Chapter 12 #2
Ruby stares out at the water with a far-off look in her eyes, periodically sipping on her wine.
“It’s peaceful out here,” she says. “It’s almost possible to believe the world has just…
stopped… even with the tide still moving.
Like maybe if I stand still long enough, everything will start to make sense. ”
“Sounds like a song.”
“Yeah. I guess it could be.”
She empties her glass, staring into it as if she might be able to manifest a refill. “I don’t know what to do about the lawsuit.”
I reach out and take her hand in mine, skating my thumb along her palm. “What are your instincts telling you?”
“To fight like hell.”
“So, fight. I’ve never known you to back down from a challenge.”
“But is it worth it?” She sighs. “It’s over, Liam. I have my freedom. What good can come from dredging up all the years of control and abuse?”
“Accountability. If you settle, there’s a chance they’ll continue to do the same to other artists.”
“What if I lose?”
“Then you’ll go down swinging. You have to know when to fight for yourself. If that sets a precedent for other people to come forward, you’ve done more than enough. Even if you lose.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
I glance down at where our hands are joined and thread my fingers through hers, longing for more than just this simple touch. “Why didn’t you tell me? All those years you were being mistreated, you never said a word.”
“There’s nothing you could’ve done, so there was no need to burden you with my issues.”
I tilt her chin to look into my eyes. “You’re never a burden. You could’ve leaned on me.”
She glances up at me through thick lashes, a grateful smile on her face. “I know. You’ve always been my rock,” she murmurs. “Do you know that?”
I shake my head.
“For the last ten years, even through the worst of it, I knew I could count on you. One call and you’d come running.”
“But you never called.”
“I never felt like I needed to. It was enough to just know you were here.”
My chest tightens as she continues to speak.
“I’m proud of the man you’ve become. Stepping up for Aiden the way you have, working your ass off to provide a good life for him. He’s a lucky kid.”
I swallow around the lump in my throat and brush a lock of golden waves away from her face.
The air grows thick and heavy the longer I gaze into those fathomless eyes, seeing the truth reflected at me.
I’ve never had someone tell me they’re proud of me.
To hear it come from Ruby’s lips is arresting.
“You don’t know what that means to me.”
“I meant every word,” she says. “You’re a good man, Liam Murphy.”
It takes every bit of my self-control not to kiss her—to let the moment exist for what it is and not complicate whatever this thing is between us. It’s already gone so far past complicated that we’ve circled back around. If only she knew how long I’ve wanted her.
It’s best not to go down that road. There’s no universe that exists where Ruby and I would work. Someday she’s going to leave, and she’ll take my heart with her. The thought has the power to break me if I settle on it.
Ruby
After another round of hide-and-seek and several messy s'mores, Ivy offers to take Aiden back to the ranch for a sleepover. With some not-so-subtle puppy dog eyes aimed at his dad, Liam agrees to let him go.
Maggie stands and dusts off her skirt. “We have to head over to the Inn. Mama Lucy said Bear’s been hanging around the gazebo again, so I’m gonna drop off some snacks.”
Curiosity getting the better of me, I ask, “Who’s bear?”
“My beautiful and somewhat insane wife has befriended a raccoon,” Miles says.
“Why the name Bear?”
“He likes to eat gummy bears,” Maggie says.
“You’re joking.”
She scrolls through her phone and pulls up a photo. Sure enough, there’s a real-life fluffy raccoon holding a snack-sized bag of gummy bears, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say the little creature was actually smiling.
“Awww. He’s cute.”
“He’s feral,” Miles counters.
Maggie backhands him. “Don’t talk about him like that. He’s sweet.”
Max yips at her feet like he’s offended, and Maggie crouches to give him pets. “Don’t worry, you’re still the best boy in the world, Max.”
Miles chuckles and buries his face against her neck. “I can be the best boy too, if it’ll get me head scratches.”
“You’re ridiculous,” she says, threading her fingers through his.
They say their goodbyes, leaving the six of us around the fire: Cara and Dean, Paige and Cade, and Liam and me.
The fire isn’t burning as brightly now, and I shiver as the breeze coming off the lake hits me just right.
Liam takes off his plaid flannel and drapes it over my shoulders, giving me a tentative squeeze.
When his hand skates up the length of my spine and back down, I shiver again, but not from the cold.
It comes to a stop at the small of my back and stays there, and my body responds like a marshmallow over a fire, melting into him. I lay my head on his shoulder and soak in his warmth, hoping like hell I won't get burned.
“It’s almost too quiet without the kids,” Cade says.
“And Miles,” Paige says. “He’s basically three toddlers in a trench coat.”
Cara snorts into her wine and dissolves into a fit of giggles, leaning into Dean as he smiles down at her. She’s more relaxed than I’ve ever seen her, but that might have something to do with the alcohol.
Paige turns to me. “You brought your guitar. Why don’t you play something for us?”
“I don’t know…”
Liam plucks the wine glass from my hand and places the guitar across my lap instead. “Do it for me.”
After slipping my arms into the sleeves of his shirt, I finger the chords, gravitating toward the one song that’s always been my comfort. My heart speeds up as I sing, and each word is like a long-held confession.
I feel his gaze on me, but I can’t bring myself to look his way. I close my eyes and pretend I’m lost in the song, when I’m really trying not to let myself get lost in him. The effort is in vain; for better or worse, I’ve been losing myself to this man for years.
Liam starts to sing along, his voice is a quiet rumble more than anything. It’s deeper now, more resonant than it was all those years ago. A small smile forms on my lips as we sing the bridge, and the entire world around us disappears. It’s just me, Liam, and our song floating out across the lake.
When it ends, there’s a quiet round of applause.
“I forgot you could sing,” I say.
“I never forgot a damn thing about you,” he says, his voice a quiet rasp near my ear.
I draw in a sharp breath. His gaze dips to my lips, and I lean in, silently pleading with him to kiss me. To finally lay waste to this last barrier between us and give in to what I know we both want.
My stomach sinks as he looks away and pinches his eyes shut, almost like it pains him to reject me. It couldn’t possibly hurt as much as being on the receiving end.
After everything that happened the other day, he’s still denying this thing between us. I won't lie and say it doesn’t hurt, but a girl can only take so much rejection before she snaps, and I’m already wound tighter than a guitar string.
“Think I’m ready to call it a night.”
He nods. “Let’s go home.”
I love when he calls it home like it’s ours to share, but it’s not, and I can’t let myself believe it ever will be.