Chapter 88
I left and messaged Alaric to let him know. When I got home, I walked into the kitchen. Bex and Ivy looked towards me.
“You left on our girl’s night!” Bex glares at me.
“Oh, come on. You didn’t even notice. I told you this morning.” Ivy laughs. “You were that drunk and didn’t notice she disappeared.”
“Fine, I didn’t notice, but you left for Jake!” Bex stares at me in disbelief.
“I did, yes. He apologised, explained what happened, and what changed.”
They stare at me. “You took him back and stayed.” Bex looks at me, shocked.
“No, we spoke. He left, and I waited to speak to Alaric. I stayed last night with Alaric, not Jake.”
“So he stopped ignoring you?” Ivy laughs.
“He had no choice; I was at his when he walked in. However, I
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did realise that my timing in saying we should take a step back made it look like I had used him for revenge.”
Ivy laughs. “I told you that. You did it the moment Jake knew. Now, why do you have Alaric’s car?”
Oh, of course, they would notice. I was at his business; he gave me the keys to come back and will drive my car back later.” I sit with them and explain that things are sorted.
We’re going slow, but sorted.
“Ruby, do you want to help me?” I turn to Ivy, confused. “Just say yes.”
Hell no, is she crazy? Just say yes! “I’m not saying yes before I know what you want my help with.”
“I fell out with Oliver, but he will talk to you. He’s at a party.”
Wait. Does she really want me to find Oliver? “Ivy, if you fell out, then you need to talk to him.”
“I can’t. I was annoyed and told him to block me because I never wanted to speak to him again. So he has, and well, his friends won’t let me in the house.”
Laughing,
I nod. “What did you argue over?”
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She looks down at her hands. “Sam messaged me, and I spoke to him; it was innocent, but I lied to Oliver about who was on the phone, so now he thinks it’s more than it was.”
My eyes widen. “Why would you lie?”
“I panicked! He found it weird that one of my best friends at home is a guy and an ex. Please.” She looks at me with puppy eyes.
“Fine, I will walk around there now.” Standing, I walk out, and Bex joins me.
“Two will work better than one; if he tries to run, I will stop him.” I laugh and nod at her words. We walk in to the house, and I look around; I find Oliver sitting with friends. He looks hurt.
He smiles at me but then glares at Bex. “What did you do?” I turn and look at her.
“Threatened to kill him if he didn’t unblock her, so he blocked
me.”
“Go away. You will make it worse.” I push her away and walk to Oliver.
“If you’re here for Ivy, don’t waste your time.” He stares at his drink.
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“Ask me anything about Sam; I know everything.” He looks at me. “I can tell you easily, Oliver. It’s been six years since they dated. They grew up together; she ended things with him. They still talk once a month and maybe see each other twice a year.”
“He’s her ex.”
I nod at his words. “Yes, come on, Oliver. You’re here; he’s about six hours away. She fucked up lying about who it was. She panicked. Are you really going to let a guy who is six hours away push you out of the relationship?”
He stands, and I follow him through the kitchen. I watch as he hands me a drink and leans onto the counter.
“I don’t care that it’s her ex. She lied, and that hurt–not as much as her flying off the handle and telling me to block her.”
Nodding, I understand how he feels. Alaric blocked me. I also know why she did it, though. “Oliver, has Ivy told you about the relationship she was in after Sam? The guy called Harry?” His head shakes.
“I won’t get into it, but it wasn’t good, arguments were bad, really bad. It means Ivy panics when there are arguments or shouting. Her telling you to block her was safety; she blocked Harry, and he just got new numbers; she changed her number, and he found out. You need to speak to her.”
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What she did was wrong, but I know her issues with trust and Harry cause it.
“See, she hasn’t told me. She barely told me anything after she left Sam.” He rubs his face and sighs.
“Because she lost her life with Harry for over three years. You’re the first guy after Harry; I’m not saying anything else; speak to her, Oliver.” I can’t fix this. Only they can.
“Thanks, Ruby.” He hugs me, and I watch him walk out. Ivy should have told him about Harry by now. Standing, I turn to leave.
“Hey.”
stop and look at Max. “Hi, Max.” Moving, I go to step around him, his body moving in the way.
“So, you and Oliver?”
My eyes widen. “No! He’s with Ivy” What the hell?
“You looked cosy.” He leans into me.
“We were talking; now move.” I step around him, his body moving and blocking my path. He pushes the door closed. “Max,
move.”
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“Make me Ruby.” He stands smirking.
“Move!” I push past him to get to the door, but his hand grabs.
me.
“Oh, come on, Ruby, you used Oliver and Jake’s dad for revenge, so why not use me?” He moves to kiss me, my hands pushing him back. As he pulls me closer, the sound of my top ripping makes me panic.
