161: Eloise’s POV

I’m lying on my bed with my eyes open.

I’ve been doing this for hours.

Every time I think I’m close to sleep, my body jerks awake like it doesn’t trust rest anymore.

My legs keep shifting under the covers. My fingers keep twisting the edge of my pillow.

No need fighting it, I am definitely not getting any sleep tonight and it’s all that asshole’s fault.

I groan quietly and roll onto my back.

“This is stupid,” I mutter.

The room is dark, quiet, it’s too quiet and that makes my thoughts a lot louder than they should be.

My phone is face down on the mattress beside me. I don’t touch it.

If I flip it over and don’t see Ruby’s name, I might actually lose it.

I was really hoping she wouldn’t block me everywhere before the sun came up.

I bet Gabrielle and Lindsay would love that.

I squeeze my eyes shut. No need imagining the worst case scenarios.

Luca’s face flashes in my head and my stomach twists.

The audacity.

The utter nerve of him.

The way he leaned in like I was meant to give in to whatever charms he had and just kiss him.

I sit up sharply.

“I hate you,” I whisper, to no one.

That’s when I hear it.

Tap.

I freeze.

Another sound follows.

Tap. Tap.

My heart slams into my ribs.

I slide out of bed and move toward the window slowly, every nerve in my body on edge. I part the curtain just enough to look down.

Ruby is standing outside.

Hood pulled over her hair. Hands tucked into her jacket.

She looks up like she already knows I’m there.

My chest tightens painfully.

I unlock the window and push it open.

“Ruby?” I whisper urgently. “What are you doing here?”

“Can you let me in?” she asks quietly.

My brain short-circuits. “I…..yeah. Yes. Hold on.”

I close the window quickly and rush to my bedroom door, easing it open and listening.

The hallway is silent. No footsteps. No voices.

I doubt anyone is awake and I can even hear Marilyn snoring from her room.

I tiptoe down the stairs, my heart pounding louder than my steps, unlock the back door, and slip outside.

Ruby looks relieved the second she sees me.

I grab her wrist and pull her toward the door. “Come on. Quickly.”

She follows without a word.

I lock the door behind us and guide her through the dark house, holding my breath at every creak of the floor.

When we finally make it back into my room, I shut the door softly and lean against it.

We stare at each other.

Neither of us speaks for a second.

Then Ruby steps forward and wraps her arms around me.

Tight.

It feels just like heaven.

I gasp, then sink into her like my body has been waiting for this exact moment.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt into her shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”

She shakes her head. “Don’t.”

“I should’ve stopped him faster. I should’ve….. I tried”

“Eloise,” she says firmly, pulling back just enough to look at me. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

My eyes burn. “I hate that you saw that.”

“I hate that it happened,” she corrects.

I nod. “I never wanted him. I swear.”

“I know,” she says.

I search her face. “You don’t sound angry.”

“I was,” she admits. “I still am. Just not at you.”

My shoulders sag in relief.

“I didn’t want to be alone tonight,” she adds quietly.

“Me neither,” I say instantly.

She exhales and looks around my room.

“You’re sneaking me in, huh?”

I manage a small smile. “I already did.”

She laughs softly. The sound loosens something in my chest.

I sit on the bed and she follows, close enough that our knees touch.

“I thought you didn’t want to see me,” I admit.

“I needed time,” she says. “But I didn’t want distance.”

I nod. “I would’ve waited.”

“I know,” she replies.

Silence stretches between us.

It’s not awkward, just heavy with everything we haven’t said.

Ruby reaches for my hand.

“Can I stay?” she asks.

“For the night?” I say.

“Yes.”

“Of course,” I say immediately. “Stay.”

She squeezes my fingers. “Thank you.”

I stand and grab an extra hoodie, tossing it to her.

“You should change out of your clothes if you plan to wear them tomorrow. You can sleep in this if you want.”

She catches it. “Yours?”

“Unfortunately,” I say dryly.

She smirks. “I think I prefer this.”

We both change quietly, turning our backs like we’re not in a relationship.

When I crawl under the covers, she hesitates for half a second before joining me.

The mattress dips.

She lies on her side, facing me.

“You okay?” she asks.

“I think so,” I say. “Better now.”

She nods. “Good.”

I reach out slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wants. She doesn’t.

Instead, she moves closer until her forehead rests against mine.

“I don’t want him anywhere near us again,” she murmurs.

“Neither do I,” I say. “I promise.”

She studies my face. “You mean that?”

“Yes.”

“Okay,” she says softly.

I wrap my arm around her waist and she tucks herself into me like it’s natural, like it’s always been this way.

Her body is warm. Familiar.

My breathing finally slows.

We lie there quietly for a while.

“Thank you for coming,” I say eventually.

“I wasn’t sleeping either,” she admits. “I kept thinking about you.”

I smile faintly. “Same.”

She shifts slightly. “If I fall asleep, don’t push me off the bed.”

I huff a small laugh. “I won’t.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Her fingers curl into my shirt.

“Good,” she mumbles. “I love you, Eloise Perkins”

“I love you too, Ruby Padre”

Minutes pass.

Her breathing evens out first.

I stay awake a little longer, listening, holding her carefully like I’m afraid the moment will break if I move wrong.

Eventually, my eyes close too.

And for the first time all night, I sleep.