Page 38 of Holding You
“Yeah. Is it about how we're about to break the hearts of the two nicest kids in this town? How our summers are about to be filled with dramatics of how we ruined all their fun?”
Ruby’s lips tug into a smile. It puts me off guard for a moment.
Making Ruby smile isn’t something I do often.
“It’s the opposite.”
My brow lifts as I lean back and wait for her to go on.
“I …” She looks away, picking at something on the blanket covering her legs. “I thought it over, and the idea of you and Susie moving into the basement isn’t … the … worst.”
I rub under my nose to hide my smile.
I bet that was just as painful for her to admit as it was to hear coming off her lips.
“Is that so?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“You were very against it when Luca brought it up.”
“I was caught off guard, Declan.”
I chuckle. There’s my snappy Ruby.
“Well, that’s very kind of you, but I don’t want to impose, and telling Susie will be?—”
“It would actually be doing me a favor, and I know you don’t owe me any, but this is me extending an olive branch. I don’t want to ruin Max’s first full summer here just as much as you don’t want to pull Susie away from this place.”
“Yeah, but moving in together is a big deal.”
“Only if we make it one.”
I study her. The way she’s relaxed into her seat, one leg crossed over the other, bare foot dangling in the air. Outside of the initial delivery of her offer, nothing about her posture right now suggests she’s uncomfortable with this as she focuses on me.
“You’re sure about this?”
She lets out a big sigh.
“I mean, it’s a crazy idea, but it’s not permanent and …”
This time she looks away and starts to chew on her thumbnail.
“And …” I prompt her.
Her hand drops, and she groans. “And I get the feeling you chose to move back here for a reason. As someone who made a similar choice, the idea of leaving again?—”
“Makes you sick to your stomach?” I finish for her.
“Yeah.”
I don’t want to come off as too eager, but this offer, even coming from her, feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
And I haven’t even given her my answer yet.
“I can’t promise I’ll be all roses and sunshine each day,” she admits
“I wouldn’t expect anything other than you being you, Ruby.”