He forces his mouth on mine, opening mine; I bite against his lip, hearing him scream. His hand pushes me back before swinging and hitting my face. My head hits off the side, and I groan, watching his body fall forward.
“Ruby?” Bex looks at me, turning back to Max. “I will cut you open!”
I groan when I hear Bex. “Don’t; let’s just go. Forget him; you’re not getting arrested for him.” I pull her out of the kitchen.
“It would be for you, not him.” She glares at him as I pull her out. “You should let me. You have a black eye!”
“Forget it. I’ve had enough drama without adding to it. I don’t exactly help, do I, kissing Oliver, then sleeping with Jake’s dad.” My eyes roll as we walk home.
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“That’s no excuse for him to do it. I’m going back, just letting you know that when you’re asleep, I’m going back.”
I smile at her. “Thanks, but don’t get yourself in shit. Did you know Ivy hadn’t told Oliver about Harry?” I’m hoping the change in conversation makes her forget about her quest to make Max bleed.
“No, I thought she had.” She looked at me, shocked. “That explains things. When I mentioned it to her, she quickly changed the conversation.” We continued to talk about it on the way. back.
Walking in, I laugh at her explaining her threats to Oliver; I don’t blame him for hiding from her. Any sane guy would after getting her threats.
“Alaric is in the living room.” Ivy stares at me. “What happened?”
“Nothing.” I go to walk past, but Oliver stops me. “I fell down some steps, don’t.” I walk into the living room, hearing them talking. Alaric is sitting glaring at his phone, acting like it can see his expression and portray his mood in whatever he is doing.
“If you glare at it a little bit harder, it might actually combust,” I smirk.
He chuckles slightly and smiles. “I’m not glaring at the phone.”
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“Okay, well, you realise glaring at t doesn’t make the person. see, right?” He is wasting his energy on it.
Laughing, he looks at me, his eyes widening. “What the hell happened?”
“I fell down some steps. How did your meeting go?” I sit next to him.
“Do I really look that fucking dumb?” I sit, shocked by his bluntness. “Ruby, what happened?”
“I said. I fell down some steps.” I smirk, and his eyes roll.
“Did Max really do that?” I turn, seeing Oliver at the door.
“No, I fell down steps.” Fuck sake. I glare at Bex, and she laughs. I swear she loves drama and people fighting.
“Had you let me hit him a few times, ‘I would have gone with your story of you falling down the steps, but you wouldn’t even let me hit him once, so I’m not lying.” She stands looking smug.
“It’s nothing. All of you forget it.” I turn to Alaric. “Your meeting?”
“What happened?” He looks away from me to Bex.
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“Okay.” Alaric shrugs, but his tone suggests he has a plan. “You need to eat, so let’s go out for food.” He walks to the door, and I follow before stopping. I glance down at my top. “Yeah, your can’t wear that outside. It’s ripped.”
“Let me change.” I smile at him and walk off. Getting into my room, I quickly change and sort out my hair. Walking back down, I see Bex and Ivy. Wait. “Oh, I fucking fell for it!”
They laugh and nod. “It was so easy, you didn’t even realise. You just walked off, and he walked out with Oliver.” Bex stands laughing.
Standing, I feel annoyed. “It’s not funny! You should have told me he left.”
“I just did.” Bex smirks. “Sorry, but Max needs to be taught a fucking lesson, and you can’t stop them because they left in Alaric’s car.” She stands smiling.
“Forget it. I’m going to my room and hoping no one gets arrested.” I slammed the door as I walked upstairs. I didn’t want the drama.
Twenty minutes later, my door opens, and Alaric walks in; I glare at him, and he laughs. He moves and climbs onto my body, his mouth moving against mine, his tongue moving into my mouth.
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Moaning, my hips push up as I pull him closer. His hands grasp my wrists and pin my hands down while his mouth moves faster.
“Let’s go get food for real this time.” He smiles at me and moves back, and my mouth drops open.
“No, you can’t just come in, tease me and make me think about sex, and make me think it’s happening to stop and say we’re going for food.” Nope, my head shakes.
“We’re going for food. You’re eating; the longer you refuse, the longer you have to wait for me to touch you again.” He stands smirking.
“Fine, but I want to know what you did with Max?” I grab my bag and jacket, and he walks out. Moving, I follow him. “Alaric, what happened with Max?”
“I taught him manners in the same way I would my son if he hit a woman.” He holds the car door open for me. That doesn’t tell me what happened. I feel like texting Jake and asking what he would do to him if he had ever hit me, just so I know.
“Alaric,” I watch as he turns, smiles at me, and starts to drive. “Don’t smile; answer me. What happened?”
“I told you, I taught him manners.
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Fine, clearly, he won’t tell me, so I will ask Oliver later. He will tell
me.