Page 14 of Almost Ours

All I want is my brother back. And it's the one thing I can't have.

Ruby clears her throat after a while, noticing no one has answered her question. I brace myself for her to push, to ask something I can't answer, to force me into a conversation I'm not ready for. But instead, she says, "Has anyone joined a society?"

My gaze snaps to her face. She's changing the subject instead of digging for details. She stood up for me when she didn't have to. Told Bonnie to leave without knowing anything about our history. She took my side without hesitation.

Where the fuck did Brooke find this girl?

"I was thinking about joining the quidditch society myself," she adds, completely straight-faced, not a hint of mockery in her features.

Quidditch? She’s talking about fucking quidditch?

"There's a quidditch society?" Ewan instantly melts into the easier atmosphere. "Are you pulling my leg, Ruby?"

“No.” She shakes her head, glancing at him, her shoulders dropping slightly. “I swear to God, it exists.”

“What?” Brooke sits up straighter, far too invested. “But how do they fly around?”

Ewan looks at her. “You spent six hours getting your hair done the other day and now you want to launch yourself around on a broom?”

Brooke gives him a flat look. “My hair will survive, Ewan.”

“Your mum literally told you she can’t book you another appointment for ages and told you to look after it.”

“I found a girl close by who can do hair. It will be fine.” She turns back to me. “I want to go. It looks fun.”

Listening to Ruby makes the noise in my head ease. The edge inside me dulls, and I find myself relaxing. "How do you know it looks fun if you don't know what it entails?"

Her eyes move to mine, and a warmth spreads through me. "Let me amend my sentence," her lips twitch. "I think it sounded good."

I hear myself say, "We should all join."

"All of us?” Ewan barks, surprised as fuck.

“Including you?" Ruby points at me, dubious. “The boy who doesn’t speak and has been scowling for the last forty minutes?”

"How else would I find out what it's about?"

"Uh," she points directly at her chest and my eyes dart there before I can drag them back up. “Through me."

I swallow, even more aware of how attractive I find her. "What if I were to never see you again?"

"That's not going to happen, Grumpy. Because, in case you forgot, I'm your girlfriend. You're stuck with me."

I bark a laugh, which shocks all of us. "You're not shy, are you, Ruby?"

"Not even slightly. It's my best and worst trait."

"Bit like my scowling.” I cock my head to the side, enjoying the amusement in her face. “My best and worst trait."

She flushes red. "I was only joking about that."

"You weren't." I shake my head a fraction. "I'm renowned for sitting in corners and scowling."

"Renowned?" she echoes.

"Yep," Ewan immediately chimes.

"Renowned," I confirm, shooting him a warning glare. I love my best friend, but he takes it too far with the jokes sometimes.