Manage My Heart (Book 2)

Chapter 3

Ruby woke up the next morning before Mel, shockingly. Usually Mel is up before her, not like she's a morning bird, but her body just won't shut up. She takes this opportunity to gaze at her as she sleeps. To see all her stress disappear, even if it was for a few hours. She never takes the time for herself. Ruby now realizes as she notices wrinkles on her face, bags under her eyes and her chapped lips. She reaches over and gently kisses her lips. Was this kissing without consent? She wasn't sure. She doesn't have much time to ponder over the thought as she feels Mel kiss her back.

"As much as i love getting woken up that way, i could have sworn we were broken up." She mumbles. "You and i both know that's what we tell ourselves but it's not true." Ruby touches her cheek. Mel grabs her hand and holds it close as she kisses the inside of her palm. She opens her eyes and immediately stares into her eyes. It's freaky how their eyes meet instantaneously. Like magnets. "Please don't push me away again." Ruby whispered. Mel shakes her head. "It was never about pushing you away Rube, it was about keeping you and your career safe." Ruby shakes her head. "I don't care about that." "Well i do. I'm not gonna let you throw away everything because you accidentally fell in love with me." Mel brushes a stray hair out of her face. "You think it was an accident that i fell in love with you?" Ruby asks. "That's not what i meant and you know it." "What? Was falling in love with me an accident to you? Was that what i was? An accident?" She gets out of bed. Mel sighs and grabs her arm before she walks away. "That's not what i meant and you know it. Now can we please just calm down and talk about this? Like normal, rational adults? Because that's what we both are, regardless of our age difference." Ruby sighs and sits back down.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I just.... I don't know...." "It's ok. We both have a lot going on right now. That's why I'm suggesting we just talk about this, rationally." Ruby nods. "You're right. What is it you wanted to say?" She asks. Mel sighs. "Look, i miss you. I do. You have no idea how badly i miss you." Ruby nods. "I miss you too." "I know." Mel nods. "Then why are we doing this to ourselves?" Ruby stands. "Why? Why can't we just be together?" "Because you and i both know that the media is going to eat this relationship alive. They're gonna make up lies and slander and it's going to hurt both of us." Ruby sighs as she tears up. "I'm fucking sick and tired of this shit. Caring what the media says, what the fans might think, what other people say. I don't care! I just want you. Why can't you see that?!" "Because if anything were to happen to you, I'd die!" Ruby stares at her. "What do you mean?" She asks. Mel shakes her head. "Forget it." "No, you wanted to talk like rational adults, what do you mean?" Mel sighs. "I mean that I'd rather take a bullet for you, than to see you get hurt. Ruby, if anything ever happened to you, I don't think i can live with myself. I'm supposed to be your manager. I'm supposed to be older. I'm supposed to figure it all out. I'm supposed to have it all figured out and I don't. I'm fucking 28 and I'm still single! I'm in love with a 19 year old who's my client! No wife, no husband, no family. My singing career has ended, i barely act anymore, most of my job has been taking care of you and Ky and Lia and Morgan, everybody. I barely have time to take care of myself! And i am so tired. I'm just tired all the time. I just- i can't-" "Stop, stop, stop!" Ruby holds her close.

"You don't have to do all those things." She sighs. "Yes i do. Because I'm your manager. And that's my job." "And you do a bang up job! But who's gonna take care of you? Who's gonna look out for you? Mel, you are stretching yourself way too thin here. And it is not healthy. Please, let me help you. I can take care of you." Ruby insists. Mel sighs. "I can't." "One night. Just one night, let yourself go. Let me take care of you. Let me be there for you. Like you've always been there for me. Please?" She begs. Mel looks into her eyes and sighs. "I hate when you look at me with those big, beautiful, brown eyes of yours." She mumbles. Ruby smiles. "Well, how else am i supposed to look at you?" She jokes. Mel laughs slightly. "Alright fine. Take care of me. How did you plan on doing that?" She asks. Ruby smiles. "Come here." She grabs her hand and walks to the restroom. She turns on the tap and turns it to hot. "Take off your clothes." She tells Mel. Mel raises her eyebrow but does what she says anyways. "Now what?" "Now, get in." Ruby instructs. Mel rolls her eyes and sits down in the tub.