Page 14 (1/2)

Prologue

Ruby

New York, New York If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere And what if I don’t want to make it here? And what exactly is it, anyway? What, exactly, am I supposed to make?

Aiden was sprawled out on the couch with his face just under the air conditioner, still fanning himself with a book

‘Stop being melodramatic It’s not that hot,’ I wanted to say to hiu I said that day could spark an argument and that wasn’t because of the heatwave It was because of… well, because of everything!

Only a few hours earlier, Greta, my boss—the coolest boss anyone could ever hope to have—had told me that she understood my frustrations, that it was okay if I wanted out I could take an extended leave fros

I suppose that should have been good news I had finally made a decision to leave New York afterShe even said that ood one, and when it was finished, she and the agency would help ed rural e from the ‘pretty boy city slickers’ her roster was filled with—her words, not mine

“Go back to Wyo for good More like you’re on a scouting ed cowboys, a stable of ranchers, and a few ood measure”

I’d thanked her but said that I had no plans to come back to New York

“Ruby, I’gesting you do quite the opposite We’ll stay in touch”

But, despite the prospect of finally getting out of this craeood news The truth was I hadin with Aiden And, despite ot there that soive me the ‘told you so’ or ‘I knew you weren’t cut out for the big city’

“I messed up,” said Aiden

I turned fro to me?”

“Of course I’ to myself, that would be crazy Do you think I’m crazy, Ruby?”

I considered the question, perhaps nore it “How did you mess up?”

“You remember when I was so proud of ?”

I reh, re “Yes,” I said