Page 78 of Almost Ours

“She’s nineteen.”

“She’s my sister.”

“That doesn’t make you her fucking keeper! Or give you the right to fucking scare her!”

“Josh,” Ruby warns behind me.

Oscar takes a step closer and I have to fight the parts of myself telling me to move out of his way. He looks genuinely ready to put me through the wall. “You know absolutely fuck all about me and Ruby, so I’d be very careful about telling me what I can or can’t do.”

“Mate,” I let out a laugh. “Do I look like I give a fuck? You just scared the shit out of her.”

“Both of you, shut the fuck up,” Ruby snaps, coming around me and stepping into view. She glares at her brother. “What do you want?”

Oscar’s attention shifts to her and the fury in his face doesn’t vanish, but it changes, becomes a bit less harsh. He looks her over from head to toe, taking in my jumper, her bare legs, the state of her hair, before settling back on her face “Where did you get to last night?”

She gestures towards her room. “I came back and got into bed.”

Oscars face sours. “With him?”

“So what if she did?” I hotly demand. Why is he acting like a jealous fucking ex?

Ruby glances at me. “Yeah. Josh came back with my phone because I left it in Brooke’s bag, and we watched a film.”

Oscar tuts. “You just disappeared, Ruby.”

“Josh told Brooke I had left.”

“Nobody told me.”

Ruby bristles, annoyance thrumming through her and she juts her chin out. “I didn’t know I had to.”

“You at least have to text me to tell me you’re safe.”

Have to? Why does she have to do anything? He’s her brother not her fucking dad. Who is he to dictate what she can and can’t do? And why is he saying it like they’ve had this argument a million times already?

“I don’t need permission to leave a club, Oscar.”

“This is bullshit, Ruby.” Oscar hisses, his resentment and fury clear as day. “I’ve been up half the night in a state of pure worry.”

“Because you don’t trust me,” Ruby hisses right back, stepping backwards and straight into me, her back rubbing my chest. “You and mum still don’t trust me.”

“It’s not about trust.” Oscar voice is laced with venom. “It’s about making sure you are alright!”

I’m so fucking lost I can barely keep up.

“I am fine!” She throws her hands up. “You’ve seen me and I look fine, do I not?”

“You do,” he nods, then points a finger at her, his whole hand shaking. “But I have every right to check, and don’t you dare act like I don’t.”

“This can’t be the rest of my life, Oscar. It’s been years—”

“I was worried!”

“You’re always worried.”

“Because you give me reasons to be! You’re so irresponsible, Ruby! And you don’t seem to care that your actions have a massive impact on me.” He thumps his chest hard once. “I never thought you would be so bloody selfish! But since you’ve got here you haven’t given a shit about how your choices could affect me. All I’m asking for is a fucking text back!”

There’s a long, long moment of intense, horrific silence.