Chapter 64
The drive home was much smoother than earlier. The traffic had since slowed down so Ruby could sit back and enjoy the ride. Ruby found herself yet again staring out the window and completely spaced out.
“… Ruby?” Jaxon’s voice pierced through whatever trance she had been in and she blinked rapidly.
“Hmmm… Sorry, I was lost in thought.” She told him. Jaxon only glanced at her before he continued.
“I was asking what my grandfather told you.” He said, then looked at his phone. Jaxon glanced at her again, briefly, before clearing his throat. Ruby visibly jumped and then offered an apologetic smile.
“Lost in thought again?” Jaxon asked and she shook her head.
“I was just thinking.” Jaxon didn’t say anything and continued to look at her expectantly.
“Well?” He said impatiently.
“Oh, we just caught up on things.” She rushed out.
“Is that all?”
“Yes, nothing special happened.” With a slight nod, Jaxon went back to tapping away on his phone. Ruby assumed that it had to do with business so she didn’t bother him.
She found herself staring at him and admired the way the sun cast a shadow on him, creating a picturesque moment. His hair had fallen across his forehead and ever so often, he tilted his head back to get it out of his eyes.
She stared at him for a little longer and wondered what would happen after their contract ended. Would he go on to court a woman and eventually marry her? Her heart squeezed at the thought of him with another woman. Of him marrying her and settling down. She couldn’t bear it, so she had to ask him.
“Jaxon?” She called getting his attention. This was it, the moment of truth. “Yes Gem,” Her heart as he called her that. She didn’t know why he picked up the habit of calling her his Gem but she loved it.
“I was curious and was wondering if you would settle down after the contract ends,” she said. She tried to make it sound like she wasn’t desperate for his answer.
“No.” He told her in a clipped tone then went back to whatever he was doing on his phone. Ruby blinked, once, twice. She hadn’t expected that. Or maybe she didn’t ask him properly?
“Okay, maybe not once the contract ends but after some time, say a year,” she tried again. She sincerely hoped he wouldn’t catch on to what she wanted to find out. Jaxon turned to her slowly and pinned her with his gaze.
“No, I’m not settling down, I’m simply not that kind of man. Once our contract ends, I’m going to start enjoying the single life again.” He told her then looked away.
If Ruby’s heart was squeezing before, now it was completely crushed. She hadn’t thought that Jaxon would say that.
“O-oh… Alright.” She tried to answer as she fought through the pain. She didn’t say anything else and stared out the window so that he wouldn’t notice her eyes that were burning with tears.
Meanwhile, Jaxon’s head was reeling with thoughts. He glanced at Ruby and just like on the car ride to his grandfather’s house, she was pressed against the window.
Though this time he had a feeling she wasn’t looking out of it but was simply trying to look away from him. The strain of her neck muscles told him as much.
His mind drifted to the brief conversation they had had. He had told her he wasn’t going to settle down but in truth, he didn’t know anymore.
If you had asked him this question a couple of months ago he would have told you straight up he wasn’t settling down without a second thought, now he was second guessing himself.
Now more than ever, he was hyper aware that their contract was coming to an end. He didn’t know why but he couldn’t imagine no longer having Ruby around, his Gem. The thought of her with another man was revolting and he knew he wouldn’t be able to bear it if that were to ever happen. All he wanted to do was keep her with him and protect her.
He didn’t know why but just thinking about letting her go made him feel physically sick. He had to admit it to himself, he didn’t want to let her go. Not anymore.
He thought to strike up a conversation with her but decided against it when he noticed how tense she was. Her fists were tightly curled on her lap and she sat in a way that angled her body away from him. She didn’t want to talk to him.
He let out a sigh and went back on his phone.
On arriving home, they both set out to do their own things. Jaxon noticed Ruby was quieter but he didn’t point it out.
He took his time and prepared dinner, making something she liked. Pasta and meatballs. It was a simple meal but he didn’t know why Ruby adored it so much. He called her down to eat and they settled into an uncomfortable silence.
Jaxon couldn’t take it any longer so he broke the ice.
“Do you like it?” He asked, gesturing to her plate.
At that moment, Ruby put a fork full of pasta into her mouth and gave a muffled “mhmm” as a reply.
“Ruby?”
“Yes?”
“Is something wrong?” He asked worriedly.
“No, why would there be.” She said in a dismissive tone. She focused back on her food and didn’t look up again. Jaxon stared at her for a bit before deciding to let it go. He could deal with whatever this was tomorrow.
Dinner ended and Ruby went straight up to her room and locked herself in. She didn’t want to be in Jaxon’s presence any longer because it continuously reminded her of what he said in the car.
Her heart hurt. Just thinking about the fact that he wasn’t even giving love a try hurt her even more. Yet here she was hopelessly in love with him.
She couldn’t possibly tell him now, for all she knew he would laugh in her face and end the contract sooner than planned. And she couldn’t bear that kind of humiliation.
Why did she have to fall for him anyway when there were thousands of loving men out there who would easily win her heart? Why had her heart decided to choose him?