Chapter 31
Goodbye For Now
? If it weren’t for the wind - Ella Langley
Ruby
The morning of my departure, Liam finds me in the kitchen staring out the window at the grove, clutching a cup of coffee to my chest. He wraps his arms around me from behind and rests his chin on my shoulder. “I hate that I have to go to work. I’m not ready to say goodbye yet.”
I close my eyes and lean into his embrace. “Maybe I should just stay.”
“We’ve already delayed it by two days, and the studio is booked. You have to go be Ruby Lynn Hayes again. The sooner you go, the sooner you can come back to us and be just my Ruby again.”
A quiet giggle escapes me. “I like the sound of that.”
“Mmmmm. Me too.”
He cradles my cheek and brings his lips to mine. It’s soft, reverent, and achingly sweet. It’s goodbye.
I turn and deepen the kiss, letting all of my longing pour into him. “I’ll be back soon. I promise.”
“Not soon enough.” His thumb glides along my jawline in a delicate touch, and for the first time since he entered the kitchen, I dare to look into his eyes. I hadn’t wanted to for fear that I might fall apart if I did, but I can’t leave without truly looking at him.
Liam’s eyes have always betrayed him, no matter how hard he tries to keep his emotions hidden. They’re full of sadness now, reflecting my own agony back at me. My brows knit together as I fight to suppress the tears burning behind my irises.
“I love you,” I murmur. The words are raspy as I lose the battle against the growing ache in my chest. The logical part of me—the part that knows this separation is temporary—is nowhere to be found.
“I love you so much, baby. I’ll be counting down the days.” He kisses my forehead one last time, pausing to study me.
“Go. You’ll be late for work if you linger any longer.
“Call me when you get to Nashville.”
“I will. Please be safe.”
“Always.”
I’ve learned to temper the fear that arises every time he leaves for work, but this is different. I won’t be here when he comes home in the morning, and the realization stings. I watch his back as he leaves.
The first tear cascades down my cheek.
Summoning a modicum of strength, I dump the rest of my coffee in the sink and trail to the bedroom to change my clothes and grab the suitcases I packed the night before. I’m not taking everything with me. Just enough to get me by for a few weeks.
When I return, Aiden and Connor are waiting for me on the front porch. I crouch down in front of Aiden, doing my best to keep the tears at bay. I’ve been a blubbering mess all morning, so it’s a true test of my willpower.
“You’re really leaving?” Aiden’s voice is sullen and quiet.
I release a slow breath to steady myself. “Just for a little while. I have to get back to work. But I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Promise?” He holds up his pinky with a hopeful expression, and my heart squeezes. I never expected to get so attached to Aiden, but he burrowed his way into my heart much the same way Liam did. I was hopeless from the moment those green eyes met mine.
I link my finger with his and smile. “Pinky promise. Besides, I can’t miss your birthday. You only turn ten once!”
He beams at me. “It’s gonna be the best birthday ever!”
I ruffle his hair and force a smile, still fighting against the onslaught of sadness threatening to pull me under.
Doing absolutely nothing to help the situation, Aiden pushes his favorite plush dinosaur against my chest. “Take him with you.”
“Oh, Aiden. I can’t take Rex. He needs you.”
“I have dad. You’re gonna be lonely.”
I give him a wobbly smile and pull him in for a tight hug. “This is the greatest gift anyone's ever given me. I’ll keep him safe and bring him right back to you, ok?”
Aiden kisses my cheek, and I tilt my head to the sky to blink back tears, catching sight of a bemused Connor. I lift my hand, flipping him the bird behind Aiden’s back.
The moment I slide behind the wheel of my truck, the dam breaks right along with my heart.
I sob into Aiden’s dinosaur before thinking better of it.
I’m not sure this old thing will hold up against a downpour of tears.
Rex becomes my passenger princess as I rummage through the backseat to find the squished-up box of tissues that’s been back there for the better part of a decade.
I take a few deep breaths and clean myself up. I’ll need to hold it together a little while longer. I’ve never been good at farewells; I’m far too sentimental.
After a quick stop off at the ranch to say goodbye to my family, and another cry-fest thanks to the friendship bracelet Emmy Lou gave me, I join Nico in the SUV and we hit the road.
I stare at the blurring landscape out the window, watching the Oak Ridge water tower disappear in my rearview. I’m gonna miss this little life we’ve started building, but that’s all the more reason to hurry up and record the single. The sooner it’s finished, the sooner I can come back to my guys.