Paul-

We all sat around at the card table playing a simple version of poker. It was me Ruby on my right, Beau next to her. Although I was unhappy with that I wouldn't show it. Next to him sat Dawn and Heaven. It was a leasant way to spend the afternoon.

"So Dawn, do you have anybody waiting for you back home?" Heaven asked her and the girls all giggled.

She blushed and threw down her cards. "Yeah, kind of. He's in the army."

"What's his name?" Ruby asked.

"James Longchamp. I call him Jimmy though. I am hoping he will visit on one of his leaves."

I tried to grab Rubys hand under the table but she pulled away. She had been doing that a lot lately. I feared she knew about the mistake I had with Gisselle.

I had been quite tipsy and lonely. I have been craving Rubys skin since the night we spent together months ago, but she insisted we wait. I let myself give in to her identical twins advances. Thankfully I stopped before it was too late, but it was still late enough to know what a mistake I had made.

I knew now it was time to confess the truth and pray that Ruby would still have me. We continued playing cards, talking about home.

"How many siblings do you have Heaven?" Someone asked and she just sighed.

"Well, I have Fanny of course. Then in between us is my brother Tom. After Fanny we have two younger ones. Keith and Our Jane. Her name is Jane, but we call her Our Jane."

"Where are they all at?"

"Oh we were all separated a few years back. Me and Fanny only found each other by chance."

"By chance? Wow, you must've had a hard life." Beau said, I could see in his eyes he was thinking easy target.

"Hard, but we made due. As much of a pain Fanny is, I am glad to be back with her." Ruby and Dawn nodded, it seemed they both knew what it was like to have troublesome siblings.

We got up at lunch and went our separate ways. I was going outside to read in the garden when Beau stopped me.

"Hey Paul, wait up!" I paused and let him catch up.

"So uh, I heard you got a taste of Gisselle the other night, eh?" He nudged me and grinned. I turned at him and glared.

"What did she tell you?" I demanded and started walking faster.

"Oh, she didn't tell me anything. It was your precious Ruby who fessed up. She invited me to study the other night. Needless to say she opened up about your cheating ways. How was she by the way? Did she do that thing with her mouth where she-" right then I turned around and sucker punched him in the face.

He stumbled back and looked at me in shock.

"What the hell man, I was just fooling around with you. I don't care what you did with her. No hard feelings, she's probably screwing Phillip and Chris too."

"I didn't sleep with Gisselle." I tried to say as calmly as I could but my temper was flairing.

He put his hands up in defense.

"Alright alright. I beleive you, but you sound like you have some explaining to do." He told me and turned back to go into the house.

I just shook my head and followed after him. Now that I knew for sure Ruby knew, I had to confess. It just ticked me off that Beau would be waiting outside her door to comfort her.

I knocked on her door but there was no answer, I knew she was there. I opened the door an inch and she rushed to it to grab it.

"What do you want Paul?" She demanded.

I looked at her. Her angry eyes made me so regretfull of what I had done. I felt tears well up but I brushed them aside.

"I need to talk to you." She eyed my face for a long moment before she opened the door fully to let me in.

"I already know the truth Paul. Gisselle told me how you slept with her." She was turned away from me as she said it.

I shook my head. "I didn't sleep with her Ruby! We kissed, I touched her, but I stopped myself before we did that! I swear!"

She turned around, tears flowing freely.

"How could you Paul? Why would you touch her, when I am right here? Did she kiss better than me? Did her breasts feel better?" She demanded.

"No, never! I was drunk, I pretended she was you. For a moment I let myself believe I was holding you. When I realized what I was doing I ran out of there. I promise I love you; only you!" I went to her and put my arms around her, and for the first time in almost two weeks she let me.

We cried together for a moment.

"Will you ever forgive me?" I begged her. She didn't say anything at first.

"In time, but just please stay away from her. I don't want to feel paranoid about you two." I nodded.

"Anything." I kissed her and she kissed me back with eagerness. I wanted to take her on her bed at that moment, but it took all my strength not to. Not today, not yet I told myself. I left her room and promised myself to make her feel like a princess from now on.

I intend on living up to that. Starting with dinner.