“Chosen?” Ruby laughs, but she resumes petting him, a look of wonder crossing her face when Zeus stretches out beside her, his purr intensifying. “I thought he hated me.”
“Zeus doesn’t hate anyone,” I say, meeting her eyes. “He’s just very selective.”
“Like his owner,” Ruby observes with a smile.
I laugh. “Touché.”
She keeps her gaze locked on me, and something flutters in my stomach. Fuck. I have actual butterflies, like a teenager with a crush, because this woman is smiling at me while petting my cat.
The sexual tension between us is back, soaring like never before.
“So,” Ruby says finally, looking flustered. “They’re gone. Was it hard, saying goodbye?”
“Harder than I expected,” I admit. “Demetria and I talked. Really talked, and it’s brought us a lot closer.”
“That’s good, right?”
“Yeah. She figured out we switched houses and confronted me about it.”
“Really?” Ruby frowns. “I thought we’d gotten away with it. What did you tell her?”
“The truth. Or most of the truth, anyway. She also asked me if I’m gay.” I shrug. “I didn’t have to answer. She already knew.”
Ruby’s hand stills on Zeus’s fur. “And how do you feel about that?”
“Relieved,” I say. “Terrified. Liberated. All of it at once. I told her everything I never could. About teenage crushes, about Elena…”
“Athena…” Ruby takes my hand. “Did you tell your mother?”
I shake my head. “No. And Demetria promised not to tell her either.”
Ruby nods. “I’m so glad you were able to talk to your sister. It’s a big deal.” Her fingers trace the back of my hand, and I watch the movement, mesmerized by this simple intimacy. It terrifies me how much I want little gestures like this.
Zeus stands, stretching one final time before leaping off the lounger and stalking into the house.
“And there he goes,” I say, breaking the tension. “Back to claiming the entire bed.”
I run a hand through my hair and sigh, feeling the weight of the past week lifting. “God, I could use a drink. Or several. Coming out to Demetria was…intense. Good, but intense.”
The poolside lights reflect in Ruby’s eyes as she watches me, a mixture of concern and something deeper crossing her face. “I should probably head home,” she says softly. “You have a lot to process. You must need some space.”
“Actually,” I reply, holding her gaze, “The other night… I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.” What I really want to say is, “You. I haven’t been able to stop thinking aboutyou, Ruby.” We’ve been dancing around each other all week, both aware that something fundamental has shifted between us.
“Yeah…the shower…” Ruby’s face turns pink as she’s reminded of her own fantasy. She shakes her head and blows out her cheeks. I see the slight tightening of her jaw, the way her fingers clench around the lounger’s armrest. “If I stay,” she finally says, “this might get very, very complicated.”
“I know,” I agree. “My life was so blissfully simple before I met you.” The words escape before I can censor them. “You’re messy, Ruby.”
Ruby hesitates. “Are you saying youwantcomplications?”
“Yes. I think I’m ready for that,” I say. “I have feelings for you.”
I didn’t mean to say it. It just tumbled out, and I feel stripped bare. For someone who’s built an entire life around control, those five words are nothing short of revolutionary. The sensation is foreign, almost forgotten—this willingness to place power in someone else’s hands and surrender emotionally.
I wait, watching Ruby’s face, searching for a reaction. I’ve revealed too much, and now I can only brace for the consequences.
Ruby’s expression shifts almost imperceptibly—a momentary widening of her eyes, a subtle tensing of her shoulders. For a fleeting moment, she leans forward slightly, as if drawn to me. Her lips part, and I think she might kiss me. Then something shifts in her expression—aflicker of uncertainty, a shadow of hesitation—and she pulls back.
“Athena, I…” She stops, swallows. “I need some time to process this.” Her fingers tap nervously against her laptop. “I think we both need to figure out what we want.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, not quite meeting my eyes. “Let’s meet at the club. Maybe we can get some of this tension out of our system.”
