Chapter 21

Ruby pulled up in front of her house and let a long breath seep out through her teeth. She knew taking Parker’s car was a stupid thing. But so was him flying his hot air balloon when he knew he shouldn’t. When Ruby had seen the balloon spread out on the ground like that, she’d imagined Parker sprawled out just like it, limbs twisted at odd angles. The flashbacks from Clark’s death had hit her so suddenly, and so hard, she’d panicked. Thank goodness all her years of training had kicked in and she’d managed to land the plane safely. The man had only asked to see her pilot’s license, which had never expired. Maybe because it was an emergency, he hadn’t asked to see the card that really mattered—the one that showed she’d actually kept up to date with her flights and training. He had then been kind enough to give her a ride to Parker’s car, which she was supposed to drive back to the motel.

Ruby had done that. But she had been so angry at Parker, she couldn’t imagine having to see him again, let alone having to drive three hours alone in the car with him. Without thinking things through, she had thrown all her stuff in the back of the car and driven off. It hadn’t been as scary as Ruby had thought it would be. Muscle memory had kicked in and it was like she had never stopped driving. She’d just made sure to stay under the speed limit to avoid the attention of any cops. Though it hadn’t really been stealing—she had been given the keys after all. It was more like borrowing. Sort of.

The drive had given her a lot of time to think, but Ruby still felt as conflicted and confused as when she had left the motel. She knew she had feelings for Parker; she couldn’t deny that. And he was a good man. He was kind, funny, adventurous, and successful. Parker was the kind of man that would make a lucky woman very happy.

But she couldn’t be with someone who thought so little of his personal safety that he’d knowingly fly into dangerous circumstances. Ruby couldn’t handle losing another person she cared about.

She had just stepped out of the car when her front door opened and Zoe bounded down the steps. She wrapped Ruby in a hug. “I’m so sorry I hung up on you. I’ve tried calling you several times today, but it always goes to voicemail. I was so worried.”

Ruby pulled out her phone. She had turned it off so she wouldn’t have to talk to Parker once he realized his car was gone. “I needed some space. Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

For the first time, Zoe looked beyond Ruby. “Where’s Parker?”

“Probably somewhere in the middle of the desert on his way here to get his car back.”

Zoe gawked. “You drove his car?”

Ruby nodded, bracing herself for the tongue lashing she was about to receive.

Instead, Zoe squealed with excitement. “That is the best news I’ve heard in four years.”

“I just stole a car and drove without a license,” Ruby said. “And this is a good thing?”

Zoe grinned. “Oh, yeah. You went off with a boy on a road trip, slept in the same bed with him, then stole his car. That’s the most irresponsible thing I’ve ever heard of. You guys are totally doomed, but I think that’s just what you needed.” She then became stern and pointed a finger at Ruby. “But don’t make a habit of it.”

Ruby laughed. “I do feel freer than I have in years, but you’re right, it’s not really my style.” She walked over to the car and opened the back door. “I better get my stuff inside before Parker shows up.”

“Here, I’ll help,” Zoe said. She took Ruby’s bag from her and Ruby grabbed her pillow. They had made it halfway across the yard when Andy’s truck pulled up behind the car.

Parker jumped out and Ruby grimaced. She had been hoping she could just leave his key in the ignition and he’d take the car without her having to talk to him. Parker spoke to Andy and the truck took off.

“I’m…going to go do something inside,” Zoe said, speed-walking toward the house, leaving Ruby standing alone.

Parker walked straight up to Ruby. He glared down at her. “You stole my car.”

Ruby returned his glare and placed her hands on her hips. “And you almost died.”

“No, I didn’t,” Parker said. “I had everything under control.”

“That’s not what it looked like from where I was flying,” Ruby said. “I saw the balloon in the lake. And I didn’t see you.” Tears pricked her eyes, and she tried to keep it together. “You know what I’ve been through, and yet you still took the balloon up in unsafe conditions.”

“You flew,” Parker said, his eyes lighting up. “When I heard that—I’m so happy for you.”

Hope swelled within Ruby, but she shoved it back down. He was distracting her. Parker needed to know that what he had done wasn’t okay.

“Stop changing the subject. You did a reckless and stupid thing, and you didn’t care who you hurt. I stood up for you, and I wish I never had.”

“Did Rafael or Andy tell you why I took the balloon up?” Parker asked.

“Only that you were going through some family issues,” Ruby said. “I get needing to take some space, but not like that.”

