I find Ruby Jane in her room sitting on a bean bag devouring three slices of pizza. Pizza sauce drips off the corners of her lips and I laugh.
I know some people might find our friendship weird because of our age difference, but she’s like the little sister I never had. Her and Jameson were always close. They didn’t have the best childhood when they were with their mother, so I made it my duty to look after Ruby Jane. I knew what it felt like to not have a mother. Barb tried to fill the role, but we have never been close. I feel closer to Ruby’s Aunt Thea than I do her.
I plop down on the other bean bag and swipe a slice of pizza. The movie starts and for a few hours I am able to forget all my troubles.
“You’ve been super quiet. What’s going on with you?” I question as we clean up our drinks and paper plates.
She chews on her thumbnail. “I want to say something, but I don’t want you to get mad at me.”
“You know you can tell me anything.”
“You promise you won’t be mad at me?”
“I promise.” I can’t imagine her ever doing anything that would make me seriously upset with her.
“My brother…,” she starts, and I inwardly cringe. “I know he did stuff that hurt you, but I think you should hear his side of things.”
“Listen, chick, I adore you as if you were my own blood, but he’s had five years to reach out to me. It’s a little late for that.”
“I just think if you knew everything it could change your perspective.”
I offer her a faint smile. “It doesn’t matter anymore. We’ve both moved on,” I tell her pointedly.
“Have you really though? We both know you felt relief at getting to call off things with Wes.”
I glance at the clock. “Stop being wiser than your years. I gotta go finish packing my luggage.”
“Fine. What time are you leaving?”
“About the time you go to school.”
“Well, good luck tomorrow.” She grins mischievously. This girl. God love her heart.
I nod and close her bedroom door behind me.
As I am leaving, I can hear Thea and Rodney fighting in their bedroom. Damn, is every relationship doomed to fail? I know they’ve had their problems, but I thought they had worked through them. They are just further proof that sometimes love just isn’t enough.
Just like with Jameson and me.
Like I said. There are no happily ever afters.
Fairytales only exist in books and on the screen.
Nothing lasts forever.
**
Taking a deep breath, I grab my last bag and walk out the door to the car that is waiting out front for me to take me to the house I am going to be living in for the next month or however long the filming lasts. When I slide into the backseat, I immediately see that I am not alone.
“What are you doing here?” I question Jameson. He’s like a damn virus that I can’t get rid of. A hot good looking charm your panties off if you didn’t know better virus. His dark hair is rumpled perfectly like he’s been running his fingers through it.
His grin widens and I try not to get pulled in by him and that damn dimple in his right cheek. “I was visiting Ruby Jane so I figured it would be easier if I picked you up and we rode to the house together.” He winks on the word together. Ugh as if. No thanks.
“You’re going to be living there too?” I fold my arms over my chest.
“That going to be a problem for you?”
“Nope.” I pop the P. “No problem. You stay out of my way, and I will stay out of yours.” I twist away from him and glare out the window wondering if I can make a run for Mexico and just go into hiding instead.