CHAPTER SIX
Ruby
“I’m so sorry!”
As soon as I walk into the library on Monday morning after going to see Principal Taggert, the apology is already coming from Trinity’s mouth.
“I had no idea Seth was like that. We’ve known each other a while, he was my next door neighbor.” She runs to me, enveloping me in a hug. “Brooks always says I’m too trusting, but I just never imagined he would be like that. And to think I could have gotten you hurt. I’m really, really sorry, Ruby.”
“It’s okay,” I assure her. “All’s well that ends well. I ended up having a great time anyway.”
“It’s all over town, that you left with Caleb.”
My cheeks heat, I can feel it flush up my neck. There’s no telling what people in this town are saying. “I did leave with him, he was kind of my knight in shining armor. If it hadn’t been for him and his friend, things would have probably turned out a lot differently.”
“Thank God he was there.” She squeezes my hand. “Again, I’m so sorry. I never meant for it to happen, and I promise I’ll never set you up on a date again.”
I’m almost relieved, not to mention, I have a good feeling about Caleb. “Maybe I won’t need you to set me up anymore.” I shrug. Glancing up at the clock, I realize the bell will ring in a few minutes. “Gotta go. We’ll talk later.”
Hurrying along the same hallways I walked as a student, I wave and call out random hello’s to the students I now teach. Turning down my side of the building, I run right into Karina.
“I was coming to find you.” She steadies me as I hold my coffee in front of me, praying that it won’t slosh.
When it doesn’t, I breathe a sigh of relief. “I made it.” I give her a smile.
“Honestly, I wanted to check on you. I know you told me you were okay and Caleb told me you were okay when I asked, but what happened to you had to be scary.”
Karina is the mother hen to everyone in our module, but she’s never overbearing about it. “It was.” I’m never going to lie to her. She’s been my mentor since I was a student here. “But Caleb saved me. Like I told you in the text, had he not listened to what was going on, it would have been a whole other story. I probably would have made the news, and not in a good way.” A shiver runs through my body as I think about it.
“Have you talked to Principal Taggert yet?”
I take a drink of my coffee before answering. “I stopped by on my way in and explained what happened. He said as long as I wasn’t arrested, we’re all good.”
A smirk tilts Karina’s mouth as she leans in, her eyes twinkling. “Trust me, honey. You can get arrested in your bedroom anytime, and it’s fun as hell.”
It’s hard for me to swallow the coffee, but I do. For a full minute I struggle with what to say to her. “I don’t even know how to respond to that considering all Caleb and I have done is kiss, but I’ll keep it in mind.”
She winks. “He didn’t even tell me you kissed.”
When the bell rings I quickly make my escape.
Cruise
“Think you can spot me?” I ask Morgan as the two of us workout in the gym at our apartment complex. I don’t lift heavy anymore, but I do like to have a little bulk in case I have to throw some weight around with someone I’m trying to arrest.
“Yeah.” He comes over to where I’m waiting on the bench and helps me lift the bar before I start, counting my reps. “So what happened with you and the girl from The Café?” he asks as we get started.
“I took her out the next day,” I admit, a smile on my face as I think about our breakfast. “For breakfast, since I had to work the night shift.”
“Wow dude, really? You ever had a date that fast?” Morgan asks as he holds his hands close to the bar, there to catch it in case I lose my grip.
“No, but there was something about her. How unsure she looked when I sat down at that table, how cute she looked in her porch light. I don’t know, I thought she was hot, and I hadn’t had a date in a while, so I thought I’d take it.” I try to play it off. Truth of the matter was, she kept me going when all I’d wanted to do was go to sleep during my long-ass shift.
“Look at you, sounding like your pops.” Morgan switches places with me, adding weight to his bar, before he starts his reps.
“My pops is a happy man,” I remind him, thinking of how just about every day he’s got a smile on his face.
“He is, and a damn lucky one,” Morgan grunts as he pushes the bar up. “I don’t know how you lucked out with a stepmom who looks like yours, Harrison, but fuck.”
I roll my eyes, used to this. “She was my teacher before; I already had respect for her. Plus I mean, ewwww. This isn’t porno, it’s real life, man.”
He chuckles as he sits up, panting. “I don’t know about you, but I gotta get going. I’m working the night shift tonight.”
“I’m in serious overtime because of the weather the last few days. They switched my shift with someone else tonight. I think I’m gonna go have dinner at my parents, if they’re having something good,” I tell Morgan as I watch him packing up his bag.
“Tell your mom I said hey.” He says the “hey” in a really deep voice, coupling it with a wink.
“Dude, come on. My dad would kick your ass, let’s not even joke around. You know he would kick your ass from here to next week.”
Morgan laughs as he puts his hoodie on, shouldering his duffel and grabbing his bottle of water. We leave the fitness center and then walk up the stairs. Being next door neighbors also helps keep our friendship grounded, and it’s nice to have someone who understands your job. “Your pops would throw down, and probably almost kill me.”
