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?”
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