive you,” I whisper into her hair. I close my eyes and inhale the scent of her shampoo.And I love you.

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