Everyone burst into laughter just as Jett and Patience walked through the door. The teenage girl’s eyes widened at all the people as mine had done moments before. I watched in fascination as my brother seemed to sense her discomfort and he reached down and slipped his hand into hers.
Embry’s arms dropped from my legs and she ran toward them, plowing into Jett when she reached the two of them. “Hi, I’m Embry,” she announced, holding on to Jett, but looking at Patience. “Do you sing too?” she asked the teen.
Patience nodded. “Yeah, do you?”
“Oh yeah, all the time. Can I sing with you guys?” Embry bounced up and down causing more laughter.
“Sure,” Patience said.
“Is it okay with your mom?” Jett asked.
Embry ran over to Jurnee. “Mommy. Can I go with them, pretty please?”
I watched as her mom pretended to think about it, knowing she would get her way. There was no doubt the little girl could charm anyone she wanted to.
After Jurnee told her yes she ran back to the teens and they headed out the door.
“She’ll be okay with them,” Lyric said, looking at Jurnee.
I hated that anyone needed to possibly worry because what was going on with me had taken place at our house. But Jurnee looked okay and said she knew it would be fine.
“Ladies, let’s show Ruby what we brought,” Alley said.
Everyone was there except for Gemma. I hoped everything was okay with her. All the ladies approached me and plucked me from Lyric’s hold.
“We will bring her back when we are done. It’s girl bonding time,” Brinley told him.
He put his hands in the air. “Well don’t let me get in the way of girl time,” he said with a laugh.
We all headed toward Autumn’s room and I wondered not for the first time what I’d done to deserve such great friends.
And Lyric had been right once again.
They wereourfriends.
ChapterFifteen
LYRIC
Keepingmy hands off Ruby was going to be hard.
We were leaving early in the morning to drive up to Seattle and it was clear the woman was pooped out. She thrived in the presence of the ladies who spread love and gifts for a little girl they don’t even know yet.
None of us knew.
But that would never stop me or our wonderful group of friends. Since getting to know them myself I saw nothing but selfless acts of kindness. And they welcomed people into their fold and took care of them when needed.
Once they all left, something Embry was not happy about, we had dinner and then Gramps and Jett went to bed. Ruby and I worked hand in hand to clean up the dinner dishes, then I ushered her to her room. I had been staying there any nights I could so it had begun to feel like our room.
Ruby had seen my place but with the worry about someone out there stalking her, neither of us felt right not being at her place at night. I hoped they gave up but I had learned that there are some bad seeds out there and when all is quiet, that is when you truly need to be on alert.
It was hard with both of us having two jobs but I knew she was only doing a few modeling jobs she’d already agreed to and then she was backing away from some of that for a while until Autumn got settled. Then she may go back to it. While she did it for money in the beginning, there was a part of her that had grown to like it so I hated to see her give up something she wanted to do. It depended on the job she told me at one time. But her family came first and she was gaining a member.
I knew that too. And I had come to think of Ruby, Jett, and Gramps as family. I also didn’t doubt that I’d feel that way about Autumn too. That was probably why a part of me was thinking about my own changes to free up time so I had more to give to them. It would be a big change and I wasn’t sure how Ruby would feel about it since I hadn’t spoken to her yet. First I needed to talk to the guys.
All thoughts fled my mind when the bathroom door opened and Ruby walked out in only a pair of red, silk panties. Her long, toned legs made my mouth water as she walked toward me with every lush curve of her body on display and her red hair cascading free over her shoulders. God she was breathtaking.
A groan left my lips and I had to remind myself she needed sleep.
