Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
RUBY
I have regret.
Lots of it.
And it’s been less than twenty-four hours.
I blow out my next breath.
There were so many things I should have said last night. Rules we should have set once he agreed to move in.
But this is Declan. Despite my feelings toward him, he’s a grown man. My family trusts him, he will more than likely be okay with any rules I set, and I’m confident that this is all going to be fine.
It has to be.
I’m going to have to play nice.
I’m going to have to learn to relax.
I’m going to need advice.
The next girls’ night couldn’t have come at a better time.
Since I’m a little late, I park in front of Brooke’s house and jog up the sidewalk. I don’t bother knocking as I blaze through the door.
The girls are sitting in the living room with multiple trays of snacks on the coffee table and each of them with a mimosa in hand.
All eyes float to me in the doorway.
“I might have done something stupid,” I say, finally closing the door, shrugging off my jacket, and joining the gathering.
Sure, I could have texted them about this all day long, but I needed to be face-to-face.
“Oh, this will be good,” Brooke says, handing me her drink. “Take this. I’ll make another.”
I happily take the glass and sip as I try to process everything that’s happened since last night.
Brooke returns from the kitchen, and guides me to a place to sit, since I’d just been standing in the middle of the room.
“Okay, go.”
“I … wow, I never thought this would be something to come out of my mouth, but Declan is moving in with me.”
A collective gasp fills the room.
“And Susie, of course.”
“How did this … what did … are you two?” Brooke pauses to take a breath. “Did I miss something?”
My head jerks back like she slapped me. “What? No—God no. It’s a long story.”
“Good thing we have time.” Grace grins and leans back, popping a piece of cheese into her mouth.
It takes me a moment to remember that neither of them were at Sunday breakfast.
“It’s crazy, I know, but Logan is basically kicking him out of the rental.”
“You used to want that. What changed?” Grace asks.
“Yeah, the other morning you were pretty dead set against this idea,” Shay reminds me.
“Max and Susie changed that.”
And the money idea, but I’ve never shared that part of my life with them, so they have no idea it’s even a thing.
No one speaks, and I know they are waiting for me to elaborate. I know I shouldn’t rearrange my entire life for my child’s feelings, but I’d do anything for him and that includes letting the enemy move into my basement.
“It’s not a secret that the friendship the two of them have formed has been amazing for Max. Turns out, Declan feels the same way for Susie.” I shrug. “Neither of us wanted to let them down.”
“Oh, that’s cute. They truly are little besties, huh?” Tears form in Shay’s eyes.
I nod. “I’m a little envious of it. I grew up without someone like that. I had friends, sure, but a best friend wasn’t in the cards for me. Knowing I was taking that from him made me rethink everything. So, when Declan came home from boys’ night last night, I offered the basement to him.”
“And he was fine with it?” Quinn asks.
“He … would also do anything for his daughter, so yeah, he’s in.”
“I bet the kids were happy.”
I smile, thinking about the hug Max gave me after I explained everything this morning. He has not stopped smiling since.
Then when I walked him to Declan’s house before I came here, both kids immediately started planning movie nights every night.
That’s obviously not happening every night, but there will be lots of them.
“Yeah, I can suck it up for him. It’s only a few months.”
“Couldn’t Declan just buy a place for three months?” Sadie asks. “I know he mentioned looking for other places to rent, but buying a place wouldn’t be out of the question, right?”
“That’s a complete waste of money, even for one who has it.” Grace smiles. “But I see what you mean.”
The thought crossed my mind as well, but there is a reason he’s smart with his money, and his financial choices are none of my business.
“Is he paying rent?” Brooke asks.
“Yes, he will be once I decide how much.”
I figured that since I don’t have a mortgage or rent myself, I’ll just have him split bills with me and then add on an amount for wear and tear.
“Good.”
Shay grins. “Soooo, you’re doing something that a friend would do and helping him out.”
“We are not friends.” I tilt my drink to her. “Just enemies who now happen to be roommates.”
“Eh,” Sadie volleys her head. “Is it still enemies when you are the only one who thinks that?”
“Declan knows we are enemies.”
“I think Declan has no idea why you don’t like him and just goes with it so he doesn’t piss you off more.”
“And why don’t you like him? Have you ever actually told us?” Grace asks.
I take another sip and then shrug. “I have my reasons.”
“And they are …” Sadie encourages me to go on.
“I was always second-best to him in school while growing up, and then he moved back to Lovers the same week as me, which is weird in itself, but when he came back it was all, oh, what a good dad and he’s so successful and his daughter is so lucky because he’s so amazing and oooh, he’s so hot. Blah, blah.”
The girls just stare at me.
“So … you don’t like him because everyone else loves him.”
I grab a cracker from the tray and lean back.
“I mean, it’s a little more than that.”
“Okay …”
The room fills with silence again and I can’t stand it.
“I’ve done things to be proud of, too.” I toss my hands up in frustration. “I brought Max back here, and I have my business, and I’m … a good mom. I—”
“You’re an amazing mom, Ruby,” Shay cuts in. “I hope to be like you when it’s my turn.”
“Me too,” Sadie says and reaches for my hand, squeezing it.
“I could never balance my life the way you do with a kid and a job. Alone. It’s impressive,” Brooke adds while Quinn and Grace nod.
“They’re all right, Ruby.”
“Well … I …” My eyes well with tears. “Thank you. I guess it’s just nice to hear it. When we were in Boston, Colt’s family constantly reminded me of the things I did wrong. I guess it’s just nice to hear that I’m doing something right. Something good.”
“Do the boys not say anything?” Quinn asks.
“My brothers?”
“Yes.”
“No. I mean, they are busy, and they help me out so much as it is.”
“Well, that’s not okay. I’m going to—”
“No, no, please don’t say anything to any of them,” I say quickly, my gaze meeting Quinn’s, Sadie’s, and Shay’s. “Please. I don’t really talk about this stuff with them, so it would be weird for me.”
“Do they know how Colt’s family treated you?” Shay asks.
I shake my head. “I never talked about it because, despite all of it, I only really cared how Colt treated me, which was great. But it was still hard not to let the comments get to me. I was always doing my best, but it was never enough.”
I shrug and then shake my head, standing to get a refill on my drink. “But let’s change the subject from my sad past to the bright future.”
The girls all say here, here, and then Brooke adds, “to living with Declan.”
And my smile drops.
Shit. I’d already forgotten that part.