Chapter Twelve
Charlie
I can’t believe Ruby made it so easy to put the double-date idea in motion.
“You nervous?” Ruby asks as we walk into Cosmic Lanes.
We haven’t reached the doors yet, and I stop on the sidewalk and look down at myself. “Should I be? Fit check.”
I hold out my arms and do a slow turn. I know I look good. I’m giving Ruby a chance to notice that the cut of my vintage Hawaiian shirt makes my chest and shoulders look broader. That I know how to pick the right jeans. That I’ve gained twenty pounds of muscle over the last year.
I complete the rotation and wait for her verdict.
“You did good, Charlie.” Her eyes trace my shoulders. Does she realize how often she does that?
“Same, Ruby Slippers.” I say it sincerely like I would to a date, not a friend I’m pumping up for a blind date. “Mitch is a lucky man.”
“His name is Mike.” There’s a faint rise of color in her cheeks, and she looks down and brushes something invisible from her Alamo Drafthouse T-shirt.
She’s wearing it beneath a pink cardigan with a skinny belt over it and with cropped jeans.
She sneaks a look at me from beneath her long lashes and glances away when she catches me studying her.
I allow myself a twitch of a smile. Stay safe but become less comfortable. Check.
“Right, Mike,” I say. “Are you nervous to meet him?”
It’s been a few days since Sydney surprised me with her pitch to be my wingman.
Sami had set Ruby up with this Mike guy, a sound engineer at one of the venues Pixie Luna plays.
He was up for a double date with people he didn’t know on the condition that he had to be done in time to work the soundboard for a show tonight.
That’s why Ruby and I are walking into a bowling alley late on Saturday afternoon. The plan is to bowl a couple of games and end with dinner rather than start with it.
“I don’t know if nervous is the right word,” she says. “I do feel like I have an audience.”
“Sydney and I can get our own lane,” I tell her. “She and I have talked enough that we’re comfortable. She’ll understand if you don’t want to feel like you’re under a microscope.”
“Stay,” she says, gripping my forearm like I’m about to physically walk away. She looks down at her hand, gives my arm a light squeeze, and lets go.
“Are you checking to see if I’m ripe?”
“Your arms are . . .” She trails off and shakes her head. “I’d rather have a small audience. At least with four of us, there’s less awkward silences.”
“Should we get in there and make sure our dates aren’t waiting for us awkwardly?”
We walk in and Ruby scans for Mike. She’s seen his Instagram, but he told her he’d wear a Pixie Luna T-shirt to make it easier for them to find each other.
She spots him near the entrance to the arcade, and she gives me a subtle eye flare to communicate here we go.
I nod, but I don't see their meet cute because Sydney calls my name.
She’s sitting on a bench opposite the rental desk, tying the laces on a bowling shoe. She smiles and waves me over.
“Hey,” she says. “I don’t know if you’re a hugger.”
“I’m a hugger.” I hold out a hand to help her up.
She accepts, standing to give me a good hug. “Good to see you. You ready to do this?”
“I really, really am.”
“I paid for the lane and shoe rentals, so tell them you’re with me.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” I protest.
“Yes, I did. I’m getting bowling and drama. Who wouldn’t pay to watch that?”
I give a small laugh. “Thank you. I’ll get my shoes.”
By the time I’m back at the bench to change out my pristine white Nike Air Force 1s, I’ve snuck a few glances Ruby’s way. I can’t read Mike’s body language, but Ruby’s shoulders are tight, her arms folded across her stomach.
Sydney gives the faintest nod in their direction. “Don’t think it’s love at first sight.”
“That’s a shame.” My tone makes Sydney laugh.
I’m pulling on my second bowling shoe when Ruby and Mike make their way over to the rental counter. “Rube,” I call. “Sydney covered it. Tell them you’re with her.”
Ruby gives me a thumbs up, and Sydney and I settle into dissecting the date playing out twenty feet away.
“Ruby’s body language is standoffish,” Sydney says. “She’s leaning her head toward him to listen, but it’s because she’s keeping her body out of arm’s reach.”
“Look at him leaning way into her space to talk,” I say. “Trying too hard, my guy. Settle down.”
They spot us sitting on the bench, and we both wave. Ruby gives us an overly bright smile and says something to Mike, who looks our way and nods.
They walk over, and Sydney and I both stand to give them space to change their shoes.
“Hey, y’all. This is Mike, Sami’s friend.” Ruby puts a slight emphasis on Sami’s name. She introduces Sydney and me, and we all exchange hellos.
“You know Sami too?” Mike asks.
He’s intense, his dark eyes making too much eye contact with both of us from beneath the brim of his . . . I squint. Pixie Luna hat?
