Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
PRESENT DAY - RUBY
With a name like Ruby, most people assume you’re named for having red hair.
But not me.
I got my name because, after having three boys, my mother finally got a little girl. The doctor told her all throughout her pregnancy it was a boy, but out popped me.
Apparently, she told my dad that I was a rare gem. Add in the fact that I was born in July, and they named me Ruby.
It’s a total coincidence that my hair naturally settled on a strawberry blonde color.
I curl the last strand, wave my hand over it to cool it down before I spray it with hairspray, and then run my hand through all the curls to create a wavy style for the day.
Today is the last day at my son's elementary school. Living in a small town means everyone will find an excuse to celebrate and I mean anything.
Hence, it’s today’s last blast celebration for all the children and they are having a full-blown party with games and food in the parking lot.
Which means if I’m not out of my front door within the next sixty seconds, I’m going to be late.
I grab the tray of Funfetti cupcakes I baked this morning and frosted with white icing off the kitchen marble countertop. The dishwasher still needs to be emptied and the dishes in the sink need to be placed inside it. Then, I nearly trip over Max’s shoes by the front door.
I’ll just go ahead and add clean the kitchen and living room to the list of things that need to be done around the house, and keep my eyes off the grass that clearly needs to be mowed in the front yard.
I got this, though.
The point of moving back to Lovers last year was to take back control of my life. Sure, the life I was living before was easy, but it wasn’t mine, and those who controlled it made sure I knew that every single day I was there.
Living near the elementary school has been a perk in my constantly crazy, busy life.
I turn right at the end of my driveway, glancing at the house next door as I walk by.
Growing up, the Stonewalls lived there. Their kids were older than me and my brothers, so I never interacted with them much, but Mrs. Stonewall was the sweetest after my mother died. I was really young when it happened. Oddly enough, I was the exact age of my son right now.
Eight.
I let out a sigh and pick up the pace.
Sweet ole Mrs. Stonewall doesn’t live there anymore.
Instead, her son is renting the house out to Declan Young.
I wrinkle my nose as flashbacks of growing up and going to school in our small town hit me.
Oh, Ruby, dear, your score was one of the highest. Right under Declan Young.
Lovely, just lovely, Ruby. Your art piece has the second-highest student votes ever. Right after Declan Young.
Just one more point and you would have tied the school record with Declan Young.
Ruby Asher almost knocked Delcan Young out of first place for the school record in the mile.
I roll my eyes at no one. I was always second-best to the town's golden boy.
By default, this made me despise Declan.
It didn’t matter that he was old enough that we were never in the same school at the same time.
Teachers and staff loved to bring up his name anytime they could.
Now, he owns one of the biggest anti-virus software companies in the world and our town is still talking about him.
Until my father invited him to Sunday breakfast and all three of my brothers decided to befriend the enemy last summer, I’d never really spoken to him, so, sure, I probably shouldn't care about this anymore.
But I do because this town has made it impossible to move on.
I’m twenty-five now.
It’s annoying.
“Ruby!” One of the PTA moms, Sandy, calls me over as I reach the parking lot where the last blast games are being held.
I smile, thankful that the people of Lovers welcomed me back after so many years, despite the rumors that filtered through town while I was away, and unfortunately, still do.
I’ve been invited to join committees at the school, locals talk to me as if I never left, and I'm lucky enough that my three older brothers have all fallen in love over the last two years, so I now have what I feel like are sisters. Considering they are all engaged now, it’s basically a done deal.
Something much, much needed in my life.
I didn’t really have friends back in Boston. Which helped in a way. I didn't leave anyone behind, except Colter, Max’s father, and his family.
And good riddance to his parents. They might be Max’s grandparents and treat him like a prince, but to me they were nothing but toxic.
Then again, they never saw me as more than the seventeen-year-old girl whom their son knocked up while on vacation eight years ago.
Max and I moving back here was a choice Colt and I made together.
It was the best one.
We didn’t belong on the East Coast, living the big city life.
I didn’t belong.
“Hi, Sandy,” I say and take a seat, sliding the tray of cupcakes onto the table filled with cookies, cakes, fruit cups, and snack trays.
Then I look out into the school's parking lot and smile.
It might be a silly thing to celebrate, but that’s one of the reasons I love living in a small town.
