Chapter 22 Ruby
TWENTY-TWO
RUBY
“Stupid fucking boys,” I murmured as I stormed into my room.
“Stupid fucking brother,” I hissed as I pulled my suitcase out from beneath my bag.
“Stupid fucking cartel,” I growled as I ripped open the drawers of my dresser.
I stuffed my bag full of all my clothes.
I gathered my toiletries as hot tears of anger poured down my cheeks.
Diego had no right to be such a fucking asshole.
He had no right to act as if everything that we shared the last couple of weeks meant absolutely nothing.
Tears burned the rims of my eyes before they trickled down my cheeks and found their death against my bosom.
I brushed them away and continued to pack up my things, and when I knew I had everything I rummaged through my purse until my hands landed on my keys.
Then, I headed out to the fucking van.
I didn’t have class for another hour or so, but I couldn't stay here a second longer. I refused. I didn’t want to be around the bullshit, the drama, the childish angst, and anguish that came with fully grown men who didn’t know how to operate with their bigger head instead of their smaller one.
But as I shoved my things into the backseat, my brother finally spoke to me for the first time in days.
“What the hell are you doing?” he asked.
I slammed the van door closed. “Leaving.”
He grabbed my arm. “The hell you are.”
I ripped myself out of his grasp. “I have class.”
He grabbed my arm again. “Yeah, and class doesn’t require all of your shit.”
I tugged to get out of his hold. “Let go of me.”
He pulled me closer to him. “Not until you start thinking like an adult instead of a spoiled little brat.”
I spat in his face, literally. “You want to call me a brat, I’ll start acting like one.”
He released me and started wiping at his face. “What the fuck, Ruby? That’s nasty as hell!”
“Just like you!”
I blazed a trail to the driver’s seat and pulled the door open.
I managed to scramble behind the wheel of the car before I closed the door, and I locked it just before Puck got his hands on it.
He tugged at the car door, growling and stomping his feet around like a damn toddler.
And after he slammed his fists into the metal door, his angry eyes found mine.
“This is what I get for trying to say I’m fucking sorry? I get my sister rushing off without protection to get herself killed by a cartel we haven’t heard from in days? Are you fucking kidding me right now, Roo!?”
He punched the car door so hard it dented in toward me and I yelped.
Wait, did he just apologize?
I used the crank to roll down the window a bit. “What did you just say?”
He cradled his fist as he cursed beneath his breath. “I just came out here to catch you before class so I could tell you how sorry I am for acting like a douchebag.”
I narrowed my eyes softly. “Go on.”
He sighed and leaned against the van. “You were right, I was being an overprotective asshole. And I certainly shouldn’t have shoved you the way I did. Are you okay? How hard did you hit your head?”
I snickered. “You shove like a little girl. The wound was superficial.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank fuck.”
I tilted my head. “You were worried about me?”
His eyes snapped up to mine. “Of course I was fucking worried. You’re my sister, Roo. I’m always worried about you.”
I shook my head. “But why? It’s not your responsibility.”
He chuckled and shook his own head. “You can think that all you want, but you’re my little sister. My Little RooRoo. We grew up together. We’re best friends. You’re my fucking twin, for crying out loud. We’re connected, you and me. And I’m always—always—going to worry about you.”
I sighed. “I hate it when people worry about me.”
He chuckled. “Sounds like a personal problem.”
I shot him a look before a grin crept across my face. “That was a good line, wasn’t it?”
He snorted. “Pretty aptly used, yes. I give you ultimate kudos for it.”
We giggled together for a bit before he turned to face me. “So, why are you really running? Is it because of me?”
I sighed and leaned against the musty seat. “No. I just—got into a fight with Diego.”
He crooked an eyebrow. “Did he hurt you? Because you know I’d take great joy in killing him if he’s hurt you.”
I snickered. “I know you would, but it’s just…a disagreement more than anything else. You know, like you and me.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
I laughed softly. “About the argument? Well, it’s over you and what happened, if you can believe it.”
“Roll your window down more.”
I did as he asked. “What's up?”
Then, he reached his hand through the window and took my own. “Would you like me to talk to Diego for you?”
“No,” I said quickly. “It’s not your fight to have.”
“I mean, I do need to smooth things over with him anyway. Stone’s been on my ass about doing it for days now.”
I squeezed his hand. “Thanks for being a good brother, even when I hate it.”
He barked with laughter. “I’m never going to hear those words again, am I?”
I smirked. “Only if I’m dying.”
He pinned me with a look. “Which will never happen. I go before you go, that’s the natural order of things. Got it?”
I nodded. “Got it.”
