Page 32 of On the Rocks

Ruby Grace bent down as much as she could in her skirt, and once everything was back in the paper bag, we both stood, an awkward, heavy silence passing between us.

“Sorry about that,” I murmured, scratching the back of my head. Then, I turned, ready to close the distance between me and my house that was just a couple of blocks away now.

“Wait,” she called, and I paused, forcing a breath before I turned to face her. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“You almost ran me over,” she said, smiling a little. “And you look like you’re ready to kill the next person who looks at you.”

“Not far from the truth.”

She crossed her arms over the bag, balancing it on her hip as she cocked a brow. “Want to talk about it?”

“No,” I answered definitively. I made to turn again, but she spoke before I could.

“Someone’s particularly moody tonight.”

My nose flared, head aching with how tightly I gritted my teeth. I needed to get home.Now. “And someone else is particularly nosey.”

Her face fell at that. “Noah…”

“Look, why don’t you stop prying into my life and get back to your own? I’m sure you’ve got cake to taste or ribbons to tie or something.”

Ruby Grace’s mouth popped open. “Why are you being so mean to me? I was just making sure you’re okay.”

“Oh, is that right?” I asked, seething as I stepped into her space. Our chests were an inch apart, my breath hot on her nose as I looked down on her shocked expression. “You want to go back to the Black Hole, sit on my horse and rub your ass on me while we ride? Pretend like you don’t have a fiancé who would mind while I tell you all my fucking problems?”

Her brows folded together, eyes narrowing into slits. “Fuck you, Noah Becker.”

“I’m sure you’d like to, sweetheart. But, not tonight.” I somehow managed a smirk before I turned on my boot, shoving my hands in my pockets and picking up my pace to get back to my house.

It was out of line. It was nowhere near what I felt about Ruby Grace, but she’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and my fury needed a friend to call home.

She was the lucky winner.

I heard a cross between a huff and a growl behind me, but I didn’t turn around to see the face of the girl I’d just insulted. I couldn’t bear to see her anger, just as I couldn’t be bothered to apologize for my own. I didn’t owe Ruby Grace anything, anyway. What did it matter if I upset her?

I shoved it out of my head as I walked, hell bent on getting home, into a hot shower, and then into my bed.

I’d had enough bullshit for one day.

Ruby Grace

That Sunday at church, I was everything I was supposed to be.

I was dressed prim and proper, thanks to Mama picking out a gorgeous, sunshine yellow dress that hugged my waist and flared at the hips, cutting off just below my knees. It was covered with lace, and she’d paired it with a large white hat with a yellow ribbon that matched the dress, as well as white designer heels — the same ones I’d worn to the barrel tasting my first week back in town. My hair was curled and smoothed to perfection, makeup classy and well done.

I was on time, in the third-row pew where Mama always liked to sit, and sitting like the young lady I was.

I was smiling, shaking hands with the congregation as they chatted before taking their own seats.

I was proudly and properly representing the Barnett name, the town of Stratford, the mayor everyone knew and loved.

And I was happy.

I am happy, I told myself, over and over and over.

This is me. This is my family. This is everything I’m supposed to do and know andbeon a Sunday morning.