“Okay, but did you know she was going to offer it to me?”
“No. I did tell her how fantastic you are and told her she should consider you for the Toronto job after she told me about it, but I had no idea she’d make a decision on the spot. You must have really wowed her.”
He knew. He told his sister to consider her.
“Why would you do that, Rashid? I’m leaving.”
He blinked but didn’t say anything to that. And maybe that was a good thing, because she really, really didn’t want Dr. Rashid Hakim to ask her to stay here for him. Her answer would break both their hearts.
“There’s something else Ayesha told me,” Ruby said. “That you’re buying into Jasmine’s practice. Rashid, are you staying in Toronto?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I’ve decided not to move back to Calgary.”
Ruby shook her head. She couldn’t believe this. “Why wouldn’t you tell me something so major? I know this was a fling or whatever, but wearefriends, aren’t we?”
“Of course we’re friends, Ruby. We only finalized the details this week.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t tell you because I thought if you knew I was going to be here, then it would be harder for you to leave. I know it would be harder for me if I was in your position.”
Ruby closed her eyes a moment, feeling a prickle behind them. When she opened them, she saw Rashid’s kind face. He was so gorgeous. The last few weeks with him had been so perfect. Better than she ever imagined when she agreed to this supposed fling. Ruby had let herself be vulnerable with him. Leaned on him more, both physically and emotionally than she’d ever leaned on anyone. But she never let herself forget the end date. What if she knew from the beginning that he was going to be staying in this city for good? Would Ruby have been tempted to give up her dreams and stay here with him?
He didn’t keep his plans from her because he wanted to keep her at arm’s length, but because he cared for her and didn’t want to make things harder for her.
She didn’t know what to say. “If I’d known you were staying,” she said slowly. “It wouldn’t have made a difference for me.”
Even now, knowing she could have a job in Toronto that would get her the hotel experience she needed, she was not tempted to stay. She’d planned this for so long. Hell, she’d even pretended to like her father for more than a year so she could get the visa. She couldn’t—no,wouldn’tgive it up because she’d grown attached to a family she met literally a month and a half ago.
“But…” Rashid said. “If Ayesha wants you to work at the Raj Toronto, maybe you don’t have to gonow. Maybe you can get the hotel experience you want here in Toronto and go open your inn in the UK later. Or open it somewhere else.”
She exhaled long. That was exactly what she was afraid he would say. “Rashid, I’m going. This was always my mother’s and my dream. She left me that money so I could do this alone if she didn’t survive long enough for us to do it together.”
He took her hand in his. “But… what aboutyou, Ruby? Whenever you talk about going, it’s always ‘this was my mother’s and my dream.’ I don’t think you’ve really considered if it’sRuby’sdream. Just Ruby’s.”
Ruby blinked. “It wasourdream. Both of us. Forever.” Ruby took her hand back. “I know she’s gone, but she was mymother. I would think someone with a family as close as yours would understand why this is important.”
He exhaled. “I have no idea what it would be like to lose a family member you loved so much, but—”
Ruby’s teeth gritted. “Yeah, Rashid. You havenoidea. You and your great big Hakim family who will literally drop everything when one of you is in trouble. You with two loving parents who guided you all to be your best possible selves but are still there to be your backup if something goes wrong. Not to mention a family with money. Homes in London, Spain, and Northern England. Hotels all over the UK. You’re a literal doctor. I work retail. You can’t ever understand what it’s like to be me.”
“Ruby, that’s not fair. I think—”
“You think you canbuyme to stay with you by getting me my dream job!”
He looked at her, and a familiar expression was back. Irritation. “I’m not trying to buy you, Ruby. This is another option that you should consider.” His face softened. “You can go and do what you always planned. Or you can stay here… with me.”
She shook her head. “Seriously? We’ve known each other, what… six weeks? You accused me of being impulsive and irresponsible when you found out I was going to England, and now you want me to stay, to throw away the dream I’ve been working toward for so long, for a three-week relationship? That’s one hell of a risk you’re asking me to take. Your sister Jasmine moved to Toronto for a man, and look how that turned out for her.”
He shook his head. “How could you even think of me in the same breath as Derek?”
“I know, Rashid. You’re not like him. But I’m not like your sister, either. I don’t have a support system to come save me if something goes wrong. I’m all alone, remember?”
“You always say you’re alone, but you’re not! You have the best friends here—ones who would do anything for you! And that includes me, by the way. Even if we don’t work out as a couple, I’ll always—”
“We wereneversupposed to work out, Rashid! There wasalwaysan end date!”
He exhaled, looking at her. He looked sad. She hated the look on him. She was breaking his heart, and that was breaking hers. “But maybe it doesn’t have to?” he said, voice small.
She shook her head, the tears falling down her cheeks. “I have to go. Toronto isn’t my home anymore. I moved here because my father manipulated me, and I’m not going to stay because you manipulate me.”
He exhaled long. “Okay, Ruby. I’m sorry.” He didn’t sound sorry. He sounded frustrated. “I wasn’t manipulating you. I was trying to help you. But I’m not sure you know the difference. I wish you’d understand that you don’t have to keep running to find a home. That maybe your home is where you want it to be.”
