Page 38 of Freeing Ruby

“Pumpkin, get off,” I say, laughing as I push the cat off him.

“It’s okay.” Miguel laughs. “I grew up with a house full of pets.” He reaches out to scratch Pumpkin’s chin.

I slide off the foot of the bed.

Miguel sits up and surveys the floor. “Careful. Watch for broken glass.” He watches me make my way carefully to the door. “So, what’s on the agenda for today?”

“Pretty much the same as every day. Some painting, a little bit of reading, and maybe watch a movie. How about you?”

He smiles. “Pretty much the same. I do what you do, minus the painting part, and add in some exercise.”

When I come out of the bathroom, I see him across the hall, sitting on the edge of my bed petting Pumpkin. “The bathroom’s all yours,” I say.

Then I get dressed in my bedroom. My gaze lands on the broken pane of glass, reminding me that I need to call Rick to tell him about the window. I hope he can fix it soon. Oh, great, another person in my apartment.

I’m in the kitchen making coffee when Miguel walks into the living room and grabs a change of clothes from his duffle bag.

“I need to do laundry today,” he says. “I’m about out of clean clothes.”

I point to the small utility closet next to the kitchen. “The washer’s all yours. You know, you can hang up your clothes in my closet if you want, so they don’t wrinkle.”

“Thanks. That’d be great.” He folds the bedding left on the sofa from last night and puts it away in the linen cupboard. “Can I ask a favor?”

I pour us each a cup of coffee. “Of course. Anything.”

“Would you mind if I ask a friend to bring over a few things from my apartment? Namely my free weights.”

My pulse skips a beat at the mention of someone coming over. But I can hardly say no after everything Miguel’s done for me. “No, I don’t mind.”

“Thanks. I’ll give him a call and see if they’re available this afternoon.”

“They?”

“Jason and his girlfriend, Layla. I’m sure he’ll want to bring her along. They’re pretty inseparable. It’s okay if he brings Layla with him?”

I nod. “Sure. How about French toast for breakfast?” I ask. “With all the fixin’s—syrup, cinnamon, and whipped cream.” I smile at the memory. “My mom made this for me for Sunday breakfast.”

“That sounds perfect,” he says as he grabs his phone and types in a text message. “Remind me to make you some cinnamon oatmeal sometime. That’s what I loved as a kid.”

A moment later, his phone chimes with a return message. “Perfect. Jason and Layla will come over this afternoon and bring me a few dumbbells.”

My heart slams into my ribs. Two people. Two more strangers.

“Ruby? Is everything okay?”

I nod as I start gathering the ingredients to make breakfast. “Yes, fine.”

“Can I help?”

“No, no, I’m fine.” I point to his mug on the counter. “Your coffee’s ready. Grab it while it’s hot.”

A moment later he’s standing beside me, his presence looming. I can actually feel the heat from his body radiating in my direction. “What’s wrong?” he asks. “Are you worried about Jason and Layla coming over? I can ask Jason to leave the dumbbells downstairs in the lobby. They don’t have to come up.”

“No, it’s okay if they come up. Really, it’s fine.” It’s not, but I don’t want to begrudge him seeing his friends.

“Are you sure? I promise you they won’t be offended if I ask them not to come up.”

I start cracking eggs into a bowl. “I’m sure.”

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