“I do,” I say.
“Haven’t met her,” Sydney says. “She’s the one in the band?”
Mike makes a disbelieving sound. “In the band? Try lead singer and songwriter. I see a lot of groups come through, but she’s the best.”
It sounds like he’s daring us to argue.
“Great band,” I agree.
“Because she’s talented, man. I see every show they do. I’m trying to get on their tour as a roadie this summer.”
Definite fight me vibes. Ruby’s expression doesn’t give away much, but I can see the calculation in her eyes. How obsessed is this guy and how will I get back at Sami for this?
“I’ll have to listen to their music,” Sydney says. “I’ve heard their songs on the radio, but that’s it so far.”
“Tip of the iceberg, man,” Mike says. “Doesn’t begin to touch her genius.”
“She’ll be glad to know she’s got you doing her PR,” Ruby says.
Mike’s expression grows even more focused, like Ruby’s face is the only thing that exists right this second. “Tell her I’m riding hard for her.”
Sydney clears her throat. “I haven’t been bowling much, and I’m not sure what ball I need. Can you help me, Ruby?”
Sydney is a superhero.
“You bet,” Ruby says.
“We’ll go set up the lane,” I offer. “Sound good, Mike?”
“Sure, man.”
That comes out with normal energy. Okay . . .
He acts like any average dude I’d meet out socially while we’re putting in everyone’s names for the screen. We chat about the alley’s playlist and who he’s doing sound for later at the club where he works.
When Ruby and Sydney join us, I smile at them. “This is super weak, but I realized I don’t know your last name so I put you as YDN. Hope that’s okay?”
“I’ve always hated the S. Works for me.”
Ruby looks at her screen name and says nothing. RUB.
“WM,” Sydney says, reading off Mike’s initials. “What’s the W for?”
“Wannabe Man,” he says.
“A Pixie Luna song,” I clarify for Sydney.
“Ah.” Her voice is muted.
Can’t blame her. What do you even say to that? This is so over the top that I wonder again if the girls—or at least Sami—are pranking Ruby with these dates. Ruby’s eyes send me a look halfway between amusement and a plea for help.
“Hope everyone brought their C game,” I say, grabbing a bowling ball from the automatic return. “That’s the only way I have a shot of not humiliating myself. Sydney, whatever happens next, I’m definitely doing it to put you at ease.”
Sydney looks at Ruby. “Is he hustling me?”
Ruby shakes her head. “Sadly, no. I’ve never bowled with anyone worse.”
My first ball avoids both the gutter and all the pins. The second one goes wide in the opposite direction and knocks down the back right pin.
“One point. Good job,” Ruby says.
“She means it,” I tell Sydney. “That’s a good start for me.”
Sydney goes next and gets a spare. She joins me on the seats while Ruby takes her turn. “I’m not going to suck on purpose to make you feel better.”
Mike is sitting in the seats opposite us watching Ruby, so I tease Sydney in a low voice. “Not even if we were dating for real?”
“Nope,” Sydney says. “I’m a pretty good bowler. I was acting earlier to bail out Ruby.”
“That’s an odd date, huh?” I say as Mike gives an indifferent clap when Ruby knocks down eight pins.
“So is this one.”
I grin. “Fair.”
Mike, it turns out, is a good bowler. He wins with a score of 170, and says, “Guess what that makes all of you?” He pulls up his shirt sleeve to flex and reveal a fresh tattoo of a luna moth with “Collateral Damage” written below it.
Another Pixie Luna song title.
The corners of Ruby’s mouth quiver like she’s trying not to laugh.
I’m glad. That tattoo has the redness I recognize from getting my own.
It’s real. Unless Mike has the most amazing sense of humor—facts not in evidence—and he got it as part of a joke on Ruby, his obsession with Sami is real.
Ruby is in no danger from him, but I’ll put both Sami and Josh on alert if Ruby doesn’t beat me to it.
“We doing this again or what?” Mike asks.
“Oh, we only paid for one game,” Sydney says. “There’s a reservation after us, so we can’t book another one.”
“There’s a bunch of empty lanes,” Mike says, showing off some counting skills. “They can send people there.”
“Those are probably going to fill in the next few minutes,” I say despite the fact that the line at the service desk is short. “It’s for the best.” I hold up both my hands to flash a five five, indicating my losing score.
“You’re right, we might as well call it,” Ruby says. “Don’t you have to work, Mike?”
He shrugs. “I have almost two hours before I gotta be there.”
Ruby looks stumped for a second, but Sydney gives a few short coughs.
“Sorry,” she says, coughing again. “I’m allergic to all kinds of stuff, and something is triggering me. I probably need to get out of here and take my meds at home.”
