Chapter Fourteen
Charlie
I’m gathering my gear for a climb with friends at Enchanted Rock when Ruby’s text comes in the next morning.
Fine
Just fine?
Great?
Is that a question?
It was great
Been thinking. Got some tips for you.
I stare down at the message. She has tips for me? Like dating tips? Sydney and I had a good time last night. Why would Ruby think I need tips?
I’m good
Just proves you need tips. I’ll come over.
That’s another surprise. She usually suggests we hang at her place. Not that there’s anything wrong with my place, but it’s a small apartment in an old building.
Can’t. Got plans.
Sydney?! ??
Climbing. Heading out in a few minutes.
Come over after. For dinner.
Saying yes is such a habit that I’ve tapped it out before I pause to think instead of hitting Send. This is one of those chances to work on Step Three and nudge her out of getting too comfortable. Break her of assuming all my free time is hers. Maybe she’ll appreciate it mo—
Inspiration strikes.
I get up to look for my list, then add a step to the bottom. 6. Create demand.
The whole reason this shoe thing has been a good side hustle is because I’m selling sneakers in high demand. Demand is high because shoe makers restrict the supply with special editions and limited releases, creating a sense of urgency around collectors getting their hands on them.
Time to create some scarcity.
Can’t do dinner. All day thing. I’ll be too tired.
But I have tips
Tell me at work
It’s a couple of minutes before she answers with a thumbs-up emoji.
I grin. “You are now a hot commodity.”
But by the time I’m on the road to Enchanted Rock, I’m scowling.
What does she mean, I “need tips”?
That’s exactly what I ask her when I get to our cubicle Monday morning.
She’s wearing a short-sleeved sweater that’s not even tight, but it’s reminding me of all her curves.
Plus it’s a pale gold color and kind of furry looking?
All I know is that it makes me want to pet her, so I slide my hands into my pockets when I stop in front of her instead.
“Good morning, Ruby Tuesday.”
Ruby glances up. “Morning, Charlie Bucket.”
“What tips do I need for dating?”
“Work isn’t the place for this,” she says. “Too bad you couldn’t come for dinner last night. I made shrimp and pasta.”
She doesn’t have to say it was good. Ruby is amazing in the kitchen. “Why isn’t work the place? Work is always the place.”
“You’ll see. We’ll talk about it at the desk.”
I put my stuff away and drop my lanyard over my head.
We go to our sections, turning on lights and computers and doing our usual morning tasks.
Ruby manages to avoid me until I find her at the media wall looking for a DVD to pull for the holds.
She’s wearing brown pants that have to be yoga pants based on the way they sculpt her butt, except they have belt loops and back pockets.
Ruby just has those kinds of curves, and what that booty does to jeans should be illegal, thank Levi Strauss.
I clear my throat to let her know I’m here, and she glances over her shoulder at me.
“The tips, Ruby. Or can you still not talk about it at work?” I give a quick look around before I lean down and ask softly beside her ear, “It’s illegal, isn’t it? I’ll be your accomplice for anything, but I won’t be the perp.”
Ruby gives a small shiver and steps back, rubbing her ear. “That tickles.”
I wait, saying nothing.
She drops her hand to her hip, a classic Bossy Ruby pose. “It’s one tip: you need more PDA.”
She wants me to touch Sydney more? This isn’t the direction I want her head to go. I push aside a sinking feeling to focus on my mission objectives. “Why can’t you say that at work?”
“I was going to give you specifics that might sound weird out of context to anyone else. I didn’t want to give anyone the wrong idea.”
I’m intrigued. “Everything we say sounds weird out of context.”
She gives a yeah, okay side-to-side nod. “Anyway, she sent you a lot of signals, but you didn’t send many of your own. If you go out again—”
“We are,” I say. We aren’t, but Sydney and I agreed to say we are.
“Oh.” Ruby gives a small head shake, like she’s reorienting. “That’s great.”
“Why did you say ‘oh’ like it’s not a good idea?”
“Too used to my brothers and their rules about mandatory wait times between dates and all of that.”
I give her a thumbs-down.
“I know,” she says. “You see why I had to help Joey. I can’t believe any of them found a woman.”
“Especially since they’re all ugly and boring.” Every Ramos is attractive and funny. It’s obnoxious but also deeply fun to hang around them.
Ruby gives a slow nod. “I also thought we were doing the double-date thing.”
“If it helps you, sure. Sydney likes you, and she’d be happy to do it again, but she and I are good to hang on our own.”
Ruby pulls a DVD off the shelf. “No, that’s good. Do that.”
“Cool. But now you have to tutor me on this PDA,” I say. “One-on-one instruction, then I take the test on my own.” Am I really going to turn my Sexy Librarian into a “Hot for Teacher” fantasy? I’m a dog, but maybe it’s not objectification if half of what makes Ruby sexy is her brain?
Whatever. She’s hot. It is what it is.
“Sure, that works,” Ruby says. “Here’s your lesson: find more ways to touch Sydney. Congratulations, you’ve graduated.”
