Page 44 of Break Me Like a Promise (Oak Valley)

Ruby sighed, trying not to get frustrated. It was so obvious, why didn’t he see it?

“Colt, you stayed because you thought they needed you. But they were fine before you moved home. So why did you stay there instead of moving out?” Ruby winced at the sharpness of her own words, hoping they wouldn’t cut too deep. While she knew core things about Colton, there were some things she was still learning.

He stared at the ceiling, his breathing measured.

Okay, that was new. Ruby thought back to all the times his anger reached out or his anxiety overtook. That was something that had changed, a pleasant surprise. Ruby relaxed, seeing that maybe they could have a calm, honest conversation.

“You’re right.” He said it so softly, Ruby almost didn’t catch it. But he turned to her, and said it again.

“You’re right, Ruby. They were fine before me. But being there, every day, feeling the tension in the air with my dad around, I couldn’t leave them in that alone.”

“Not after how they helped you.”

“Yeah. And you know how hard it is to find good apartments here, it’s a tourist trap.”

Ruby laughed. “Colt, not to be insensitive, but I don’t think money’s the issue here.”

His face didn’t change, and she quieted down.

“Please understand that when you realize your career is over, everything you’ve worked for, any money you have is supposed to last you until your next job. And I didn’t know how long rehab would last, or if I’d always have certain issues or if there were certain things I’d never be able to do.”

“I—I’m sorry, Colton. I didn’t mean anything by that.”

“I know, Ruby. It’s just… It’s been hard. Really fucking hard. And I’d really like it to be easy for once.”

She laid a hand on his chest, watching his hand run through his hair. His eyes were welling, but she didn’t want to address it — if he was feeling vulnerable, it would only twist the knife.

She thought about how she still hadn’t told him about staying in Oak Valley, how much that would twist the knife. How he was trusting her with some of his innermost thoughts, and she was withholding information that could change the course of their situation.

Information that could turn his back on her, and this time for good.

“Well, Colt, I think it will get easy. Just focus on you, what you need and want. The rest will fall into place. And I know how lucky Katie is to have you.”

I was once even luckier.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, wiping his finger tips on the sheets. A subtle way to remove tears, but one she knew from way back when.

He was still hers, even after all this time. And she wanted hm to feel as loved and seen as he was back then. She kissed his cheek and snuggled into him, happy to accept whatever he would give her.

Colton kissed the top of her head and held her tight. “How are you doing? How’s your mom?”

Ruby sighed, not exactly wanting to get into it. But he’d been so forthcoming, and there was one thing she couldn’t be honest about. So she could tell him what she could.

“My mom is… okay. We’re still waiting to see the effects of treatment — it’s been about a month and she has two more to go before we can reevaluate her treatment plan. I’m… I’m okay. Working part time has been really helpful, and Macy actually asked me to help with the Valentine’s Day Festival.”

“Wait, what? Macy Weathers?” Ruby felt Colton shift under her, his body turning her way.

“The one and only. I was at the library and helped her with a game idea, and then she found out I worked in publicity.”

“So naturally she wants a front page New York Times article on Oak Valley’s Annual Valentine’s Day Festival.”

“And the First Annual Arbor Day Carnival,” Ruby giggled.

Colton laughed, and Ruby shushed him. She didn’t need her mom knowing he was in her bed and stayed the night.

“You know my car’s in the driveway, right?”

Oh, shit.

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