Ruby's POV
I was happy to spend the day with my mother, even though I felt a bit melancholy. I couldn't stop thinking about what Hayes had said last night. The sun was going down, and I should have left to go to the packhouse, but I was stalling in my mother's kitchen.
"Honey, you've seemed down all day. Do you want to talk about it?" Mom asked, handing me a glass of freshly made orange juice. I had been avoiding bringing up what was happening with me because I wanted us to enjoy our time together without any outside distractions.
"I think my mates are at that stage where they're talking about wanting babies, but I don't, Mom," I said.
She held my hand, her gaze sympathetic. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to, sweetheart."
"But what about Hayes and Zylon? Th
