Chapter 16: Rayna
Rayna’s laughter was warm, full of affection, and Ruby could hear the teasing in it. "Sure thing. I’ll text you the details. Don’t take too long though, okay? I’ve got so much to tell you. It’s been way too long since we’ve had one of our chats and you can also tell me about what is going on with you when you show up."
Ruby couldn’t stop the slight smile that tugged at her lips. It felt good to hear Rayna’s voice like this, carefree and playful. For just a moment, she could pretend everything was normal. The world outside her bedroom felt a little less heavy.
"I’ll be there soon," Ruby said, ending the call. She quickly tapped a message to Rayna, asking for the hotel and room number so that Rayna wouldn’t forget.
As she hit send, her thoughts swirled again. Rayna’s arrival was a distraction, but it was the kind of distraction Ruby needed right now.
It felt strange, though, to know that Rayna was so close, yet there was still so much Ruby had to hide. She didn’t want to burden her friend with all the things she was dealing with. But then, there was nothing she could do. Rayna was the only person she could talk to.
Ruby paced across the room, her mind still racing as she waited for the hotel name. What was she supposed to do about everything?
The blackmail, the lies, the secret she was hiding from Stefan. She felt like she was playing a dangerous game, and the stakes were getting higher with every passing day.
But for now, she had a friend to see. And maybe, just maybe, Rayna would help her figure out what to do next. At least, Ruby hoped so.
Immediately her phone buzzed, she sighed and glanced at it. "Thank God," she muttered out loud when she saw it was the address.
Ruby hurried out of her room, keys in hand, the weight of her thoughts still heavy on her shoulders. She didn’t want to linger too long in the house; she needed to escape, even if just for a little while. Her friend, Rayna, was waiting for her, and the idea of seeing someone who didn’t expect anything from her felt like a much-needed relief.