7
Ruby stared at herself in the mirror, barely recognizing the reflection that stared back. It wasn’t just that she was older. Life had thrown a lot at her, and she didn’t wear it well. The bags under her eyes were evidence of all the sleepless nights Ruby still had. After marrying Clark, it hadn’t taken long to get used to sleeping with another person. But after his death, she’d never gotten used to sleeping without him by her side. Her laughter lines had also faded over the years.
Ruby grabbed her phone and called Zoe. It rang several times before Zoe picked up. “I can’t do it,” Ruby said.
“Yes, you can. It’s not like you’re going out with a stranger. Parker’s already been over to your house for dinner, and you’ve seen him without his shirt on. Twice.”
Ruby’s breathing grew ragged at
