He had hope. And love. And a bright-eyed view of what the world could be for him.
I just hoped he could keep all of it.
“The Soirée was fun last night,” Logan said, changing the subject yet again. One thick eyebrow ticked up as he appraised me. “Seemed like you found yourself in some drama, big bro.”
Jordan narrowed his eyes. “What drama?”
“My thoughts exactly,” I said to Jordan before giving Logan an incredulous look. “I showed up and did my job just like I do every year.”
“You also ticked off the future State Representative of North Carolina,” Logan shot.
I scoffed, draining the last of my beer before slamming the empty can on the table between us. “That guy’s a douche. And I was nothing but polite to him, even though he didn’t deserve it. I treated him just like all the other buyer’s.”
“Did you dance with all the other buyer’s fiancé’s, too?”
Logan waggled his brows, and I glared at him before thumping his arm.
“Ah,” Mikey said, a shit-eating grin spreading on his face. “Ruby Grace’s fiancé is in town, huh? Does he know about that close call you two had on your front porch after poker last weekend?”
“Shut it, Mikey,” I warned, at the same time Jordan asked, “What close call?”
“Did you kiss her?” Logan asked immediately after, a grin sliding over his face. “You sly dog. You kissed her, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t kiss her,” I growled, letting my feet drop off the porch railing and onto the wood below my chair.
“But you wanted to,” Mikey said. “I saw you two. If I hadn’t shown up with that root beer float, there would have been some lip lock action and you know it.”
Logan and Mikey chuckled. Jordan just watched me, waiting. I leaned forward, elbows balanced on my knees as I tried to school my breaths, tried to think of anything I could say to get them off my back, but I knew it was useless.
I could deny it all day long, but these were my brothers. They’d see right through me.
I shook my head, letting it hang between my shoulders a moment before I lifted it again, eyes scanning the fading sun over Mom’s yard. “Yeah, okay. Maybe I did want to kiss her.”
“I knew it,” Mikey chimed.
“But I didn’t,” I pointed out again, glaring at my youngest brother before I acknowledged the other two. “And it doesn’t matter anyway, because she’s getting married in less than five weeks.”
“If she’s so set on marrying that guy, why has she been spending so much time with you?” Mikey asked.
I shrugged, eyes falling to the porch. “I don’t think she actually does want to marry him, to be honest. She’s young, under pressure from her family. From what I know about her, this isn’t the life she wants at all. But I think she feels… stuck.”
Logan frowned. “That’s sad.”
I nodded. “It is. You know, when I first met her, I thought she was just another prissy, privileged rich girl. But she’s so much more than what her family portrays her as. She’s smart, and caring, and funny. She volunteers down at the nursing home, did you know that?” I shook my head. “That whole place lights up when she’s there. And she had dreams of finishing college, going into AmeriCorps. But she’s dropping out of school to be Mr. Asshole’s wife — all because that’s what she’s expected to do.”
My brothers were quiet for a long moment before Mikey spoke again. “I’ve never seen you like this before. You usually have girls lined up who want your attention, and you can never be bothered.”
“Not for more than a one-night stand, anyway,” Logan chuffed.
Mikey grinned, but it slipped when he faced me again. “You really like her, don’t you?”
My stomach clenched, and I wished I hadn’t drained my beer. I needed something to do, something to hold or drink or anything to keep my hands from tightening into anxious fists.
I couldn’t answer that question.
I guessed I didn’t really have to.
“Of course, she’s under pressure from her family. She’s a Barnett,” Jordan reminded me after a long pause, as if that was a fact I could ever forget. “And that’s even more reason for you to stay away from her.”
“I disagree.”
We all looked at Logan, then, who was never one to speak out against Jordan.
“I’m just saying, if there’s something between you two, maybe she needs more time to see what you already see — that she’s making a mistake. If you were around her more, showing her what it could be like if she was with someone who really gave a shit about her, someone who cared what her dreams were…” Logan shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe you could save her from making a mistake.”
“That’s not his job to do,” Jordan fired back.
“Isn’t it?” Logan kicked back in his chair, leveling eyes with our oldest brother. “We’re Beckers. We always stand up for what’s right. And Ruby Grace being auctioned off like an eighteenth-century bride isn’t right. Her marrying someone she doesn’t want to isn’t right. And if Noah can stop her, if he can show her something more?” Logan looked at me, then. “I say, why not?”
“Because it’s wrong,” Jordan chimed in again before I could answer. “She’s engaged to someone else. Whether she made that decision the right way or not is not Noah’s or anyone else’s business. As long as she has that ring on her finger, she’s off limits.”
“They could just be friends.”
It was Mikey who spoke, then, and we all turned to him as he shrank under our gazes.
“I mean, I’m just saying, you don’t have to do anything inappropriate,” he clarified. “Just be there for her. Give her someone to talk to, someone to work through what she’s feeling with.”
We were all silent at that, and I mulled it over, tossing the thought around in my mind like a poker chip between my fingers. Ruby Grace and I hadn’t crossed any lines, we hadn’t done anything that she needed to feel guilty about. I didn’t want to leave her alone. I missed her. And I wanted to be around her — in whatever way I could be.
