Page 44 of Holding You
I know I’m not the only one who feels it, because it’s been a good thirty seconds and she hasn’t told me to fuck off.
I sort of wish she would so that I can walk away and laugh at myself for even letting these thoughts entertain me.
But still … nothing.
Maybe … shit … does she want me to kiss her too?
As if she can read my mind, she nods slightly. It’s so small that if I hadn't been giving my every piece of attention to her, I might have missed it.
My head barely moves before a throat clears behind us, breaking the spell.
She pushes me back so fast that I trip, but Miles reaches a hand out to assist.
“What’s going on?” he asks, not a sliver of emotion on his face as he looks between me and his sister.
“Nothing,” Ruby answers quickly.
A little too quickly, to be honest, but what do I know? I don’t even know what to make out of what just happened with us.
I’ve never … that’s never happened to me before.
I clear my throat. “Yeah, Max uh, he bumped me when he ran through the kitchen.”
“Yep,” Ruby says and walks out, leaving me alone with her brother.
He adjusts his stance, crosses his arms, and glares at me.
“Do you have something to tell me?”
“No.”
“That was a fast answer.”
“Because it’s the truth.”
He stares at me for another second, and I laugh. “Miles, itwas nothing. I bumped into her and we touched. It’s nothing to worry about.”
I grab the box of dishes that brought me into the kitchen in the first place and move for the door.
“Declan,” Miles calls out. I pause and turn to face him.
“She’s …” His words trail off as he thinks them over. “Not like most women, alright. She’s …”
I nod. “I get it.”
“I don’t think you do. I’m not even sure what I’m trying to say.”
I shrug. “I still get it, and like I said, you have nothing to worry about. Ruby and I are just friends. If that.”
He nods and heads down the hallway.
As I walk down the porch steps and over the lawn to the trailer, his words play in my head.
She’s not like most women.
He’s absolutely right.
She’s not.
