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“I’m glad to hear that.”
“I’m just saying, you don’t have to worry,” Jonah says. “They’re good.”
“They were in a car accident. That could have been really bad.” In fact, I can’t even let myself go there fully. I can’t let myself imagine whatcould havehappened. I don’t know what I would do.
“It could have been,” Jonah agrees. “But it wasn’t. That’s what you have to focus on. Any time any of us leaves the house, something bad could happen. That’s the problem.”
“The problem with us not always driving them everywhere they go?” I ask.
And for the first time in my life, I’m actually annoyed at the thought that I might not be able to ever let Cian travel without me.
Dammit.
I don’t want us to be joined at the hip for the rest of our lives.
Friends? Of course. In constant contact? Definitely. In each other’s business all the time? Sure. But physically together every damned day? Not really.
“What? No.” Jonah laughs. “You haveno wayof knowing that accident wouldn’t have happened if you’d been driving. What I meant is that’s the problem with loving our protecteeslike family. And, well, it’s too late to change that, so we’re just going to have to deal with it.”
I frown. “You’re really that nonchalant about the idea of something bad happening to Torin?”
“Nonchalant?” Jonah asks. “Fuck no. But the realization that something bad could happen makes me want him to have as many amazing experiences and happy times as possible. It’s how I feel about Linnea. My parents. Everyone I love.” He pauses. “Even you.”
I pause at that. Then smile. “I love you too, Jonah.”
He chuckles. “Thanks. Talk to you later.”
“Thanks for covering me in Portland.”
“It was great. Any time.”
We disconnect, and I take the few steps to where Ruby is saying, “I love you too. So much. We’ll talk soon.”
She disconnects and looks up at me.
“We should go pack,” I tell her.
She looks down at her phone, then up at me. “Yeah. Um, I’m not going back to Emerald.”
I frown. “What?”
“I’m not going back. Not right now. I’m going to stay in New Orleans. In the new apartment. Mariah is going to pack up my room and send what I need.”
I stare down at her, not fully understanding what she’s saying. “Did Scarlett tell you about the accident?”
Ruby nods. “Yes. And her arm.”
“You don’t want to check on her?”
She wiggles her phone. “I just did.”
“That’s enough?”
“Yes.” She straightens. “She and Cian are fine. She said he’s been great, that they have a plan, that she’s a little sore, of course, but her meds are working.” She stops, then says, “She doesn’t need me, Henry.”
I shake my head. “Come on, Gem. You know that’s not true. Let’s go home. You’ll see.”
But she just smiles. “I’m not saying that in an ‘I’m so sad she doesn’t need me anymore’ way. I’m glad. I’m…relieved. She sounds great. The fact that she’s letting Cian take care of her is huge. Scarlett doesn’t do that. I’m the only one she’s ever leaned on. This is big for them.”