Page 79 of Almost Ours

“Selfish?” Ruby finally echo’s, her voice broken. “You think I’m selfish?”

Oscar’s face falls. “No. Wait. Look—”

She gives this tiny shake of her head, like she’s trying to clear it, but then her weight starts sinking into me, needing me for support. My arm snakes around her waist, pulling her back against me so she doesn’t have to hold herself up.

Oscar takes another step forward, looking more broken now then he did when I opened the door. “Ruby—”

I start moving her away. “I think you should probably leave, Oscar.”

“Fuck off, Josh. This is nothing to do with you.”

“That might be true, mate, but I’m not going to stand here and let this continue when you’re both getting worked up.”

“This is between me and my sister.”

“Right.” I nod, continuing to turn Ruby away from him, to try and protect her however I can. “And you can have this chat when you’re calmer and I’m not here. But right now, you’re both getting upset and I don’t like it.”

Oscar looks at me like he genuinely cannot believe I’ve just said that to him.

“Just go, Oscar.” Ruby mutters, moving until her face is buried in my chest. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Rubes…” Oscar whispers, seemingly realising he’s fucked up here. His eyes move over the back of her head, then down to where my arm is locked around her.

She shakes her head against me.

Oscar drags a hand over his face and looks towards the corridor. “Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” I watch him as he fumbles for the right words. “I’m really sorry. I’m not trying to upset you.” He takes a deep ragged breath before expelling loudly. “I’ll go.”

Ruby doesn’t move, she brings her hands up to cover her face and I’m worried she might be crying.

I need him to go so I can check her over properly.

Oscar looks at Ruby, “Fuck. Okay. Yeah. Look, I love you.” He takes a step back. “I’m sorry I said that. But I’ll call you later, okay?”

She nods against me.

“Okay.” He dips his chin, then he turns and strides off.

What the actual fuck just happened?

I wait until he’s disappeared down the corridor before I push the door shut with my foot, trying not to jostle Ruby too much. I give her a minute even though my mind is racing.

I feel almost unbearably protective of her.

The idea of anyone making her feel small, or guilty, or anything other than completely fucking adored makes something vicious kick up inside me. I don’t care who it is either. Oscar, her mum, a stranger, my own nan. If Nan said something that made Ruby fold in on herself like this, I’d probably stick her in a wheelie bin and push it down a flight of stairs before stopping to remember she’s seventy-eight and would haunt me forever.

It’s not logical. But with Ruby, logic seems to be becoming less and less relevant.

My voice is low when I speak. “Rubes? You alright?”

She nods against my chest.

I swallow. “Can I see your face?”

She shakes her head.

“Okay.” I leave her there for another breath, my arm still firm around her waist while her hands grip the front of my T-shirt, but not being able to see her is driving me fucking mad. “I just want to check you’re okay.”

“I’m fine.”