Then, he released my hand. “Are you at least up for the company while you’re in class? Stone’s orders are for everyone to be accompanied, no matter where they go.”
“You really want to sit in a three-hour nursing class with me?”
He walked around and hopped into the passenger’s seat. “If it keeps you safe, I don’t give a shit if it’s a three-hour class on Barney the dinosaur.”
I cranked the engine. “All right, then. Let’s go.”
As we drove to campus, I took the long way so I could clear my thoughts.
Part of me was upset with myself for allowing my emotions to get so out of control with Diego.
I should have realized it was nothing more than stress relief for him.
I mean, all we did was fool around a few times.
It wasn’t like we’d been on a proper date or anything.
I cursed myself silently as Puck and I drove through our favorite burger place to get some food.
And as we headed to campus, I realized why I jumped the gun with Diego.
I was excited about having a future past Blake.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Puck asked.
I bit into my burger as I pulled into a parking space on campus. “Just thinking.”
“About…?”
I parked the van and turned off the engine. “I always get so excited about the idea of a new relationship, you know? I get excited and I let my emotions get the best of me and then they run unchecked, and it always leads me here. Losing them anyway, despite what my intentions were.”
“Roo, you can’t blame yourself for—”
I unbuckled my seatbelt and faced him. “After I lost Blake? I never thought I’d do this again.
I never thought I’d let someone in or feel anything for another man so long as I lived.
Yet somehow, I’m always the person that falls first for some guy that will bat his eyelashes in my general direction without even realizing that the guy wants only one thing, you know? ”
“And that’s really what you think about Diego?”
I shoved the rest of the burger into my mouth. “I need to go get set up for class.”
“Want me to come in with you?”
I shook my head. “Nah, I’m good. I can handle a ten-foot walk."
He smiled at me with food in his mouth. “You got it.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Gross.”
“I’ll be back to take you home once school’s over,” he teased.
“Take your onion breath and get out of here.”
“Love you, too!” he laughed.
I tried tossing him the keys, but Puck passed them back.
“Just in case this church runs long. Don’t want you stranded,” he explained.
I decided it wasn’t worth trying to sort all that out before I headed inside.
I pocketed the keys, and took a walk around the inside of the building.
I needed to clear my head of all things before walking into class, and I was determined to do just that.
But with every step I took, the hairs on the nape of my neck stood on end.
Before the nervous electricity trickled down my arms.
I’m being watched.
I looked around and saw some students pouring out of a couple of classrooms, so I brushed off the feeling.
I was being paranoid more than anything else, and besides, it wasn’t as if I wasn’t armed or anything.
I reached down against my thigh and fingered my gun through the skirt of my dress.
I reassured myself that I knew how to handle whatever scenario was thrown my way.
And after the students were done piling out of class, I scooted inside and made my way to the back corner.
Where I always sat.
“Hey there, Ruby!”
Jezebel sat down beside me and sighed. “You are never going to believe the day I’ve had.
First, I lost my keys, of all things. My keys!
I couldn’t run any of my errands today! Then, the babysitter called out sick so I had to find a late-night daycare that could take them, which meant more money that I didn’t have out of my pocket.
Then, I got a flat tire coming here, which took me almost half an hour to change.
And now, I’m half expecting the roof to fall down on top of my head and—hey, you there? ”
“Hmm?” I asked.
She furrowed her brow. “You’re not listening. You always listen.”
I shrugged. “Got a lot on my mind.”
“Well, for once I’m not the one with drama. So, spill. How can I help?”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s nothing. It’s just…some guy, you know?”
She wiggled her eyebrows. “Oo-OO-oo! Sounds like someone’s got a crush.”
I snickered as I tried to bury my grin. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
She pointed at me. “I know that look. I see that little smile. You got it bad, don’t you?”
I groaned. “Can we just stop? I really don’t want to talk about this?”
She held up her hands. “Fine, fine, I won’t push.
But I know a thing or two after being married twice and having two kids by two different guys, so let me learn you some wisdom really quickly.
Men never know what they want. Men want things to be perfect because they sense struggle as something that’s weak.
And if they perceive the relationship as weak, they won’t pursue it.
Men don’t like feeling weak, ever. Especially in the presence of their women. ”
I furrowed my brow. “Actually, that makes a lot of sense.”
Jezebel reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “Whatever it is, give him some time. Men always need more time to pull their heads out of their smelly little assholes. Take some time away, calm down, get some rest, and then try again. Okay?”
If only it were that simple. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
She giggled. “Anytime. Oh! The professor’s here. Time to zip the lip.”
And as our professor got her notes up on the projector screen, I formulated a plan in my mind.
A plan to get Diego back, no matter the cost.