Of that I have no doubt. “See you around.” I give him a wave as we go to our separate spaces.
I’m about to climb into the shower when my phone rings, and because of who’s calling, I answer it.
“Hey Caleb, it’s your mom.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, your picture shows up when you call, along with your name in my phone.”
She laughs, because she knows it annoys me when she starts a conversation like that. “I made pot roast and corn bread,” she says it in a sing-song voice. That had been one of the first meals Kari made us when she started staying with Dad, and to this day it’s one of my favorites.
“You did, huh?”
“I did.” I can hear her smile through the phone. “I thought you might like to join us tonight.”
“I could eat.” I rub my stomach that’s already clenching at the thought of the meal I love so much.
“You’re so full of shit.” I hear my Dad’s voice in the background. “Just get over here, we’ll eat in an hour.”
“Gotta take a shower, I just worked out with Morgan, but I’ll be there very soon,” I promise into the phone, reaching out to test the water. “In fact, my water’s hot, I’ll see you in a few.”
“Great! Can’t wait to see you and hear all about what’s going on with Ruby!”
She hangs up before I can say anything, and I realize with great clarity that she played me like a drum. I soothe myself with the knowledge that while I’m facing the great inquisition, at least I’ll be eating one of my favorite meals, and sometimes, that’s the price you have to pay to get something you really want.
* * *
“Who’s Ruby?” Kelsea asks as soon as I enter the house through the side door. She runs, jumps up, and locks her arms around my neck.
“Who’ve you been talkin’ to Cupcake?” I tug on her braid as I sit her down. Damn I hope she has a growth spurt soon. She’s way too short, and I don’t want other kids picking on her.
“Nobody.” She walks over to the breakfast bar, hitches herself up in the chair, and starts working on what appears to be homework. “I just heard Mom talking to someone else.”
“Kels, you’re not supposed to listen to my private conversations.” Kari comes into the kitchen, wearing a MTF shirt and a pair of sweatpants. “That’s why they’re private.”
“But you said it loud enough for me to hear it.” She gives a look, as if that should solve everything.
“She’s got a point.” Dad says as he comes in the same side door that I just came through.
“Stop ganging up on me, or no one’s getting dinner.”
Wisely, we all shut up. Dad comes through, clapping his hand on my shoulder, giving Kelsea a kiss on the forehead, and then walking up to Mom. She puts her hands on her hips. “You think you deserve food after you sided against me?”
“You’re not gonna tell me no, Rina, and I think we both know that. Doesn’t matter what it is, you never tell me no.” He cups the side of her neck and leans in for a kiss.
The two of them, at one time, embarrassed me with their displays of how they feel for one another. Growing up without a mother figure in my life, I hadn’t known how to react to the public displays of affection they enjoyed with one another. Now though, as a grown man, I know I want a life like this, a wife who will let me cop a feel when she bends over to get something out of the fridge, one who won’t stop me when I come up behind her while she’s at the sink and press my body into hers. I want all of it, and I send up a little prayer, thanking God for letting Kari come into our lives, because without her I wouldn’t be the man I am today.
“C’mon, Kels, if they’re going to suck face and be all lovey dovey, we can do your homework in the living room.”
She grabs her stuff quickly and hops down, following me as we get her stuff spread out on the coffee table. “What are we working on tonight?” I ask as we get comfortable.
“Just some history, I have to answer these three questions, and I’m almost done.” She points to the questions. “I just have one more sentence to write, then I expect you to tell me who Ruby is.” She grins.
I groan as I think about how I’m being annoyed by every single member of my family right now. “I guess I could talk to you about it.”
She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, hurriedly writing the last sentence, throws her pen down, and then looks at me, excitement in her eyes. “Now, who’s Ruby?”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Cupcake, she and I have only been out on one date.” I try to manage her expectations. The only other woman I’ve introduced her to didn’t work out so well.
“But you like her right?”
“How do you know that?
“Because you get a smile on your face when you talk about her.”
I try to think back. What are my facial expressions when I talk about Ruby? Do I really smile when I talk about her? “You think?”
“I saw it when Mom was asking you about her. Tell me about her.” Kels turns around on her knees, looking at me. “Is she pretty?”
“She’s super pretty, she’s got blue eyes and blonde hair. She’s short, but she fits right here.” I put my hand at my collarbone, and that’s when I realize it. I’m smiling as I talk about her.
“I’m smiling, aren’t I?” I shake my head at Kels.
She giggles. “You are.”
And that’s when I realize that after one date, one moment in a lifetime of moments with this woman, I’m completely and totally fucked. It’s finally happened to me. I’ve met the person who brings a smile to my face, and while on one hand, I’m scared to death – I’m also so fucking ready.
Hitching my head back against the couch cushions, I say a little “bring it on” to the big man upstairs.