Chapter 75 Forever.
CHAPTER 75
Forever.
Morning came quietly, soft light filtered through the curtains, stretching across the room in gentle lines, warming everything. Ruby stirred first. With a small move beneath the covers, her lashes fluttered as she slowly came back to awareness. For a moment, she didn’t move. She simply lay there, her mind caught somewhere between sleep and memory.
Her breath caught slightly as realization settled in, her cheeks warming almost instantly. She shifted carefully, her body tense for just a second before she became aware of something else. Leo was still asleep beside her, he was close enough for this to feel like a dream. Ruby hesitated before turning her head slowly to look at him. He looked different like this. Relaxed, unbothered.
Nothing like the composed, controlled version of him that the rest of the world saw. His arm was still loosely around her, as if even in sleep, he hadn’t let her go completely.
That alone made her heart flutter. Her eyes softened as she studied him, taking in the details she had never had the chance to notice this closely before. The faint crease between his brows, the steady rise and fall of his chest, the quiet calm that surrounded him. And suddenly she felt shy, she kept staring at him and was aware of everything that had changed between them. She was ready to face anything with as far as she knew they loved each other and Leo admitting he loved her made her heart flutter, she couldn't still believe she is his girlfriend.
Carefully, she tried to shift out of his hold without waking him. But the moment she moved too far, his grip tightened slightly.
“Where are you going?” his voice came, low and rough from sleep.
Ruby froze.
“I—I wasn’t going anywhere,” she replied quickly, her voice softer than usual.
Leo’s eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the light before settling on her. And when they did a small smile appeared on his lips. That made her even more self conscious.
“Good morning,” he said.
Ruby looked away almost immediately, her fingers clutching the edge of the blanket slightly.
“Morning,” she murmured.
Leo noticed the change in her the way she avoided his gaze. The way her body language had changed and instead of questioning it directly, he moved closer again, his hand gently brushing against her arm.
“You’re shy,” he said, amused.
“I’m not,” she quickly denied.
“You are,” he insisted, his smile widening just a little.
Ruby finally looked at him, her cheeks still slightly flushed. “Can you blame me?” she asked quietly.
That caught him off guard for a second then his expression softened. “No,” he admitted. “I can’t.”
Leo reached up, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
“You okay?” he asked.
Ruby nodded slowly. “I am.”
“Sure?”
This time, she smiled. “I am,” she repeated. “Just… getting used to it.”
“To what?” he asked.
“To us.”
That made something in his expression changed. “I like the sound of that,” he said.
Ruby let out a soft laugh, the tension easing from her shoulders. “Of course you do.”
He leaned in slightly, pressing a light kiss against her forehead. “And you don’t?” he asked.
She hesitated.
Then shook her head gently. “No,” she admitted. “I do too.”
Eventually, they got out of bed, moving through the morning in a quiet rhythm that felt almost natural already. Ruby kept catching herself glancing at him, still adjusting to the newness of everything, while Leo seemed more at ease like he had already accepted this change fully.
By the time they stepped downstairs, the smell of food filled the air. Nora was already in the kitchen. She turned as she heard them approach, her eyes immediately lighting up at the sight of both of them together.
“Good morning,” she said warmly.
“Morning, Nora,” Leo replied.
Ruby followed softly, “Good morning.”
Breakfast was already prepared and set neatly on the table. The atmosphere felt light, comfortable, filled with a quiet kind of happiness that didn’t need to be spoken out loud. Ruby sat down, still a little reserved, but more relaxed than before.
Leo, on the other hand, looked completely at ease. At one point, Nora placed an extra serving in front of Ruby, her smile gentle.
“You’ll need the energy,” she said casually.
Ruby blinked, confused. “For school?”
Nora just smiled and walked away.
Leo let out a small laugh under his breath.
Ruby looked at him suspiciously. “What?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he replied quickly, though his grin said otherwise.
She narrowed her eyes slightly but didn’t push further. The rest of breakfast passed with small conversations, soft laughter, and lingering glances that said more than words ever could.
Eventually, it was time to leave. Leo grabbed his keys while Ruby adjusted her bag, still feeling that mix of excitement and nervousness settle in her chest. The drive to school wasn’t long. Leo held her hands and kept stealing glances as they enjoyed their ride. When they arrived, Leo parked the car and turned to her.
“You’ll be okay?” he asked.
Ruby nodded. “I will.”
He studied her for a moment before leaning in slightly. “Call me if you need anything.”
She smiled softly. “I will.”
They looked at each other for a while, she leaned forward first, pressing a quick, gentle kiss to his cheek before pulling back.
“Bye, Leo.”
He looked surprised for a second. Then pleased.
“Bye, Ruby.”
She stepped out of the car, her heart lighter than it had been in days.
As she walked into school, the familiar environment didn’t feel as heavy as it used to.
For the first time in a while she felt normal again.
It's been months since she had been studying here and who wouldn't have thought cooking was one of the things that made her happy but she hasn't cooked since she moved in with Leo. The thought alone made her smile, just a few months from now and she would be graduating.
“Ruby!”
Jane’s voice came almost immediately.
Ruby turned just in time to see her rushing over, her expression filled with relief and excitement.