That and the only things Max and I have to do each day are the things we decide to do.
“Oh, more cupcakes with frosting—the kids will love them,” Sandy says, and I glance over the table once more.
There’s only one other set of cupcakes. They're adorable, too, and look professionally frosted with just the perfect number of sprinkles on each one.
Heck, I sort of want to eat one of those over my own.
“Who else brought cupcakes?” I ask, admiring them.
“Declan. Only he added sprinkles to his to give them more color.”
Ugh.
“He’s such a good dad, making time to bake for his daughter,” she adds and leans over to one of the other moms. “Did you hear that he’s trying to buy out another tech company or something? That man is impressive.”
“And doing it all on his own as a single dad. He’s amazing.”
And that right there is the reason my distaste with Declan resumed the moment I moved back.
The town’s golden boy is even shinier now because he can do all these things as a single dad.
Here I am, a single mom with my own company as well, baking desserts for my kid, too, but that’s okay. I’ll just go fuck off because that’s what’s required of a single mom.
“How lovely.” I force a smile. Then I turn to look out at the students to hide my true feelings.
I’ve been told my facial expressions speak louder than words. It’s something I’m working on.
“Isn’t he dreamy?” Cami Anderson leans in as she sits down. “It was his idea to do the water guns.”
My gaze instantly falls to Declan playing with the kids. There are seven of them spraying him with water, drenching his shirt enough that it sticks to his chest, displaying every hard ridge of his sculpted body and drawing my attention to the full sleeve tattoo on his right arm.
I hate to admit that I like it. I like that it has flowers and trees and that every piece of art somehow comes back to his daughter.
I look to my right and then my left. Every mom around and even a couple of dads are staring at him.
I bite my lip to keep myself from saying something crude.
We are here for the kids, not to drool over one of the fathers. Even if he has a body that belongs on a magazine cover.
I have a grudge against the guy, but I’m not blind to how gorgeous he is.
One might even say sexy, but it won’t be me.
Not out loud.
Suddenly, the laughter of my own child steals my attention. None other than Suzette Young is spraying him with water. We call her Susie, though. She’s the total opposite of her father in every way. She’s also my son's best friend.
She’s the number one reason my son has loved every moment of moving away from his friends to a town he remembered only from family vacations.
You'd think I would have made amends with Declan by now because of our kids, but nope.
I’m an adult. A thriving one, too, but no part of me is ready to cross that bridge. Yet.
I know it’s coming, though. I can't be petty forever.
“I just love that he made time to be here today,” one of the moms says.
Or … can I?
“Mom!” Max runs up to me and I instantly squeal. He’s soaking wet and I know he’s about to come shake his shaggy dark brown hair on me. “Can Susie come over after school?”
Over his shoulder is a blonde girl his height with big blue eyes, grinning at me.
Susie.
My initial instinct is to say yes, but then a six-foot shadow falls over her as her father steps up behind her.
My eyes fall to his tattooed arms and travel upward, taking in his sculpted muscles, the way he stands with such confidence. His ocean-blue eyes shining under his backward hat are focused on me.
My gaze sweeps over his shirt and dark blue jeans and falls to his shoes before I finally return my attention to Max.
“I’m sure her dad has something fun planned for her, it being the last day of school and all. Another night, okay?”
Max lets out an exaggerated sigh but nods.
Guilt hits me immediately.
“Okay, parents!” Principal John says into a megaphone. “It’s time for the traditional challenge against your kids. The tug-of-war!”
Kids start to cheer, and parents slowly rise from their seats.
What’s happening?
This wasn’t a thing when I was a kid.
“Come on, Mom,” Max says with a big smile.
I love his smile, and I love even more that I have seen it every day since he made a friend.
I follow behind him, taking the other parents’ lead.
“Alright, parents, line up opposite your kids. Max, you’re at the front on the kids’ side, so Ruby, that means you’re at the front for the parents and so on,” Principal John clarifies and then starts shouting orders toward another area of the parking lot.
Max gets in line, and more kids do the same. I stand waiting while my son makes silly faces at me. I return them, of course.
“Are we ready?” Principal John asks. I spot Susie behind Max and then freeze. If Susie is behind Max, then that means …
Slowly, I look over my shoulder.