CHAPTER ELEVEN
Cruise
October
“You sure you’re okay spending the evening with my family?” I ask Ruby as she climbs into my Jeep and gets situated. “I know this is kind of moving a little quickly for us, but Halloween is a family affair in my house.”
“No, I’m excited!” She reaches back to put her bag down in the back seat. “Plus I’m super excited to see that you’re wearing your old football uniform. And I’m excited to wear my old cheerleading one for you.”
Truth be told, I’m kind of excited to wear it for her. I can only imagine what life would have been like when we were in high school if she had been my girlfriend. Maybe we would have fucked under the bleachers, maybe I would have had the guts to actually go all the way with someone in my house. I like to think I wouldn’t have paid attention to the rules my dad laid down, and I would’ve done whatever it took to be with her. “So is that what you’re really wearing tonight?” I question as I turn from her duplex toward my parents’ house.
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“With you, not a damn thing is obvious.” I give her a grin.
“I’m really gonna be the head cheerleader to your captain of the football team. When you told me, I dug out my old cheerleading uniform, and I’ll be damned if it actually fit.”
Immediately I’m hard thinking of the role-playing that could go in this scenario. Maybe tonight I will get a chance to fuck her under the bleachers. Not able to help it, I put my hand on her thigh. “Oh really? Where’d you come up with that idea?”
“Like I said, as soon as you told me you were pulling out your old football jersey and stuff, it was the only thing I could think of.” She puts her hand on top of mine. “I went back and forth on whether I should be a cheerleader or not, because let’s face it, I don’t really have the body I used to have for it, but I think I found one of my old uniforms that was flattering.”
“Get the fuck outta here with you saying you don’t have the body for it. Your body is fucking bangin’, Ruby. Don’t let anyone tell you different. You’re perfect for me, I don’t want you to change a damn thing.” I pull her hand in between my legs, letting her feel my length. “I’m already hard thinking about you wearing it, and I haven’t even seen you in it yet.”
I wonder if anyone’s ever told her that before, because she doesn’t quite meet my eyes. I know she had issues with how she looked before, but I want her to know without a doubt she turns me on.
“I can’t wait to see you in it tonight.” I lean over, giving her a kiss as we stop at a red light. “Actually, I can’t wait to get you out of it, and get in you tonight.” I move my nose along her jawline, nipping at her skin.
“Anyone ever tell you you’re a bad boy with a one-track mind?”
“Only for you, Red, only for you.” I pull her hand up to my lips and drop a kiss on the back.
“I kinda like how you do it only for me.”
He pulls his sunglasses down so I can see those brown eyes of his. “I kinda like it how you lose all your inhibitions with me, and even when you try to keep it from happening, it happens. You trust me with your pleasure, and there’s nothing I value more.”
* * *
I am in hell.
That’s the first thought that comes to my mind as Ruby walks out of what once was my room. The skirt is shorter than I imagined it would be, and the top hugs her body like a motherfucking glove.
Kelsea grabbed her hand and begged her to help with her outfit as soon as she saw Ruby’s. They’ve been in Kelsea’s room for the last thirty minutes, and all I can think about is how she looked in that costume. It’s giving me thoughts I shouldn’t have around my little sister, much less my mother.
“You sure you’re okay to take her while I sit here and hand out candy?” Kari snaps me out of my thoughts as she empties bags of chocolate into bowls. Snagging a Snickers to give me something to do, I pop it into my mouth, chewing as I talk around it. I’m chomping harder than I should, just to take my mind off those smooth legs. “Yeah, we don’t mind. Honestly this is probably the last year for Kels anyway.”
“Bubba, I’m ready.” She comes running out of her room dressed as a University of Alabama cheerleader. Ruby following behind her.
“Hang on,” she cautions. “Let me put your sticker on your face.”
The sticker is my old number, and I can’t help but grin when I see Ruby’s got one on her face too. I watch as Ruby quickly puts it on, before she hands Kels her pom poms.
“You two lovely ladies ready?” I ask as I take a good look at them.
“We are when you are, hot stuff.” Ruby leans in, giving me a chaste kiss.
It’s the first time we’ve kissed in front of my family, and Kari gives me a knowing smile when she and I pull away from one another. “Okay Mom, we’re leaving. We’ll be back in a bit.”
“Have fun, y’all. Mason should be home by the time you get home, so we’ll grill some burgers and hot dogs, if that’s okay?”
My stomach growls as I think about eating. It’s been a super busy day and I barely got lunch. “Okay with you?” I look back at Ruby.
“You’re drivin’, I’m ridin’.” She winks.
Immediately I have a vision of her riding my dick in my head. It’s the fucking skirt, everything about the skirt and seeing so much leg exposed is driving me nuts. Hopefully I’ll be able to get through this night without embarrassing myself.
