Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 121916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Reed’s studio is right down the street from my place. It’s Ruby’s biggest dream—writing songs for other artists. The bigger the better. So, to his credit, our label owner has invited Ruby to sit in on some writing sessions with some of his up-and-coming artists at his studio in North Hollywood.
“We could test out your theory about my insomnia during that week,” I add, when she looks like she’s seriously considering saying yes to me. “Come on, Ruby. I’m genuinely curious to see if you’re right.”
Ruby flashes me a side-eye. “You said you don’t get insomnia when you’re home.”
“Did I? Oh. Well, that probably won’t be true with that quarterback still all over the news.” My heart feels like a herd of wild horses stampeding in my chest. In this moment, I’ll say whatever it takes to get Ruby to stay with me, in my bed, for one glorious week.
Ruby nods slowly, like that makes sense to her. “Thanks for the offer. I’ll think about it and let you know once I have more information.” With a big yawn, she tugs on the shoulder of my T-shirt. “Now, will you please forgive me for my sins and be my pillow? I’m sleepy and contrite.”
I laugh. “What happened to you staying awake to shit-talk Kai all the way to Vancouver, as the price of forgiveness?”
“Oh. Yeah. I did say that, didn’t I?” She yawns. “God, he’s such a dick. Your turn now.”
I crack up. “It’s okay, monster. You’ve worn me down.”
Ruby flashes me an adorable smile. “Does that mean we’re besties again?”
“Besties again.” It pains me to call her that, even though I genuinely cherish our friendship. But the thing is I love this girl too much not to have her in my life, one way or another. For a long time now, when it comes to Ruby, I’ve been resigned to take what I can get.
As Ruby snuggles up against my shoulder, I kiss the top of her head. “Sweet dreams, Ruby Duby.”
“Use my head as a pillow, if you start to feel sleepy.”
“I won’t, but thanks.” Unfortunately, I never sleep on airplanes. That’s not a recent thing. My whole life, I haven’t been able to get my body to relax enough to sleep when my brain knows I’m hurtling through space at three hundred miles per hour in a metal container. And it certainly doesn’t help watching Ruby texting her loved ones her final goodbyes.
“Don’t forget to wipe my drool, as needed,” she murmurs.
“I make no promises about that.”
Ruby yawns. “Sorry for using you as a flotation device, my love. I promise I’ll never pull that kind of bullshit again.”
“You’d better not.”
With her head still resting on my shoulder, she holds up her pinky, and I link mine in hers. But the truth is, even though I’ve been talking a good game, I’d let Ruby use me as a flotation device any time she needed. Even in shark-infested waters. In fact, if I saw this girl of mine drowning, I’d jump in and try to save her without a thought to my own safety, even in the face of great whites circling. So, really, I can’t blame her for using me to save herself this morning when, in reality, I’d demand she swap my life for hers if the opportunity arose.
“I forgive you,” I whisper into her hair. I close my eyes and inhale the scent of her shampoo. And I love you.
“Now I really will have sweet dreams,” Ruby whispers.
It’s the last thing she says before her breathing turns rhythmic, making it clear she’s fallen fast asleep against my shoulder. As usual. And once again, like always, I love every second of Ruby’s body pressed against mine. Albeit, not in the precise way it’d be, in a perfect world.
7
KENDRICK
Turbulence jostles me awake, and I’m yanked out of a dream.
A sex dream.
About Ruby.
I look around, feeling disoriented, and remember I’m still on the plane to Vancouver, sitting next to the woman who was sucking me off in my dream.
I fell asleep? That’s a first. And so was that dream. At least, that was the first time in a long while. Thanks, Kai. I’ve probably got you to thank for planting the idea of a sex dream about Ruby into my subconscious brain.
An uncomfortable ache between my legs commands my attention. When I look down, sure enough, I’ve got a raging, straining boner poking up behind my soft sweats—one Ruby will surely notice, if that turbulence woke her up, too. I cover my tent pole with my hand, just in case, and then sigh with relief when it’s apparent Ruby is still dead to the world.
Taking care not to wake her, I tilt her slack body away from me, slide out of my seat, and head toward the back of the plane. A few minutes later, after exiting the bathroom, I notice Savage and Laila hunkered together watching a show and head over to say hi. Also, to make sure they’re both genuinely unbothered by Ruby reminding everyone about my embarrassing early crush on Laila.