Parker groaned. “Of all the times they decide to be loyal and actually listen to me when I ask them not to repeat something I tell them.”

“Why did you do it? Why did you go up?”

Parker sat on the front steps and sighed. “My parents. They’re splitting up. I’ve based all my relationships on what I thought the perfect relationship looked like—on my parents. And now I’m left wondering how many times I’ve passed up my chance at happiness because I had unrealistic expectations.” He closed his eyes. “I was angry. I needed space, and flying was the only way I knew how to wrap my head around things.”

Ruby’s heart broke for Parker. She wondered if watching her parents separate would have been worse than dealing with their deaths. She sat down beside Parker. “I’m so sorry that you’re having to go through that. That is so hard, and I’m here for you. You don’t have to deal with this alone.” She shook her head. “But when I saw you—when I thought—” Her voice broke. She struggled to say the words. “I can’t handle someone else I care about…dying. You put me through the worst experience I’ve had since Clark died. After I landed the plane, I couldn’t stand the thought of having to look at you.”

“What about now?” Parker asked, looking sideways at her.

Ruby stood back up, suddenly uncomfortable with his close proximity. “I’ve done things this weekend that I didn’t think I’d ever do again. And I’m not just talking about driving a car or flying a plane.” She walked into the middle of the yard, her arms folded.

Parker followed her. “Would our kiss have anything to do with you not being able to look at me?”

Ruby felt heat creeping into her cheeks. “I wasn’t referring to that,” she said, though she certainly had been thinking about it a lot on the drive home. “But I felt like myself again. Mostly. Not all the way. That’s still going to take time. But I felt like I could—like it was possible to be happy again. And I stopped focusing on all the things that were wrong with my life, and instead saw the beautiful things I was missing out on.”

Parker stepped in front of Ruby, forcing her to look at him. “I had time to think on the drive here too.”

“Yeah?” Ruby said, suddenly breathless.

“I’ve spent a lot of time being bitter about how you treated me in high school.”

Ruby’s heart plummeted. “I can explain—”

Parker held up a hand. “I don’t care. Whatever happened that night, I don’t want to know. What I do know is that relationships aren’t perfect. I thought they needed to be, but little mistakes shouldn’t be enough to stop a good thing from happening. I shouldn’t have stopped talking to you—I should have let you explain.” He paused. “But that doesn’t matter now. The past is just that—something that happened, but it shouldn’t scare me away from having a happy future.”

Ruby looked down at her feet. Parker was moving on, and now he could have any girl he wanted without his obsession with perfection getting in the way. “That sounds lovely. I wish you the best with everything.” She turned away.

“I was talking about you,” Parker said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Hope soared in Ruby’s chest, but it dissipated just as fast. Parker had been right when he’d said there wasn’t room for both him and Clark in her life. It wasn’t fair for him to have to compete with a memory. Was she ready to let go of her own past? She faced Parker. “I can think of a million reasons it wouldn’t work.”

“Such as?”

“For starters, you live in California and you can’t stand Amor,” she said.

Parker smiled. “That used to be true, before I had a reason to stay.”

“What about your business?” Ruby asked, her breath bated while she waited for his answer.

“I’ve been thinking of expanding. Why not establish the second location here?” Parker took Ruby’s hand in his. “I want to be closer to my family. I need to be here for them, especially with what we are going through right now.”

“Your family is lucky to have you,” Ruby said, trying to mask her disappointment at not being the main reason he would be moving back to town. His family came first, though, and it would be selfish to want it any other way.

Parker took a step closer to Ruby, leaving very little room between them. “That isn’t the only reason I’m thinking of sticking around, though.”

“Yeah?” Ruby whispered.

“There’s a woman here who has captured my heart with her kindness and courage.”

“Oh, really? It wouldn’t by any chance be Melinda, would it?” Ruby teased, thinking of their encounter at the diner a week before. A lot had happened in so little time.

Parker chuckled, and it rumbled through his chest. “Not quite. I’ve fallen for you, Ruby. For a second time. And I hope you’ll give me a second chance.”

“We’re more like on our third or fourth chance,” Ruby said, wrapping her arms around Parker.

“I’ll take as many chances as you’re willing to give me,” Parker said against her lips. “What do you say?”

Ruby answered by pressing her lips against his. She didn’t think it was her who was giving Parker another chance, but life that was giving her one. This was her second chance at love—at happiness. And she’d have to be crazy to pass it up.