“He likes you better than he likes me,” Spencer said as Caleb pulled off one of his socks, balled it up, and tossed it like a chew toy.

For the first time in his life, the words didn’t cause him a pang. After the things Ruby had said to him—the things she’d done to him—he wasn’t sure they could.

“Everyone likes me better than you” came Caleb’s easy reply. “But you don’t have to look so sour about it. I’ll be out of your hair sooner than we thought. I’m up for early release next week.”

“Wait.” Spencer almost dropped the book in his hand. “What?”

“You don’t have to look so surprised. I’ve been a good boy, remember? I’ve attended all my meetings and followed all the rules. You made sure of that.”

Spencer’s first feeling was one of unadulterated delight on his brother’s behalf. He knew how much being tied to this house chafed him, how hard this whole thing was on an extrovert who thrived on other people’s attention.

His second feeling was of deep foreboding. No matter how much more charitable Spencer might be feeling toward him, Caleb wasn’t ready to be foisted back on the world yet. Nothing about him had changed—he’d shown no regret over his actions, altered nothing about his habits. Other than this training gig, he had no plans for long-term work, and Spencer didn’t see that changing anytime soon. Throwing him back out in the world without any rehabilitation would only result in the same outcome as before.

And the worst part was, Caleb knew it. It was Dog Training 101. Until you addressed the underlying cause of the behaviors, they would always remain.

“Just think—a few more days, and then freedom will be mine. I can practically taste it. The first thing I’m going to do is ask Ruby out. Somewhere with drinking and music and very little clothing.”

“I don’t think that’s the sort of thing she’ll enjoy,” Spencer said doubtfully.

Caleb laughed. “What you mean is, it’s not the sort of thing you’d enjoy. I hate to break it to you, but you’re not an eighty-year-old recluse—and neither, I might add, is Ruby. A woman like that wants to be taken out and treated like a queen.”

Spencer shook his head. That wasn’t the Ruby he was coming to know—the one who spent every minute of her free time training a dog that wasn’t her own and for no reason he could tell other than her determination to prove him wrong. The one who was strong without being showy, sweet without being shy.