Chapter 10
Ruby
The day has been a crazy one. I would've given anything to stay in bed all day with Austin, but I didn't have that choice.
It's been hair appointments and my duties as a bridesmaid that have kept me busy.
I almost asked him when I walked out of the hotel room this morning what our future, if any, would be like, but I didn't have the guts.
Last night was amazing. I thought so, anyway.
I do everything on autopilot, and it's not until I'm walking down the aisle to find my spot at the front that I catch Austin out of the corner of my eye.
The whole ceremony, my eyes are on him, and when they pronounce Avery and Gabe husband and wife and the crowd cheers as they kiss, I am finally drawn back to the present.
After more pictures, I find my way to the reception and go straight to Austin.
I leave to go back to New York tomorrow.
There's been no more talk of what will happen then, and my heart stutters with sadness.
We are dancing, his chin resting on the top of my head. "How big is your apartment?"
I clench my eyes closed in relief. "Are you going to come and visit me?"
He puts his hands on each side of my neck, forcing me to look up at him. "Honey, I'm coming to stay. I don't want to be away from you."
And I realize that I still haven't told him about my job. "I quit my job, Austin. They didn't want to give me this week off, even after they had approved it. So I quit. Now it seems that my boss has blacklisted me, and I'm probably going to end up moving back to my parents house.”
He shakes his head side to side. "Don't do that."
That wasn't the reaction that I wanted. I hoped that he would be excited that I was moving back home, but maybe that's not the case.
His hands tighten on me. "Move to the McCoy Ranch."
I gasp in surprise. "Your ranch?"
He nods, almost excitedly. "I need someone to take over my office. It's a mess."
My heart starts to deflate. "You're offering me a job," I deadpan.
He shakes his head. "No, I mean, damn, I'm fucking this up."
He pulls my hand and guides me off the dance floor.
We walk up the sandy beach to the back of the hotel where there's an alcove, and he pulls me into it so we can have some privacy.
When he stops, he leans me back against the wall and stares down at me with so much regret on his face.
"Seven years ago, I fucked up, Ruby. I wanted you.
I wanted everything with you, but I knew you had your whole future ahead of you.
I couldn't hold you back, no matter how much I wanted you.
I haven't looked at another woman because I knew no one would compare to you.
I don't want you to come back to Whiskey Run unless that's what you want to do.
Whatever makes you happy, that's what I want.
But just know this, wherever you decide to go, I'm going to be right there with you, at your side. "
Emotion wells up inside of me. I grab onto the lapels of his jacket and pull him down to me. "Austin, we've wasted so much time. I wanted you then. I want you now. I want to be with you. Don't you know that even when I was 18 years old, you were what my dreams were made of? Only you."
"I'm here now, Ruby, and I want to make up the last seven years to you. I promise you that I'm going to be the man that you need."
With a tear falling down my cheek, I laugh and smile. "You already are, Austin."
He kisses me until I’m breathless, and when he pulls back, he searches my face. “Nothing has to be decided right now, Ruby. All I need is a promise from you... Promise me that from this point forward, we do life together. I’ll never have to wake up without you by my side.”
I lean up on my tiptoes and pull his head down to me. “I was yours when I was 18, Austin. I’m always going to be yours.”
He grunts. “Hell yeah, you are.”
I laugh, and he kisses me again. My worries about tomorrow are forgotten because now there’s the promise of forever with Austin.