Somewhere on St. Thomas: A Somewhere Series Romance by Neal Toby

Author:Neal, Toby [Neal, Toby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Toby Neal
Published: 2015-08-18T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Things had reached critical mass with my stage production and classes were winding down to finals several weeks later. One evening at around nine p.m., I walked out of the backstage door onto campus, surrounded by laughing, talking new theater friends.

A shadow detached from the wall, and I felt a hand on my arm. “Ruby.”

I turned. The exterior light fell on a familiar face. “Henry!”

“I’ve been watching rehearsals. I didn’t know you could sing. And act! You’re amazing.”

“Thanks.” I mopped my face as I walked with one of the rough towels we used for removing makeup. “I tried out on a whim, and it turns out I’ve got a dramatic flair. I learned that from Juliette, at least.”

He fell into step beside me as we headed toward my dorm. We dropped behind my gaggle of loudly talking friends.

“I miss you.”

“I’m sorry. I haven’t changed my mind about breaking up being the right thing,” I said.

“Ruby, I am not going to creep you out by hanging around the theater anymore, but you know where I am if you change your mind,” he said, and then leaned down to kiss me.

I let him.

It was soft and gentle.

It was goodbye.

I broke away with a little wave and ran to catch up with my friends, still feeling bad I’d ever let Henry get that attached to me.

* * *

This must be the week for confrontations.

That was my thought as I opened the door of the suite and there stood Sam, his broad back turned to me as he talked to Phillip, who’d turned out to have a lot more going on than I’d initially given him credit for and seemed to be making Shellie happy.

I looked a mess, I knew, with my hair in twin braids for my role as Nancy the pickpocket and wearing a sweaty ragamuffin outfit I’d planned to wash that night. I stuck the key in my door, determined not to get into anything, but Sam’s hand dropped to my shoulder.

“Hi, Ruby,” he said. “Can we talk?”

“I’m really tired from rehearsal,” I said. “How about tomorrow?” I kept my bare, greasy face turned to the door, my cheeks hot with anxiety. I wasn’t tired. I was keyed up and antsy, but I didn’t want a fight with Sam right now.

Or ever.

“Listen.” He’d drawn close. His bulk felt like a solid wall behind me. “I was an ass, coming onto you in your own bed like that. I don’t take competition well. I’m sorry.”

I blew out a breath, sagging so that my forehead rested on the door. “Can I at least shower first?”

“Of course. I’ll fix you a drink.” He moved away, back to Shellie’s side, where a party was in the process of developing.

I slipped into my room.

It was a mess from my crazy schedule. I took five minutes to throw the worst of the clutter and dirty clothes into the closet and to make sure there were some pillows and a chair for us to sit on. I didn’t want to end up on the bed with him in any form.

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