“Odessa, I’m not interested in anything you have to offer. So, stop trying to get me back. You had your chance, and you blew it.”
She followed my gaze and scowled. “Is this about her? The nutcase? Why the fuck are you wasting your time, Cap? From what I hear, she’s one pill away from taking a much-needed dirt nap.”
It took everything in me not to grab the bitch by the throat and throw her against the wall. But I refrained, turning indifferent instead.
“Fuck off, Odessa.”
Pushing past her, I started the long walk toward Ruby, ready to explain everything, but before I even made it two steps, Odessa jumped in front of me, pouncing on me without warning.
Her lips invaded my face, and her hands were trying to grope me in places she wasn’t allowed to touch anymore. The kiss only lasted two seconds, enough time for her to do the damage she needed to do.
Odessa wiped her mouth, smiling evilly when she saw Ruby racing out of the club.
“Whoops,” she said with a smirk. “Looks like the headcase saw us.”
“Stay the fuck away from me, Odessa. I don’t need your shit.”
This time I physically pushed her out of my way. I wasn’t about to let this ruin my progress with Ruby. But first, I would have to catch her.
Chapter Eighteen
I shouldn’t feel so betrayed. Cap wasn’t my boyfriend, hell he was barely my friend, but seeing that girl kiss him like that sent me into a jealous rage. Before I saw them together, I overheard her and another girl talking about him… and me.
She was bragging about how she was going to win Cap back. All she had to do was get the headcase out of the way. The headcase being me.
She wasn’t wrong. I am a fucking headcase. Crazy for having feelings for a man I barely just met. Too damaged to pursue anything more than this relationship we already have together. I was being so stupid right now, but I needed air. As I rushed outside, the skies opened up into a beautiful drizzle of fresh rain, and I collapsed just outside the building, holding back the emotion clogging up my chest.
“Ruby, wait!” Cap hollered, coming to a stop just behind me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Cap. Don’t worry about me.”
He knelt down beside me, the rain not bothering him at all. “I always worry about you, Ruby. I wouldn’t be able to stop if I tried.”
My head shot up, my eyes narrowing on him. “Because I’m a headcase, right? I know what everyone here thinks of me, and why shouldn’t they? I tried to kill myself not even three weeks ago. I’m a fucking miserable human being who just drags people down.”
His hand, now slightly wet and shimmering with beautiful droplets of rain, cupped my cheek. “Don’t say that, Ruby. You’re not dragging me down. If anything, you’re brightening my world.”
“Don’t say things like that, Cap. I’m not good for you,” I whimpered. “I’m not even good for myself.”
He brought me to my feet, his hand never leaving my cheek. “That’s where you’re wrong, Ruby. I’ve never met anyone like you in my life. A man like me would be blessed to have a woman like you by his side. Please stop talking bad about yourself. You’re perfectly imperfect, and I love every part of you. Even the dark parts and the broken pieces that I’m still searching for to help piece you back together.”
I wasn’t sure if it was tears or rain dripping down my face, but whatever it was, it had me moving forward, desperate to close this space between us and feel something other than pain.
My lips covered his, and I felt his arms stiffen around me, then relax, bringing me in until he was practically squeezing me. If we weren’t in public, I’d probably be ripping his clothes off, but I didn’t, clinging to his cut as I allowed him to explore my mouth with his tongue.
Like a heavy weight, guilt brought me back down to earth, making me push him away.
“I’m sorry,” I breathed out. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“It’s okay, Ruby. I wanted it too.”
Hanging my head in shame, I started vigorously shaking it, unable to handle the consequences of my actions. It was like I could feel Chase fading away, and I couldn’t handle that.
“No, you don’t understand,” I howled, digging into the roots of my hair with my fingers. “That was a mistake. I’m not ready…”
Cap pressed a finger against my lips, smiling. “I know, Ruby. We just needed to get it out of our system.”
Nodding in agreement, I took a step back. “The sexual tension was pretty thick. A butter knife couldn’t touch that shit.”