“Grab your bucket Kels and let’s get out of here.”
She does as she’s told and the three of us walk out of the house, down the porch steps, and to my Jeep.
“Are we going downtown?” Kels asks as she straps herself into the back.
All the businesses downtown set up a row of sorts that any kid can use as a one-stop shop to completely fill their buckets up. Because it’s so crowded, many parents still choose the old way of trick-or-treating, which is why Mom is at home with a bucket and bags of candy, but this, this is more my speed. “Yup, I’m gonna do my best to park as close as we can, and then we’ll hoof it over. I heard Leigh say she’s giving out goodie bags. Not gonna lie, I’m down for that too, so we’re definitely hitting up The Café.”
Kelsea giggles. “I can’t wait until I look like the type of cheerleader Ruby does,” she mentions out of the blue. “Right now my chest doesn’t fill out this top,” she pouts, her voice letting us both know how upset she is.
“What the fuck, Kels? You’re ten. Your chest isn’t supposed to fill out the top.” I glance at her in the rearview mirror, my heart racing like I’ve run five miles. These type of words shouldn’t be coming from my little sister. I don’t want her to grow up on me, because then I’ll have to fight the boys off.
“Don’t worry, Kelsea.” Ruby turns around to face her. “My chest didn’t fill out this top until my freshman year of college.”
“How old were you?” she asks, awe in her voice.
“Almost eighteen, so you’ve got a way to go, chick. You’re perfect just the way you are, Kels. Don’t compare yourself to others. There’s a quote that says comparison is the thief of joy. If you spend your whole life wondering why you don’t look like someone else, you’re going to miss out on a lot of good times. Trust me, I did.”
It looks like Kelsea is taking her words to heart, and I’m so happy Ruby is here with me to help me through this process. I wouldn’t have known what to say if it had just been the two of us, and right now I’m thanking my lucky stars she’s with us. Reaching over, I grip her hand in mine.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
She grins over at me. “Believe it or not, I’ve been through this more than once in my life, and I’d hate to see her almost kill herself trying to be perfect the way I did.”
Ruby
I’ve never met Mason officially and to say I’m nervous is an understatement. A part of me had hoped to change before I got to meet him; I’m still in this damn cheerleading uniform, and it makes me self-conscious as hell. Although this is only the first time I’ve hung out with Kelsea, I have a feeling she’s easier to win over than her dad.
“Why are you so quiet over there?” Caleb asks as we drive slowly through the remaining kids trick or treating.
“I’m nervous about meeting your dad.” I’ve met more people than I care to remember since the school year has started, but somehow, not Mason. We’ve seen each other in passing, but never had an introduction. I’m more nervous than I thought I would be, and I’m having a hard time explaining why.
“Oh babe,” he laughs as he reaches over and grabs my hand, bringing it up to his lips. “Don’t be nervous to meet my dad. He’s like the quintessential dad. You’ll be fine. There’s nothing super special about Mason Harrison, other than the fact he’s a regular guy who loves his family.”
“So not true. He’s your dad, Caleb, and that right there makes him super special.”
Our eyes meet, and I can tell what I’ve said touches him, the way his eyes dilate, the way he can’t force words out of his mouth.
“Ohhhh she’s good,” we hear from the backseat.
I laugh as I turn around and look at Kelsea. “It’s true though. I like your brother and I want all of you to like me too.” I’ve never thought about it so much, but these people mean a lot to Caleb, I want them to know they mean as much to me. It’s obvious he’s a family man and he likes to spend a lot of time with them. It makes sense that I want to make a good impression too.
“I like you,” she assures me. “He’s only ever introduced me to one other girl. Cassie was nice,” she mentions what I’m assuming is the name of the ex-girlfriend. “But she couldn’t handle the stress of being with a cop. It made her too nervous.”
I didn’t exactly expect those words to come out of her mouth, but she’s surprising the hell out of me. Obviously her brother has taught her well, and not to hold her tongue.
“What the fuck, Kels?” He sounds as if he can’t believe what his sister has said.
“It’s true! Ruby though, she can handle it, I can already tell.”
My grin almost breaks my face. This kid is one of the best kids I’ve ever met in my life.
“What do you know about any of that? You were five,” Caleb meets her eyes in the rearview mirror.
“Doesn’t mean people don’t say things around me, and I’m not stupid,” she reminds him.
From the mouths of babes. They recognize so many things that none of us give them credit for.
“Well I’ll promise you something here and now.” I turn around so that I can look at Kelsea. “If you’re ever worried I can’t handle your brother’s lifestyle, call me on it. Because I want to be what he needs, and I’d really like to hang around and be your friend.”
She holds out her small hand and we shake on it.