Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Six
Ruby
A Few Days Later
Callahan’s feels too loud at first. Music hums from the speakers. Pool balls crack near the back wall. People laugh over drinks and football highlights.
Normal.
A week ago, I was fighting for my life on my kitchen floor. Now the bartender is arguing with a regular about whether the offensive line is cursed.
The world didn’t stop. It just kept moving.
Bella nudges my shoulder. “You’re dissociating again.”
“I’m people watching.”
“You’ve been staring at the same guy eating mozzarella sticks for two minutes.”
I blink. The guy looks mildly alarmed when our eyes meet. Oops.
Emily smiles from across the table. “This is why we dragged you out.”
A group near the dart boards erupts into cheers. My shoulders tense before my brain catches up. Neither of them comments.
Emily shifts her chair enough that I have a clearer view of the door. The gesture makes my throat tighten. I hate that I notice exits now.
Bella steals another fry. “You going to eat anything?”
“Apparently morning sickness is a liar. Mine lasts all day.”
“That’s rude.”
A laugh slips out before I can stop it. Real. Not forced or polite.
Bella grins. “There she is.”
“Don’t make it weird.”
“Too late.”
Emily smiles into her drink, and some of the knot in my chest loosens. Maybe normal comes back in pieces.
Bella reaches for another fry, then pauses. Her attention shifts past me. “Don’t turn around.”
Emily immediately starts to.
Bella elbows her. “I said don’t.”
“What?” I ask.
“Xavier.”
My pulse stumbles. “He’s here?”
“Came in a few minutes ago.”
I resist the urge to look. “So?”
Bella’s mouth curves slightly. “So every couple of minutes, he looks over here.”
Emily glances toward the bar.
“Subtle,” Bella mutters.
“I was checking.”
“For what?”
Emily looks back at me. “He looked away.”
I shake my head. “You two are ridiculous.”
“Maybe.” Bella takes a sip of her drink. “But every time you laugh, he smiles.”
That stops me. Emotion catches unexpectedly in my throat. Because I asked Xavier for space. And he gave it to me.
No guilt trips. No unexpected visits. No pushing. Even now, he’s across the room instead of beside me. I believe he loves me.
The part I still don’t know how to believe is that he’ll stay.