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“Ruby,” Henry says, his expression and tone of voice both pained.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I tell him honestly. “I don’t want us to hurt each other. That’s why we need to agree to just avoid each other except when we absolutely can’t. Obviously, there will be times when we have to see each other. But we need to be able to do that as adults. Adults who like and respect one another but who don’t want to hurt each other.”
He drags in a long breath but doesn’t say anything.
“I’m going to be moving out of the house and getting an apartment so that?—”
“No.”
Here we go with the ‘no’s again. “Yes,” I say simply. “I’m not going to live in the house with my sister and her new husband. And you.” I tip my head. “I assume you’ll live there with them?” Have they thought this out?
He hesitates. Then says, “Perhaps. Or we’ll buy the house next door or across the street for me.”
I laugh before I can swallow it. “People already live in those houses. They’re not for sale.”
“Everything is for sale if you find the right price.”
See, this is what I mean. There are no actual barriers in Henry Dean’s life. To anything.
Or so he thinks.
“Okay, whatever.” This is not my problem. “I’m not going to be living there with them.”
“They can buy a new house.” He’s frowning, but it’s not reallyatme now. “You don’t have to move out.”
“I’m one person. There’s three…” I lift a brow. “Maybe four of you. I don’t need as much space. Plus, Mariah is settled there. It’s not far from school or from Greta’s house.” Greta is Mariah’s best friend and rock. “It’s way easier for me to move.”
Plus, my apartment won’t be in Emerald…
“You’re not moving. Brian gaveyouthat house.”
Brian was our stepdad but really the only father figure Scarlett and I had. We adored him. He died about two years ago and left Scarlett his auto shop and me his house. Both fully paid for with an additional trust to help keep things going for a while. Those two things were the main reason Scarlett had wanted to go back to Emerald after being gone for fifteen years, to see if anything had changed and if she could make some amends.
Nothing has really changed. Well, my sister has. She is more confident, knows who she is and what she wants, and she’s happier.
I’m so proud of her. And I’m so excited about her next chapter.
And mine.
“Brian would not care if I gave the house to Scarlett,” I tell Henry. “Trust me.”
“I don’t want you somewhere across town where I—” He abruptly bites off the rest of what he intended to say.
But I know what it is:Where I can’t keep an eye on you.
He’s protective. Overly protective.
Well, he doesn’t need to worry about me being across town.
“This is the best solution. Scarlett and Cian can have the house. You and I are going to agree to be friends. And you’re going to take excellent care of my sister and niece forever.”
“I—”
“Promise that you’re going to take excellent care of my sister and niece, Henry,” I interrupt. “Promise me that they are as important to you and the O’Gradys as Cian is and that you’ll do anything for them.”
He frowns. Then nods. “Yes. I promise.”
“Then everything is good.”