Chapter One Hundred Four
Xavier
The Next Day
I’m halfway across the job site when my phone starts vibrating in my pocket. I almost ignore it. We’re behind schedule, one of the guys is asking me about measurements, and my head is already pounding from the disaster of a day. And the day only started five minutes ago.
Then I see Jake’s name. My gut tightens. I answer fast, “Hey.”
“Where are you?”
I stop in mid-step. Construction site sounds disappear as all I hear is the thumping of blood in my ears. “At work.”
“You need to get to the hospital.”
Every muscle in my body locks as the ground lurches up toward me. “Why?”
There’s the briefest pause. Then…. “Ruby was attacked last tonight.”
The world narrows instantly. “What?”
“She’s conscious,” Jake says. “But she’s got a head injury.”
I can’t process the words. Head injury. Attacked. Ruby. “Where?”
“At her house. Someone hit her from behind.”
A dangerous heat spreads through my chest so fast it makes me dizzy. “Which hospital?”
Jake tells me.
“I’m on my way.” I’m already moving before the call fully ends.
One of the crew yells something as I cross the lot toward my truck. I ignore him. The drive is a blur of clenched fists and red lights. Someone hit her. Put their hands on her.
Because of those damn notes. Because of the messages telling her to stay away from me.
Because whoever’s been stalking her decided scaring her wasn’t enough anymore.
The steering wheel creaks under my grip. I should’ve pushed harder last night. Should’ve stayed. Should’ve ignored every stubborn thing she said and made sure she wasn’t alone.
But instead, I left her there.
The thought twists hard in my chest. The hospital waiting room smells like antiseptic and burnt coffee when I walk through the doors.
Jake is leaning against the wall near the front doors. His eyes lift. “You got here fast.”
“Where is she?”
He tips his head toward the hallway. “Room 9.”
I start walking.
Jake catches my arm before I get two steps. “She’s got a concussion.”
The words hit like a brick to the chest. “She gonna be okay?”
“Yeah,” he says. But his expression stays tight. “She’s pretty shaken up.”
I nod once and pull away from him. Bella and Emily are sitting beside the bed when I walk into the room.
Ruby turns her head at the sound of the door. The bruise along her temple hits me first. Darkening skin. Swelling. A white bandage near her hairline.
Something vicious flashes through my chest so hard it steals my breath. “Hey,” I say roughly.
“Hey.”
Bella and Emily glance between us. Bella stands first. “We’ll go grab coffee.”
“Yell if you need anything,” Emily says.
They slip out, shutting the door behind them. And it’s just us.
Ruby’s fingers fidget restlessly with the edge of the hospital blanket. I step closer to the bed. “Jake said someone hit you.”
“Yeah.” The understatement makes my jaw tighten. “There was another note too.”
Of course there was. “What’d it say?”
She hesitates before answering. “You were warned. Stay away from him.”
Anger crawls instantly up my spine. “Great. Sounds about right.”
Her eyes flick toward me. “You’re not surprised.”
“No.” I pace the floor. “I’m gonna figure out which one of those assholes did this.”
“Xavier–”
“Greg or Brent,” I continue. “It has to be one of them.” Her expression tightens, but I continue, “They’ve both been circling you for weeks.”
“Xavier.”
“They make creepy comments every time they see you.”
“Xavier.”
I stop and look at her. “What?”
“You’re angry.”
“No shit.” The words come out sharper than I mean them to. I drag a hand through my hair. “I’m also worried.”
Something shifts briefly in her expression at that. But it disappears just as fast. “You don’t need to worry.”
The sentence lands harder than it should. “What?”
Her gaze drops to the blanket before lifting back to mine. “You heard what I said earlier.”
My chest constricts. “Ruby–”
“Nothing’s changed.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Yes, it is.” Her voice stays frustratingly calm. Like she already settled this in her head hours ago. “I’m not your responsibility.”
“I never said you were.”
“You didn’t have to.” She adjusts against the pillow and winces.
My stomach twists hard at the sight.
“This thing between us was never supposed to be serious,” she says.
“That was before someone started throwing rocks through your windows.”
“And before someone started leaving notes about you.” Her eyes hold mine. “You’re not the one who got hit tonight.” She waves her hand in frustration. “Last night. Whatever.”
Guilt punches straight through my chest. Because she’s right. She was alone. Bleeding in the grass and calling Jake instead of me. And I can’t stop thinking about it.
“That doesn’t mean I’m just gonna walk away.”
“It does if we stick to the agreement we made.”
The words settle heavily between us. No strings. No expectations. Just fun. Every argument she’s making now sounds painfully familiar because they all came from me first.
Her voice softens. “I meant what I said earlier.”
My chest tightens again. “Ruby–”
“I’m not yours to worry about. I don’t want to be yours to worry about.”
The words hit like a punch. Because the truth is, I do worry about her. Way too much for someone who’s supposed to be ‘just a friend.’
But the second I try to force the words into something bigger, everything locks up. Commitment. Relationships. Promises. Every example I’ve ever had of those things ended badly.
My mom walked out and never came back. What am I supposed to do with that? Moms don’t leave their kids behind and never come back. And people who’re worth fighting for have people that stick around to help them through it. That’s not my story.
And standing here now, staring at Ruby, bruised and exhausted in a hospital bed, makes me want to yank my hair out. Scream until my throat bleeds. No matter what I do, it’s not enough. I can’t protect her. I don’t know how to give her what she deserves.
Ruby watches the silence stretch between us. Then she gives a small nod. “See?” Her voice is gentle now. “That’s what I thought.”
And that hurts worse than if she’d screamed at me.