Chapter 209

Ruby

I'm sitting in my car watching Morgan and Caleb eat through The Café window. This is what I've been reduced to. It's been a week since the shooting, and so far, Caleb's refused to see me. I went to see him the other night, and it was a bad scene.

"What are you doing here?" Caleb opens his door, arms crossed over his chest. "I figured me not answering any of your calls let you know I'm not up to talking to anyone right now. Including you."

Not gonna lie, this hurts. Seeing him like this hurts, hearing him talk to me the way he is hurts. But I won't give up on him. I promised Kelsea months ago that I would be here if he needed me, that I could handle whatever was thrown at me.

"You need me," I talk against the tightness in my throat.

"I need to be left the fuck alone. You. Mom. Dad. You all need to leave me the fuck alone."

"We won't," I shake my head standing my ground. "We won't leave you alone to deal with this by yourself."

"Fine, then if you won't leave, I will."