Begin Again

| Chapter Fourteen |

The warmth of the hot bath water with pearl suds surrounded Ruth's heated brown skin as she elegantly crossed her legs over each other. Her mind roamed beyond the valley of her curls that were wrapped in a messy bun atop her head. A wine glass swirled in crimson, though she didn't particularly know why it was crimson. She normally didn't like the bitter taste of red wine, and much preferred the company of white or pink, but misery loved company. And misery came in the glass of red wine.

Why was she miserable? She honestly didn't know. And she hated it.

Because she knew something about Mirana and Raffo . . . rubbed her the wrong way.

Ruth shouldn't care. She shouldn't feel sick to her stomach whenever she thought about their relationship—

"Ruth! Are you even listening to me?" Emily's voice came flooding through the speaker of her iPhone and she blinked, zooming back into the conversation.

"Huh?" Ruth asked, dazed.

Emily moved closer, a frown moving over her sweating face as she climbed off her exercise bike. She brushed her flyaway waves off of her flushed cheeks to get a better look at Ruth. "Is everything okay? You seem—I don't know—distracted? Has something else happened?"

"I'm just tired. I miss you," Ruth murmured, offering a weak, tipsy smile. "It's hard being away from home."

Partial truth, but she didn't have enough strength to go into it with Emily.

"I know. I miss you, too," Emily admitted, offering Ruth a soft smile back. "I'll be back there soon, though. Are you excited for the bachelorette party?"

Ruth deflated, moving further down into the bath. "Maybe. I don't know. No."

"Huh? Why not?" she frowned.

"Because that means I'm going to drink the hard shit and you know I don't hold my liquor well," Ruth groaned.

Emily laughed loudly and rubbed the sweat away from her forehead with a washcloth. "Just monitor yourself, babe. I'm sure it'll be fine. Just be safe and diligent."

Ruth hummed, took a sip of her wine, and then scrunched her nose. "Gosh, I hate this stuff."

"Then why are you drinking it? You hate red."

"I don't know. Maybe I'm craving tannins," she said, blowing out a breath dramatically. The water sloshed up her chest as she moved and she swallowed back her thoughts.

Emily's nose crinkled. "Who the hell craves that?"

She shrugged. "Anyway, I should probably get out. We're heading to the hotel tomorrow so I should get my stuff ready."

Emily pouted. "Alright. Call me when you get to the hotel tomorrow."

"I will," Ruth murmured, blowing a kiss to her winking girlfriend before turning off the phone. She didn't know why, but lately whenever she talked to Emily, she was feeling more and more distant from her. Much to her horror, she almost wondered if she were reverting to her old ways.

Emotional Ruth was a recluse, and she had come too far to go back to that. It wouldn't be fair to Emily.

With just enough effort to get the job done, Ruth forced herself out of the bath, dried her body, and threw on some comfortable PJ's she had set aside onto the sink. She tossed the rest of her wine into the sink, glanced at her flushed cheeks in the mirror briefly, and made her way out of the steamy bathroom.

She wished she could just throw her thoughts in a blender and toss a cup of bleach into the mix for good measure. A good nights sleep after packing her luggage for Jana's bachelorette party will do it. Then she'll be okay.

*****

"LET'S GOOOO BITCHES!" Jana screeched into the night's air as all seven of her bridesmaids, including Ruth and Terry, piled into a slick black SUV. Their bags had barely fit in the trunk, and the driver didn't look the least bit happy at driving a bunch of tipsy girls to a hotel that had a club and casino attached to it.

The girls in the car screamed in excitement, and despite the week Ruth's had, she couldn't stop the elated smile from crossing her lips. Terry looked down at her happily and wrapped her hand around Ruth's, squeezing it tightly. "Room partners?"

"Room partners," Ruth agreed, grinning. "I don't think I can take Jana's snoring in the same room."

Terry winked. "I was gonna say the same thing."

"HEY!" Jana shouted, overhearing their conversation.

"Love you," Ruth sung as the other five girls laughed.

Ruth vaguely remembered them from the bonfire a few years back. Thankfully, the rude Willow wasn't part of the party, so the rest of the girls she was quite fond of. One of them, Peyton, who was sitting on the other side of her remembered her just as fondly, as she had brightened at the sight of Ruth the moment she met up at the apartment. Her almond-shaped caramel brown eyes and full lips beneath sharp cheekbones nearly made Ruth choke. She was a sucker for beautiful people.

The car ride to the hotel comprised loud singing, more drinking, and lots of dancing. A few times the driver had to remind them it wasn't a limo, but considering Jana was giving him a generous tip, there wasn't much he was going to do other than that. It was a good forty minutes before the driver pulled up in front of one of the largest hotels in Oklahoma that easily towered over twenty-five floors tall.

Already, Ruth was feeling better. Somehow, she knew the weekend was going to be exactly what she needed.

*****

Had to have a filler chapter before we get to the good stuff in the next two! The tea/drama/(a few) answers/the good stuff is coming very very soon. I hope to get the next chapter up by the end of this week so you won't have to wait long for it! I also started my final semester of college so I've been super busy trying to finish up my classes and get ready for graduation!

Love y'all always,

Bri <3