“Apologized,” I said around her finger. I flicked my tongue out.
She snatched her hand away but bit her lower lip, her gaze glued to my mouth. “I wouldn’t do that. I don’t know where this bar has been.” She winced. “Sorry, Madison.”
“Valid,” Madison said. She handed Ruby’s phone to her. “I called Tenor when you went to the bathroom. And then again when you confronted Katrina.”
“I’m right here,” Katrina snapped, but we all ignored her.
I cupped Ruby’s face. “I’m not going to ask you to write your dad out of your life. We’ve talked about how things would work if you took me back, how we’d act around each other, how he’d be with our kids.” I cut my warning gaze toward him. “Especially about nicknames.”
Robert shrugged. He’d been fine with it.
Her lips parted. “Kids?”
“I know we only dated a couple of months, but there’s no one like you, Ruby. I knew almost right away that you were it. You’re my Goldilocks.” I wrapped my hands around her waist. “I’ll doanything you want. We can add on to the house. There’s plenty of land, depending on how many kids you want.”
Wonder filled her eyes. Then retribution filled her gaze. “You mean,” she said loudly, “add on to the house you built with your own money from yourtwojobs? The one with the nice shop?”
I grinned at her, soaking in her militant pout.
Robert nodded. “Nice damn house.”
Katrina let out a huff and stomped past us. “I only came here because there were no Baileys.”
Light cut through the room as the door opened, then she was gone.
“You didn’t care that she was here?” Ruby asked.
“She’s been wanting to talk to me, but I keep deleting her messages. I haven’t cared to see or speak to her. I quit being at her beck and call when she insulted me and my family.”
Ruby’s mouth curled into a sneer. “She probably heard you were back on the market and realized how much she’d fucked up. Her mistake is my win.”
I feathered my thumb across her soft cheek. “You’re amazing.”
“I’m still a lot younger than you,” she said in a ragged voice. The vulnerability was back.
“You’re perfect. The only reason I’d talk to Katrina is to thank her for getting me to swear off dating. I didn’t have to keep suffering through the wrong women.”
She flattened her hands on my chest, but she turned her attention to her dad. “You’re going to behave with him?”
“As long as he does right by you.” He closed the distance between us, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Look, honey. I know exactly how I was when I was younger, and I know it wasn’t right. I was an angry kid, and Tenor never fought back. He just took it and I kept giving it. Told myself I didn’t respect him for it, but the truth is it pissed me off more. He was strongerthan me. Nothing will take back how awful I was, but I’ve tried to be a better adult than I was a kid. Some days, I’m successful. Tenor and I—we’ve come to an understanding. You’re important to both of us. And we’re playing another match tomorrow.”
“I’ll still win,” I said.
Robert sniffed, challenge in his eyes. “You can’t win forever, Bailey.”
I would. Out of spite. And I’d celebrate every win in front of him like an asshole.
I didn’t have to worry about Robert anymore. He was part of my present because I got the very best of him in Ruby. He could no longer haunt me. Neither could Katrina. Her fucking dad could suck a rotten egg. If my school bully could accept me for his daughter, then the issue hadn’t been me.
All the ghosts of my past had been put to rest. I didn’t dread seeing them and I gave zero fucks what their opinions of me were. There was only one woman I cared about and I’d spend my life making her happy.
I’d indulge her reading habit—and her work ideas. “I love you, Ruby. I’ll do anything for you.” I took out my phone and pulled up one of Copper Summit’s social media accounts. “But I need to prove it.”
She glanced at the screen and did a double take. “Is that...” She let out a soft gasp.
“Yep.” Thankfully, she’d sent the pictures of me to Wynter as examples of how she’d capture any employees who were willing to participate. Before Robert had arrived, I’d talked to Wynter. She’d posted the photo of me behind the drink I’d poured for Ruby. I hadn’t looked yet, but I knew the post was there. For everyone to see and comment on. And oddly, I was only concerned that it pleased Ruby. Everyone else could fuck off.
“You posted this? For me?”