“Bummer,” Mike says. “I have weed gummies that’ll help.”
“Highly allergic to weeds,” Sydney says. “Sorry to end the night early.”
“It’s okay.” Ruby’s voice is cheerful. “I’m more tired than I thought I would be, anyway.”
“You don’t have to go,” Mike says.
All three of us look at him in surprise.
“We can sit in my truck and listen to some Pixie Luna,” he continues, looking at Ruby.
Ruby reaches for Sydney’s hand. “Sorry, but I’m her ride, so I better get her home to her allergy pills. Nice meeting you, Mike.”
I start gathering up all our regular shoes, and Sydney coughs a few more times. “Thanks, Ruby.”
At the rental desk, we hop and tug at our bowling shoes, dropping them in a jumble and fleeing for the exit in our socks.
“Sorry, y’all,” Ruby says, peeling off toward her parking spot. “Come over and I’ll make it up to you with ice cream or something.”
“No, thanks,” I tell her. “Sydney and I are still going to hang out.” We’re not. It’s all part of the make-Ruby-pay-attention plan.
“Fresh air cleared my allergies just like that.” Sydney snaps her fingers.
Ruby opens her mouth like she’s going to argue, stops, then says, “Right, okay. Thanks for the assist.”
“No problem,” Sydney says.
“We’ll watch you leave to make sure Sami’s number one fan doesn’t follow you,” I add.
Ruby gets in her car and reverses, barely missing the bumper on her right. Her brake lights flash as her hand pops through the window to give us a wave, then she peels out toward the exit.
“She really wants to get away from Mike,” Sydney says.
“Unfortunately, that’s just how she drives.”
“Wow.”
We watch Ruby lurch into traffic without giving the oncoming car nearly enough room, but once again, she pulls it off without incident.
“Thanks for tonight,” I say as Ruby disappears, followed by a honking car.
“How do you think it went for your plan?” Sydney asks.
I sigh and shove my hands in my pockets. “Hard to say. She likes to hang out with me over most people anyway, and I didn’t need Mike to make that point. But as far as seeing me as someone besides her reliable hang-out friend? I don’t know.”
“Want my opinion?”
“Only if it’s something I want to hear.”
“Let’s clear the sidewalk before Mike finds us and tries to turn you into a skin suit to get closer to Sami. I’m parked over here.” She points, and I fall in step beside her until we reach her Mercedes SUV.
“Maybe you and Ruby are only meant to be friends,” Sydney says, but before my heart can sink, she adds, “but I don’t think so. How long were you guys hanging out before she dumped her ex?”
“We’ve been working together for three years. We started hanging out pretty shortly after she started at the library. They’ve been broken up for six months.”
She tilts her head, and although her eyes are on mine, her gaze is distant, like she’s calculating something.
“I believe in fate, so take this for what it’s worth, but that timing wasn’t a mistake.
You were given plenty of time by fate or whoever to build a friendship.
But your gut instinct that it’s time to tip it over into something else is correct. ”
I absorb that. It’s both validating and frustrating. “It’s what I want to be true. But it only matters if Ruby eventually sees that. And the eventually part is killing me.”
“I’m not a genius about my own relationships.” She grimaces. “Biggest understatement of my life. But I’m pretty good at reading other people. Ruby watches you constantly. She’s always aware of where you are, what you’re doing.”
“She’s observant.”
Sydney gives me a wry look. “Would I have to be your fake date if that was true?”
I smile. “Let me rephrase. Ruby is observant of people she cares about. She’s the nurturing type. Sometimes she hovers, but mostly she’s monitoring everyone’s emotional temperature and materializing like magic with the thing you didn’t know you needed. A hug or a Coke or a distraction.”
“I know the kind of personality you mean. I sense that from her. But she watches you differently. You’re part of her fabric in a way that’s different than her girlfriends would be.”
“You haven’t seen us all together.”
“I don’t have to. Let’s say one of her roommates announces tomorrow that they’re moving out of state for a job.
They’d leave a void behind, but I’ll bet you my car that no matter which roommate it is, it would be the same kind of void.
But if it was you leaving?” She shakes her head.
“It would create a void she’d experience differently. Does that make sense?”
I want to say I get it, but I give her a helpless shrug.
“I’ll ask Katie, but I’ll bet when Ruby is around her friends, she watches them like she’s ready to step in if needed but also like they have their own separate plots and villains and obstacles. Ruby watches you like . . .”
I lean toward her, willing her to finish the sentence as she trails off and chews on her lip for a few seconds. “Like what?”
She meets my eyes. “Ruby watches you like you're hers.”