Days passed painfully slow and Ruby didn’t know what to do anymore. She had hardly seen Jaxon because he was always busy, at the office, or was just somewhere that wasn’t where she was.
Their relationship had deteriorated and Ruby didn’t know how to revive it.
It was like they had gone back to square one where she loved Jaxon but he was always cold to her.
He always claimed to be busy and avoided her any chance he got. He didn’t kiss her anymore or hold her in his arms, she didn’t even remember when they had hugged last.
He’d stopped calling her his Gem as well. And that close relationship they once had seemed to be so far away. It saddened her to think about how many steps back they had gone in their relationship because of the whole pregnancy fiasco.
The only thing Jaxon still did was cook for her, so maybe all hope hadn’t been lost and he still cared for her. She wondered when their relationship would go back to normal and she worried it would never be the same as the chasm between them seemed to grow larger with each passing day they didn’t reconcile.
Jaxon was at work as usual and she knew she wouldn’t see him again until it was well into the night. And when he came, he would ignore her and go straight to bed. She decided to go see Ophelia because she was tired of being home alone all day, every day. She needed to get out of the house and see a different scenery.
She had completely spaced out and receded into her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed that the taxi had pulled up at the familiar apartment complex.
“Miss, are you getting out of the car or what?” The driver asked, annoyed.
“Oh, sorry.” She mumbled as she rushed out of the car.
“Hey! You haven’t paid yet!” The man yelled and she face palmed mentally. She jammed her hand into her bag and brought out a few dollar bills.
“Keep the change.” She told him then turned back towards the building. She hadn’t wanted any of the drivers at home to take her anywhere because she wanted to go out on her own.
She didn’t know if they would report her whereabouts to Jaxon and she didn’t want to take chances.
If he did know where she was at all times, he must think she was pathetic because she had been sulking in the house for days and this was the first time she had left the house in over a week.
She took the elevator to Ophelia’s floor, and when she got to the door, she knocked and waited. She prayed Ophelia was home because she hadn’t called her up before getting ready and heading over.
The door swung open and Ophelia poked her head out to see who it was.
She immediately opened the door wider when she saw it was Ruby and ushered her in.
“I wasn’t expecting you today, “Ophelia told her as she closed the door behind her.
“I know, I’m sorry. I should have called.” She apologized and Ophelia shrugged it off.
“It’s fine. You’re always welcome here.” She smiled for the first time in over a week and was thankful to have such a caring best friend.
Ophelia looked at her casually, and Ruby noticed the way her eyes darted across her face.
“Okay, spill.” Ophelia sighed.
“I know there’s something wrong. You look like someone killed your puppy and wouldn’t tell you where they buried it.” Ophelia continued and she laughed.
Ophelia had an uncanny way of lifting her spirits even when she didn’t know what was happening. Trust her to be able to tell when something was wrong with just a single glance.
Ophelia took her hands in hers and led her to the couch. They settled down and Ophelia placed a gentle hand on the side of her face.
“Have you been crying?” When had she not been crying? She was sure her eyes had to be permanently swollen from all the crying she’d been doing.
“Don’t answer that. Your eyes are too red to be caused by anything else.”
“Now tell me what’s wrong. Do you have someone you want me to beat up? Jaxon? Kim?” Ophelia asked and she shook her head. The truth is the person who needs to be beaten up was her for being so stupid. But mostly Kim because she was the cause of the whole situation anyway.
“Ruby?” Ophelia pleaded with a worried expression.
“It’s Jaxon and Kim.” She let out. Ophelia settled into the couch with a determined look.
“Talk.” And Ruby did. She told Ophelia about the pregnancy, how she believed Kim when she said Jaxon was the one responsible, and how she had accused Jaxon of betraying her and called him a cheat. Ruby had thought she wouldn’t be able to talk about it, but when she had started she couldn’t stop. The words flowed out of her and she felt lighter and lighter the more she spoke.
Ophelia hadn’t interrupted her either and just let her pour her heart out. When she finished, Ophelia stared at her with wide eyes.
“That’s… A lot that happened in such a short time.” Ophelia commented and she nodded.
“So let me get this straight, Kim tells you she’s pregnant then pins it on Jaxon. You believe her and accuse Jaxon of cheating and betraying you with your sister when in fact he wasn’t the one responsible for the pregnancy but some driver?” Ophelia summed it up and she was surprised that Ophelia could follow the story so well despite it having all its ups and downs.
“Yep.” She replied. She still didn’t know which driver was responsible but that was a revelation for another day.
“And now Jaxon is upset with you because you didn’t believe him?” She nodded again at the question.
“How could I have been so dumb Ophelia? I didn’t trust him and now our relationship is suffering because of it.” She said frustrated. Tears had started to roll down her cheeks and she wiped them off aggressively.
“It’s not your fault, anyone would have thought the same. You just didn’t know Kim was a liar who was jealous of you.” Ophelia consoled her.
“Where is Kim anyway? She’s the one who deserves a beating.” Ophelia said.
“I don’t know.” She didn’t. Kim had disappeared as soon as things had gone south and she had no idea where she was.
“I just want things to go back to the way they were Ophelia.”
“And they will, okay? Just calm down first hmm? I don’t like seeing you all depressed and sorry for yourself.”
Ruby sniffled quietly and Ophelia took her in her arms and patted her back gently. “Everything will be fine okay,” Ophelia reassured.
“I should have just believed him,” Ruby complained.
“Just find a way to talk to him and clear things up, I’m sure he’ll forgive you,” Ophelia told her and Ruby hoped that would be the case.