Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
As the quiet stretches between us, I glance over at him, catching the way his jaw clenches, the way his eyes soften when they meet mine. For a moment, I wonder if he feels it too—this pull between us, the attraction that hums beneath the surface of every conversation, every touch.
My heart races, my mind filled with the possibilities of what could be if I let myself trust him. But the fear is still there, lurking in the corners of my mind, whispering that I can’t risk it. Not yet.
When Pope stands to leave, his hand brushes against my arm, the touch sending a shiver down my spine. It’s brief, fleeting, but it leaves me breathless. I don’t move away, don’t flinch, but I can feel the heat of his skin against mine long after his hand is gone.
There’s an unspoken promise in that touch, a promise that this tension between us won’t stay unresolved for much longer.
As I watch Pope walk away, my heart pounds in my chest, my thoughts swirling with the what-ifs and maybes. He’s different, I know that much. But am I ready to take that leap? To let my walls down and risk being hurt again?
I don’t have an answer yet. But something tells me I’ll find it soon.
Chapter Six
Pope
The late afternoon sun bathes the construction site in a golden glow, casting long shadows across the skeletal frame of the library. Everything around me smells like fresh lumber, sawdust, and a little sweat—just the way I like it. It's peaceful here, the rhythm of hammering and cutting steady and predictable. It’s the kind of place where my mind can quiet down, where I can drown out the world. But today, something’s off.
Ruby steps onto the site, her silhouette cutting through the light. She’s quieter than usual, her shoulders hunched, her usual fire dimmed. I can see it immediately—she’s not herself. She barely glances at me as she walks by, clutching that damn notebook like it’s some kind of shield. My hands still on the beam I’m working on, muscles tensing as I try to figure out what’s going on.
Normally, we’ve got a rhythm. She challenges me, I push back. It’s become part of the routine. But today, the air feels heavier, the tension different. I don’t like it.
I call out to her, my voice rougher than intended. “Ruby, what’s going on with you?”
She doesn’t even look at me. Just keeps her head down and her hand tightens on that notebook. “It’s nothing,” she murmurs. Her voice is shaky. It’s not like her. Not at all. I’m not buying it. Not for a second.
“Bullshit,” I growl, stepping closer. My eyes search her face, but she won’t meet my gaze. “You gonna keep pushing me away, or are you gonna tell me what’s going on?”
She stiffens at my tone, her body closing off even more. “I said, it’s nothing, Pope. Just… drop it, okay?”
Drop it? Hell, no. I’ve never been good with letting things slide, especially when something’s eating away at her like this. She’s pulling away, slipping through my fingers, and it’s like watching someone drown and being told to stand still. I can’t do that. I won’t.
For days, I’ve watched her retreat, making excuses to avoid spending time with me. Every time I try to talk to her, she dodges the conversation. It’s driving me insane.
So when she shows up today, looking even more shaken than usual, my frustration boils over. I yank her aside, the workday forgotten, my concern for her punching through everything else. I don’t care about the library or the damn beams right now. I care about her.
“Ruby, if something’s wrong, you need to tell me,” I growl, my voice coming out harsher than I mean. I’m angry, but it’s not at her—it’s at whatever the hell is doing this to her.
She hesitates, her grip tightening on that notebook again. Her knuckles go white, and I can see the battle playing out behind her eyes. Finally, after a long, tense silence, she speaks.
“It’s him,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “He’s back.”
The words hit me like a freight train. Him. The ex. The one who screwed her up so badly she’s built these walls. The one responsible for the scars she tries so hard to hide behind that brave face. A flash of red runs through my vision, anger rising fast and sharp. I don’t know the guy, but I already hate him with a fire that surprises even me.
My fists clench at my sides, jaw tightening as I try to control the rage boiling in my gut. I want to find the bastard and make him pay for whatever he’s done to her. No one hurts Ruby. Not while I’m around. But I know better than to lose it here, to let that kind of fury take over. Ruby doesn’t need that—not from me.