But could I just be her friend?
It seemed impossible, knowing the way I felt about her now, the way I couldn’t stop thinking of her, the way my blood boiled when I imagined that douchebag going home to her at night, putting his hands on her, touching her, kissing her.
My fists tightened.
“You’ll just get yourself hurt,” Jordan said after a while. “If you’re her friend, if you’re more than that — regardless, she’s marrying that guy this summer. And the closer you get to her, the more that is going to gut you in the end.”
“He’s probably right,” Logan agreed.
My heart sank, realizing how futile it all was.
“But,” Logan continued. “I’m just saying, I know I wouldn’t want to give up on it without knowing I tried. I’d rather be fucked up in the end and know I tried to get the girl than to just let her go without ever showing her what her options are.”
Mikey nodded. “Same. I know I couldn’t walk away from Bailey, even if there was another guy in the picture. She’s the kind of girl you fight for. And it seems like Ruby Grace is, too.”
Jordan stood, throwing his hands up. “Do what you want, Noah. But just know I don’t approve of this. She’s nearly a decade younger than you, she’s the Mayor’s daughter, and she’s engaged. If you won’t hit the brakes with all those road blocks in your view, then don’t be surprised when you crash at the end of it all.”
He walked inside, the screen door slamming shut behind him as he joined Mom in the kitchen. When he was gone, Logan and Mikey watched me carefully, both chewing the inside of their cheeks.
“This is idiotic,” I finally said.
“Completely,” Logan agreed.
“Jordan’s right. I’ll probably just end up even more messed up than I am now.”
Mikey nodded. “Most likely.”
I sighed, head bobbing between my shoulders as I ran over all the
reasons I should stay away from Ruby Grace, all the reasons I should walk away and wish her luck and forget she ever came back to town at all. I ticked off each warning sign like a mental checklist, but while my chest should have been tight with dread, it was floating on the smallest ounce of hope.
I knew Logan was right.
I couldn’t walk away from her. Not without fighting for her first.
I let out another long breath, eyeing Mikey before my gaze landed on Logan. “Will you help me make a plan?”
Chapter 11
Ruby Grace
The weekend passed in a blur of chiffon and cake frosting.
Mama packed every waking minute of my days with dress alterations, cake tasting, seating chart adjustments, wedding photography pose research, and more. By the time I made it to church Sunday morning, I was so thankful for an hour of sitting down with nothing to do but listen to the preacher, that I nearly started crying.
When I saw Noah walk through the door, that urge to cry doubled.
I’d been so busy over the weekend, I hadn’t had much time to think about anything other than whatever wedding task was at hand. Still, when my mind did wander, it frustratingly wandered to those cobalt blue eyes.
Noah took his usual seat in the front row of the left pew section, alongside his mother and three brothers. I was still fixated on the back of his head when Anthony’s hand reached over, squeezing my knee over the turquoise fabric of my dress.
“I’m so excited to spend the day with you,” he whispered, leaning in close.
I frowned, turning toward him. “I’m volunteering at the nursing home today. Remember?”
“Oh,” he said, confirming that he, in fact, did not remember. “Can’t you just cancel?”
“Anthony, you know how important this is to me.”
Disappointment sank into my every feature. I’d been telling Anthony all weekend that I had plans after church, just like I did every Sunday, and it was like he’d listened the way a child does to its mother.
“I know, babe. I know,” he said quickly, squeezing where he held my knee. “I’m sorry. I just miss you. I’ve been here a week now and we’ve barely spent any time together.”
My neck heated, because I was very aware of the fact I hadn’t seen him much. Anthony conveniently had something to do with the media crew anytime Mama came running at me with a wedding task. He hadn’t helped with a single thing since he’d been in town, and if anything, I felt more pressure with him here.
Pressure to make the wedding perfect. Pressure to be available to him when he needed me.
Pressure to be everywhere and everything to everyone.
“Why don’t you help me register for our gifts on Thursday?” I asked. “We could spend the whole day together, pick out our future serving dishes and napkin holders.” I leaned into him on a nudge. “You know, super thrilling stuff.”
Anthony smiled, running the back of his knuckles over my cheek. “You know I wish I could, but we’re going to shoot a little around the town short to air on our YouTube channel that day. I was actually hoping you’d be a part of it, if you have time?”
I sighed, fighting off the sinking of my heart. This was Anthony’s life. This was how he’d always been, ever since I met him. He was dedicated to his dream, to his passion to hold office. It was something I loved about him, and I didn’t know why I was suddenly annoyed by it just because he couldn’t help with stupid wedding stuff.
In four weeks, we’d be married, and none of this stuff would matter, anyway.
“I understand. I have to get that registration done, but when it’s over, I’ll give you a call and see if I can come help out,” I offered.
Anthony smiled wider, shaking his head before he leaned in and pressed his lips to my forehead. “I’m such a lucky man.”
We were quiet as the service got started, and I reveled in the peaceful bliss of not needing to answer to anyone or be anywhere. If anything, the service didn’t last long enough, and before I knew it, we were outside the church, Mama shaking hands and sending blessings with everyone as they left. Anthony joined in beside her and Dad, and I pulled up the end of the line, a numb smile on my face.
