Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
RUBY
One of my favorite things about moving back to Lovers has been watching the relationship between Max and my brothers grow.
With Luca, he’s learning how to build and repair things.
With Hudson, he’s learned how to skate on ice and pretty much any other kind of hockey move Hudson is willing to teach.
With Miles, the brother who was always the first to play with me as a kid, Max has learned how to change a tire, change the oil in multiple car models, and to slow down in the day to day.
That last one still blows my mind. Miles used to be all about structure, but since he fell in love with Quinn, he’s all about experiences and not taking life too seriously.
To be honest, I think all of my brothers have shown him this in one way or another.
So, when all three of them showed up at my door at seven in the morning to steal Max away for a lake day, I couldn't say no. Not that I was planning to.
I have a to-do list a mile long.
As soon as they left, I started from the top of my checklist.
Food. Our house needs food.
I give myself twenty minutes to get in and out of the grocery store, but with the way Mrs. Whittaker is looking at me, I don’t think it’s going to happen.
“Hi there, Ruby.” She waves at me and then blocks my shopping cart with her own. “I can’t tell you enough how delightful it is to have you back in Lovers. We all missed you while you were gone.”
She has told me this every time she’s seen me in the last year.
Either she wants me to really know this, she forgot that she told me, or she’s hoping that by bringing it up again, I’ll reveal the true reason I left in the first place. You know, so she can be the first to spread the news.
Still, this is Mrs. Whittaker. A nosey old woman who is sweeter than a jar full of sugar. I’ve never been anything but kind, despite her motives for repeating herself to me.
“Thank you, Mrs. Whittaker. I appreciate hearing that.”
“Don’t leave us again, okay?”
I smile and nod, “If I have a say in it, I won’t.”
“Wonderful. Enjoy your afternoon.”
She pushes her cart down the aisle and disappears around the corner.
Short and sweet. Just how I like it.
Lovers is a small town, so I know they all know why I left after Max was born, but they don’t know the whole story, which is why most of them believe I left solely for financial reasons.
Yes, I had a choice back then, but it was different.
I was young and scared.
I also thought I was in love.
When Max was born, his father didn’t live here.
His family vacationed at Lovers Lodge multiple times a year, but it wasn’t going to be enough for Colter.
I went to Lovers High School; he went to a private school on the East Coast and was set to earn multiple scholarships.
Colter (or his family) moving here didn’t make sense.
So they made me an offer. If I moved to Boston, I’d live with them, they’d pay for me to go to the same private school as Colter, they would hire a nanny to watch Max so we could both graduate as planned, they would pay for me to go to college, and we’d both get to be a part of Max’s life every single day.
Of course, it all came at a price. That family doesn’t just give you something and expect nothing in return.
Being a mom at seventeen is hard, but having someone ask you to leave everything you know in life is harder. But I tried to focus on how it would bring me to moments like the one I’m in now.
I have a degree and started my own graphic design company at twenty, and now I’m living back in my hometown the way I always dreamed I would.
I just wish I didn’t have to stress about money like I have lately.
I’m lucky that my dad is letting me live in his house so that I can save on rent, but I’m still out that money I owe to the Davenports.
God, I cannot wait to have that paid off.
I have to find a way to make some extra income this summer.
My phone rings, bringing me out of the daydream of the past.
I pull it from my purse and grin.
“Hello, this is unusual timing for you.”
The voice on the other end of the line chuckles.
“I had a break in my day and thought I'd call. Is Max around? Can I talk to him?”
I pause my cart to grab some cans off the shelf before I answer Colt’s questions.
His family would have a hernia if they heard Max and I call him anything other than Colter.
“Luca picked him up early this morning to go to the lake. They took Susie with them.”
“Whoa, Luca is taking one for the team and watching two kids?”
“No. Miles and Hudson are there and probably Declan, too.”
He chuckles again.
“You really don’t like this guy, do you? I feel the pain when you have to say his name all the way through the phone.”
“I have my reservations about him, yes. But his kid is cute and extra sweet.”
“I like that Max has a best friend.”
“Me too.”
“Alright, well, when you see him, have him call me. I want to ask him about the last blast. I saw pictures on the website, and I want to ask him about the tug-of-war.”
I halt.
“What pictures?”
“Well, to start, there is one of all the parents lying on the ground with the kids laughing. You’re full on sitting on some guy's lap, but honestly, by his size compared to yours, he probably didn’t notice.”
“Oh, he noticed and so did I. It was horrible.”
“Whoa, hold on, is that Declan?”
“Mmm.”
“I finally have a face to the name. This is great. Let me pull it up again real fast.”
“Why?”
“So I can confirm … yeah, you're right. His face is super annoying.”
I snort. The woman next to me stares for a moment but then keeps walking with a small wave.
I wave back.
“What’s this guy’s last name again?”
“Young. Why?”
“It just sounds familiar.”
“Probably because Max talks about Susie so much. I’m sure her dad’s name comes up.”
He hums on the other end. “Yeah, I guess. So, hey, listen, my dad mentioned that he emailed you last week about work—did you get it?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“And you didn’t reply?”
“No. I did not. He wanted to know how my numbers were this last quarter, and I don’t think it’s any of his business.”
