Page 119 of Holding You
His expression immediately turns serious.
“I’m ready.”
“Okay,” I blow out a breath. “In school, I was smart.”
“Alright …”
“But the teachers loved to remind me that although I was smart, I was never smarter than Declan Young. Even though we weren’t even close in grade.”
His brows dip in confusion, so I jump straight to a few examples, with voices to go with them.
“Wonderful scores, Ruby, you’re right here in second place under Declan. So many votes on this one, but not as many as Declan Young. We almost have a school record with Ruby Asher, but she didn’t quite beat?—”
“I think I get it.”
“But then,” I say, and he groans.
“There’s more?”
I nod.
“Then you moved back the same week as me and Max, and everyone in town just loved that you were back.”
“Same for you though.”
This time I shake my head. “I don’t think so. Everyone praises your day-to-day life, Declan. It was annoying. Here I am, a single parent who shows up for her kid and who owns her own business, too, but they only see me as the girl who …”
My words trail off as I think of how to phrase it.
“The girl who what?” Declan grabs my hand and pulls me closer to him.
“The girl who got pregnant and left.”
“No one thinks that, Ruby.”
“They do.”
“Well, fuck ‘em. Who cares what they think?”
“Me. Apparently.”
His gaze stays on mine for what feels like a lifetime.
Suddenly, I hear my brother’s voice.
Declan and I break apart, and I grab the first shirt I see in Max’s size.
I’d almost forgotten where we are and how this is supposed to be ending right here.
Just when it’s my turn at the register, Declan steps in front of me with his things.
“Now, now, Ruby, have you not learned anything?”
I grin, not having a clue where he’s going with this but eager to find out.
“I go first. Obviously.”
When he turns to pay, I let out a giggle.