I was so fixated on counting down the minutes until I’d be away from everyone and in my safe place that I almost didn’t notice when Noah Becker darted away from the receiving line, kissing his mother on the cheek before he climbed into his truck without so much of a look over his shoulder at me. Not that he owed me a look, or a handshake, or a Sunday greeting. But, we hadn’t spoken a single word to each other since the Soirée, and part of me wondered if he’d ever speak to me again.
Part of me wondered why I cared if he did or not.
His truck peeled out of the church parking lot as Anthony put his arm around me, pressing a kiss into my hair.
“Are you sure I can’t convince you to ditch on the nursing home?” he asked.
I tried my best to smile, turning in his arms to thread mine around his neck. “I’ll see you for supper.”
“It’s my only free day,” he pointed out again.
“I understand that. But I’m not free.”
“But you could be.”
My shoulders sagged. “Anthony…”
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” he said, kissing my forehead again before steering us toward Daddy’s truck. “I’ll find something to do, maybe go check out the casino with your dad or something. He’s been begging me to go.”
I smiled as much as I could, aiming for lightness in my voice. “Well, that’s not at all surprising. Hope you’re ready to lose all of your Sunday in that dungeon of bells and flashing lights.”
Anthony held the back door of Dad’s truck open for me, closing it gently once I was inside.
In that moment of silence, I took my first real breath in days.
I couldn’t wait to get home, get changed, and get away.
* * *
“You look like hell,” Annie greeted, still somehow cheerful even with the insult flying from her lips.
“Happy Sunday to you, too,” I replied on a chuckle. I flopped down into the chair next to her, sighing as the cushion gave into my weight in a familiar, soft whoosh. “Can I just… can I just nap right here?”
Annie snickered. “Mama Barnett pushing you that hard, huh?”
“You were there for the seating arrangement fiasco,” I reminded her, referring to our Friday morning spent with my mom. “Now, just imagine that same frenzy… All. Weekend. Long.”
She cringed, sliding her coffee toward me. “Here. You need this more than I do.”
I took the hot mug gratefully, tilting it toward her in thanks before taking a sip. I hummed as the mocha-flavored magic made its way into my stomach, reaching forward to flip through the events calendar for the day. I’d only been inside the building for five minutes and I already felt my muscles relaxing, the tension leaving that spot between my eyebrows, my breaths coming easier. These walls and the people who lived within them were comfortable to me, safe, familiar. It was the one steady thing in my currently chaotic life.
“Everyone already at the pool?” I asked, noting that water aerobics had been added to the schedule for the day.
“Mm-hmm,” Annie said, biting against a smile.
“Betty having a good day?”
“Oh, she’s having the best day,” Annie said, still with the weird smile.
I cocked a brow.
“She’s out there with our newest volunteer — hell, the entire nursing home is out there. No one has been able to teach water aerobics since the summer started, so it was a welcome surprise for us to have some help.”
“I could have done water aerobics,” I offered.
“You still can,” Annie said. “I’m sure the new guy would love the help. Those old ladies were practically ripping his swim trunks off when he made his way through the halls to the pool. I swear, in the five years I’ve worked here, I’ve never seen Mrs. Hollenbeck go swimming. Until today.”
I frowned. “Interesting. We haven’t had any new volunteers in a while, either — aside from those completing community service. Who is this guy?”
Annie’s grin widened. “Oh, you know him.”
My best friend had that look in her eyes, the one she used to get when she was about to ask me for a huge favor or to go to a party I didn’t want to go to.
“Annie…” I warned. “Who is it?”
She just did a little shoulder dance, fishing one of the volunteer pool keys out of the desk and tossing it my way. “Why don’t you go find out?”
I frowned deeper, clutching the key in hand as I stood. “You’re a brat.”
“You love me, anyway.”
“Debatable.”
She was still chuckling as I made my way down the hall to the bathroom, changing into the swim suit I’d brought with me. For some reason, my stomach was fluttery as I changed, mind swirling with the possibilities of who it could be. I wondered if it was Tanner, the guy I’d dated sophomore year. Or maybe Annie was joking about the guy being hot. Maybe it was someone weird, like the scrawny, perverted kid who delivered newspapers and always liked to stare a little too long into the windows of whichever girl didn’t leave their curtains drawn enough.
My heart thumped even harder when I realized Anthony had left to go to the casino with Dad before I left for the nursing home. Dad hadn’t even left yet, saying he had a few stops to make along the way and he’d meet him at the main bar.
Maybe it’s him. Maybe he’s surprising me.
I couldn’t fight back my smile at the thought. It was a classic Anthony move, to surprise me and make a show of himself in the process. He loved to be the center of attention, and I knew him volunteering at a nursing home on a Sunday would be candy for the film crew.
With that thought in mind, I practically skipped to the pool, ditching my backpack at the front desk on my way out. Annie was still smiling like a loon, and I thought I finally understood why. She was in on the whole thing, the whole surprise.
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