Page 55 of Break Me Like a Promise (Oak Valley)

“You know it’s going to be like, an hour drive, right? You might as well tell me.”

“Nah, I’d rather sit with my secret knowledge and watch you sweat.”

He rolled his eyes but the smile never left. “Have it your way, but the only way I’m sweating is if I have you in the backseat or if we’re dancing so hard to music.”

Ruby blushed. “I’ll raincheck the backseat, and second the dancing.”

Colton scrolled through his Spotify quickly and tapped on a playlist, setting his phone down and focusing on the road. Ruby watched him, and other than occasionally singing to a familiar song or playfully dancing to the ones she didn’t know, they drove in relative silence. It was comfortable, and Ruby found herself glancing at him in awe. How they’d been able to be apart for ten years, having ended on not the best terms, and come back together again even better than before… It was one of those weird life happenings that made Ruby believe in magic. Like maybe, just maybe, everything had and would work out the way it was meant to.

He turned into the IKEA parking lot, slowly hunting for a space. Even though they had only just opened for the day, the place was crowded. Ruby spotted an empty place in a far corner, and Colton managed to speed his way there without hitting anyone.

“You know you drive like an absolute maniac?”

“You know I don’t allow backseat driver in my car?” He unclipped his buckle and landed a kiss on her cheek. “Come on, sweet cheeks. Let’s go shop for your bus.”

Ruby grumbled as he exited, and she tried to fix herself before following. “It’s just window shopping, I need to check measurements and prices. It’s easier for me to see things in person than on a website.”

“Okay, but lunch is on me and in the meantime, keep a detailed list of must-haves and maybes.”

“Colt, everything’s a maybe until I can measure it out.”

He rolled his eyes, grabbing one of the large plastic bags held at the front. “Okay, but still. No need to argue. Even though you look adorable when you do.” He winked at her and started following the arrows on the floor.

Patronizing asshole.

But Ruby smiled at his back, knowing he was teasing. Knowing that she didn’t have to prove to him how strong or cute or funny she was. He saw and accepted her, and he always had. He started sitting down on every sofa he came across, looking like a little boy he was so excited.

“I fucking love IKEA,” he said, grinning as he started on a second row of couches. “What kind of sofa are you looking for?”

“Small and narrow,” she laughed. “Although I’m kind of hoping to find a sectional that could work. I figure since the kitchen will be next to the living area, I could put a short peninsula along the short side of the sofa. Here, hold this.” She passed him one end of a tape measure and started measuring potential candidates, writing down names and sizing, before continuing on the path.

They occasionally point out various items, measure other ones, test out beds and chairs as they came to it. It was easy to dream of a real home instead of a tiny one, but Ruby glanced at every price tag before allowing herself to envision the item in her school bus or in a future house.

“Did your mom ever say anything? About my staying the night?” Colton asked, opening wardrobe and storage doors as he went.

Ruby shook her head. “Did yours say anything about you being gone?”

He shrugged. “I sometimes stay at Dragan’s so as long as I touch base with my mom or Katie, no one really asks questions.”

“A-and your dad?”

Ruby watched him, not sure if it was a topic to bring up. Colton stopped and met her stare. “We don’t really talk like that.” He cleared his throat. “How’s your mom doing?”

Ruby sighed, grabbing a stuffed animal from the kid’s section to hold while they made their way through the mini desks and bunk beds.

“She’s okay. It sounds like the treatments are working, but not very fast. She’ll probably need at least one more three-month cycle of chemo after this, if not two or three. We’ll know more in about a month.” Ruby fingered some bed spreads. She’d always wanted a family, and while she had started to feel the biological clock pressure a tad over the last year, it just now hit her how badly she wanted her kids to have a grandma. Her hand reached out to stabilize herself against a large wire bin filled with cute throw pillows.

47

“Ruby? You okay?” Colton watched her stumble, her breathing quicken. He tried to keep his voice strong, his hand firm but gentle on her arm. She nodded, but he didn’t let go. He could only imagine what it would be like for her to watch her mom in so much pain, and not knowing how it would end.

Colton knelt to her eye level. “I know this is hard, I know this is scary. But if there’s one thing I know about the Delacey women, it’s that you guys are fighters. You’re motherfucking bulls who don’t stop until they get what they want. Your mom will be okay. And either way, you will be, too. That doesn’t negate or invalidate how hard this is. And I’ll always be there for you, in any way I possibly can.” He knew it sounded a bit corny, but it was inspired by something his coach had told him shortly after Colton learned he would never play football again. And as much as that hurt to hear, it had been helpful for him. Maybe it would be for her.

“Even if I have to stay in Oak Valley?” It came as a whisper, and Colton hesitated. He’d known with her mom being so sick it was a possibility, but facing it hit him square in the chest.

But he nodded. “Oak Valley is home. So even if I get out and you stay, I’ll be back. I promise.”

Colton pulled her into a tight hug, unable to tell her about the job offer. Not now. Now wasn’t right. He flexed his chest, his arms, trying to be a rock she could hold onto during the storm. Her arms snaked under his coat and around his waist, and she breathed deeply against him. He buried his face in her hair, relishing how the curls kissed his cheeks and surrounded him in brightness. She didn’t cry, but he felt a few tears release on his soft tee. He rubbed her back with one hand and held her head with the other, his fingers slowly massaging her temple. He wanted to release every ounce of worry and tension she held. Ruby relaxed into him, and he held her for as long as he could, wanting to remember the way she fit him. Wanting her to feel that no matter what happened, everything would be okay so long as he was there.

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