“I’m sure he’s only asking because …”
“Because he wants to make sure I don’t miss a payment to him. I know.”
I missed a payment over the holidays, and they will never, ever forget it.
Like I said, I need to find a way to make extra money this summer. The sooner I pay his parents back, the sooner I’ll never have a reason to see or talk to them again unless it’s for Max.
“I know how he can be. I’m sorry, Ruby.”
How my son’s father came from such a pill of a man is beyond me.
“It’s not your fault. I’m the one who agreed to this.”
“Yeah, I sort of thought they’d let it go once you graduated, though. Lord knows, my family can afford it.”
I thought so, too, but the moment Colt and I announced that we weren’t going to continue dating, it was like a switch flipped. I was now the enemy, and they weren’t going to let me go without making sure I knew it.
“I wish you’d just let me pay it off for you.”
“No,” I say quickly, sorting through the containers of strawberries for a good batch. “If I pay them off, they will know I got the money somewhere else and start asking questions.”
“Well, at that point, you’ll have paid them off and it won’t matter.”
Valid, but not the point.
“I need to do it myself, okay? Letting you pay it off would just prove them right after all these years.”
“Ruby,” he says in a soft tone. “They don’t—”
“They do,” I cut him off.
The first night I was in Boston, I’d heard Colt fighting over me with his parents. They told him that I’d trapped him for his money. I was the youngest gold digger they’d ever met.
It seems I had that reputation going for me no matter where I was.
Lucky me.
“I’ll have Max call you tonight,” I change the subject quickly.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll talk to you later, Ruby.”
“Bye.”
I hang up and drop my phone back into my purse.
When I turn the corner, my cart bumps into another. I freeze.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t … Declan. I thought you went to the lake with my brothers.”
My gaze immediately falls to where his T-shirt hugs his biceps. But I catch myself before I check him out too much, and pull my cart back.
“Hudson offered a few hours free of Susie to get some things done, and I took it.”
I cross my arms. “Same here.”
“And yet we both end up doing the most riveting thing. Grocery shopping. We may as well have just driven together.”
I scoff and head in the opposite direction.
“Come on, Ruby, admit you secretly like me.”
His voice has a deeper tone right now. It always does when the kids aren’t around.
Probably best, since the way he says my name in this tone makes my nipples harden and I’m not proud of it.
Not one bit.
“I do not.”
“As a friend, at least.”
I pause and turn to him. “You are friends with my brothers— that’s it. I just deal with it like a mature adult would.”
His head volleys.
“Well, I wouldn't say—”
“Do not finish that sentence.”
He chuckles, which in turn leads me to roll my eyes.
Are my choices the most mature? Not exactly. But being near him brings out this side of me, and it’s uncontrollable. And I’m a little on edge from my conversation with Colt.
“Hey, so the kids want another dinner game night rematch,” Declan changes the subject.
“Oh, you two have dinner game nights?” Mrs. Whittaker pops up out of nowhere.
“No, no,” I say quickly at the same time Declan says, “Not that way, no.”
“Oooh.” She shrugs with a grin I have seen more times than I’d like to admit on her face. “It just sounds like you two are playing house.”
“Playing house?” I repeat, mortified.
“How did dinner and a game night become playing house?” Declan crosses his arms and pins the old lady with a look.
It’s actually quite comical how serious he looks right now, but still, I’d like to know the answer as well.
“Oh, well, I …”
“Mm-hmm, this is how rumors get started, Mrs. Whittaker.” Declan shakes his finger at her, and she bows her head, looking a little embarrassed. “Ruby and I don’t need anyone thinking we are more than we are.”
“Which is …” the old lady asks, and I laugh.
She doesn’t even try to hide how nosey she is.
“Nothing,” I answer.
“Friends,” Declan says at the same time.
I snap a glare at him.
“Okay. If you say so.” Mrs. Whittaker pats his shoulder and keeps walking.
What happened to her cart?
“Please don’t tell people we are friends,” I groan.
“Why not? Would it be so bad?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Why do you care, Declan?”
Now it’s his turn to shrug as he pretends to be fascinated with the marshmallows on the shelf in front of him.
“I … um, I think you could be cool,” he finally says.
“Could be?”
He turns to me now with a grin.
“Yes. Could be. I mean, you do think I’m funny.”
“Do I?”
He points at my face. “Well, you are smiling.”
I drop the smile and groan.
“You’re so annoying.” I walk off, but Allie Simmons, the mom to one of the kids who’d been in Max and Susie’s class, stops him.
“Declan, hi!” she says in a tone I can only describe as flirty. “Fancy running into you here.”
It’s a small town, Allie. We have one grocery store.
“Ah, yeah, well, kids got to eat and all that. Thought I’d make Susie her favorite for dinner tonight,” he says. I look over my shoulder; he’s watching me.
Our eyes lock just as Allie says, “Gosh, look at you just mastering this single dad life. What can’t you do?”
I glance away and turn into the next row.
He’s freaking grocery shopping and still winning medals.
Gah.
I finish my list, and by the time I check out, I have an answer for Allie.
You know what Declan Young can’t do?
Convince me to be his friend.