She turns to bring the movie to the hold shelf, and I go with her. “What kind of touch? I don’t want her to feel like I’m being handsy. Handsy is bad, right?”
“It’s only handsy if we don’t like a guy. Otherwise, it’s flirting.”
“Not confusing at all,” I say.
“I hear your sarcasm, and I do not pity you. It’s obvious if you’re reading the signals.”
I will need a hands-on demonstration, obviously. “How do I know if I’m reading them right?”
“Charlie, come on. Guys who aren’t seeing rejection signals are just ignoring rejection signals. If you’re looking for them, you’ll see any she sends.”
“I don’t want to mess it up, and you’ve got me all in my head now. You better give me specifics. What if I put my hand on her back, and she doesn’t do anything? Is that a signal to keep it there or to drop it?”
She looks around and then jerks her head at the door next to our event room. “In there.”
I follow her to either the big closet or small room, depending on your perspective. Can’t wait to see why Ruby needs privacy for this.
When we’re almost to the door, she says, “Pretend I’m Sydney and that’s a restaurant door.”
I will definitely not pretend she’s Sydney. I move ahead of her to open it, placing my hand at the small of her back to usher her in. The contact increases my awareness of her by a factor of ten. Her sweater is as soft as it looks, but I didn’t expect to feel the warmth of her skin through it.
She shuts the door behind us. “That was good. Do that a lot.”
“Follow her around with my hand on her back. On it.”
“Perfect, Charles. That won’t be disturbing at all.”
“So, wrong signal?”
“In all seriousness, look for small opportunities like that. A good test is if you touched me that way here at work, would anyone think twice about it? If they wouldn’t, you’re being too subtle. If they would, then you’re probably okay.”
“Got it. Think about touching you inappropriately at work, and I’m on the right track.”
Her mouth falls open the tiniest bit, like she can’t believe I just said that. Maybe I can’t either, but when she laughs a second later, I’m glad I did.
“And this is why we’re having this conversation in the closet,” she says, smiling.
She rolls her eyes, knowing I understood her meaning all along. “Anyway, when we walked in here, if I didn’t want you touching me, I would have gotten tense, sped up, or found a reason to get away from your hand.”
Part of me would like to give her the lightest of shakes and ask, Do you honestly think I don’t know that? But if Ruby wants to help me tackle step four on my list—practice intentional connection—I just need to figure out if it’s better to be the best or worst student ever.
“What if I check in with Sydney every time I touch her? Maybe get right up in her face, give her intense eye contact, and say ‘did you like that’ very loud and slow?”
“She’ll love it. Lets her know right away that you’re deranged.”
This time I let her see my smirk. “Everything is fine with me and Sydney.”
“Seems like she initiated all the touch, that’s all,” Ruby says. “Either initiate more touching or at least match her.”
“Show me.” I let a trace of a dare slip into my tone.
She covers the distance between us in three steps. My arms are folded, and she rests her hand on my forearm, smiling up at me. “Think intentional without being overwhelming.”
I meet her eyes, and in true addict style, the freedom to stare into them hits me with a sweet buzz, their warm depths inviting me to drown.
“See how perfect this works?” Her voice is soft, and so is her touch as she lets her fingers trail away.
“Got it.” My voice is raspy, and the hair on my arm is standing up. There’s no way she’s unaffected by this, is there?
“Hey, have you noticed that box up there?” She touches my side and points up at a shelf. I follow her gaze, but there’s no box on the shelf. “See how I touched your side? It wasn’t necessary.”
No, it was. It definitely was.
“Look for those moments. Getting it yet?”
“Better keep explaining it to me like I barely figured out that girls exist.”
“Oh, Charlie, you’re so silly.” Her voice is breathy and high. She sways against my side gently enough to give me a nudge that doesn’t affect my balance.
“Like that,” she says in a normal voice.
“So, if she does that, I do this.” I sway back, returning her soft bump and smiling.
“Right. But think proactive, not reactive, if you want to tell her you’re into her.”
“I want to show you something.” I hook a finger through her belt loop and draw her toward the nearest corner. This move is a Ruby Special, because it drives me especially crazy.
“What are we looking at?” Her voice is breathy again.
We stare at the empty corner where the shelves meet. I give her belt loop a light tug. “Nothing. Proactive enough?”
She keeps her eyes on her captive belt loop and nods.
I have to break this spell or I’m going to make my up-against-the-wall-I-want-you fantasy a reality. I let go of her. “I’m inspired. What do you think of starting with a booty smack when she’s getting into the car?”
Ruby snorts and turns to leave. “Figure it out yourself, ingrate.”
I beat her to the door and hold it closed as she grabs the handle. When she looks up, I bend down and close our height gap by several inches. “I’m not the one who snuck us into a closet to talk about . . .” I lean forward to say the last part softly by her ear again, “touching.”
When I hear a tiny hitch in her breath, I step back, posture relaxed. “So, initiate like that?”
Ruby blinks at me then nods. “Uh huh.”
“Cool. Thanks for the tutoring.”
She blinks again, nods again. “Uh huh.” Then she lets herself out.
Intentional connection, check. Step four is my favorite.