Chapter 20 Ruby
As Daphne’s engagement party approached, she was at the restaurant more often.
I relished the opportunity to spend more time with my best friend.
She could only come early in the morning or in the evening, though typically she preferred the evenings because she didn’t have any time pressure.
It coincided with the dinner rush, obviously, but that didn’t matter.
I carved out the time for my bestie, no matter what.
Though today, we would likely have to cut it a bit short because I had plans with Grant and was really looking forward to them. So when he texted me at five o’clock, my stomach somersaulted. God, I hope he isn’t canceling.
Grant: Hey, do you mind if Evie joins us tonight?
Ruby: Not at all. How come?
He sent me a picture. It was a selfie of him and Evie.
Grant: We spent the afternoon together, and she was very excited when I told her that I’m seeing you this evening .
Ruby: The more, the merrier.
This was going to be fun. I really liked Evie. Grant and I had been seeing each other daily for the past few weeks, and sometimes we spent time with her too.
The sound of the door opening snapped me out of my thoughts. When I looked up, I was surprised to see Daphne strutting in.
“You’re here early.”
“My boss left, and I managed to sneak out. I figured you’d be happy if I came before dinner rush.”
“Yes, I am.” I kissed her cheek and noticed that she was a bit red in the face. “You okay?”
“Yep. I was talking to Roger on the phone on the way and, well, he can get a little bit too into sexy talking.”
That made me laugh. “I’m happy that you’re still at it so many years later.”
“Sex keeps our relationship alive,” she said. “It’s important.”
“As is having the perfect menu at the engagement party.”
She pressed her lips together. “I’m sorry to make you work so hard.”
She’d already changed her mind three times about the menu, but that was okay.
I pointed to a table. “Sit down. I’ll tell the kitchen to bring everything out fast. Richie’s been working on it the whole break. He’ll be happy that you’ve come earlier.”
“Perfect.”
I went to the kitchen to inform Richie that we were ready for the goodies, and he lit up. I feared that he’d get annoyed at Daphne for being so demanding, but apparently, he had a secret. He loved demanding customers—they gave him a chance to flex his perfectionist muscles.
I’d barely sat down with Daphne when he brought the appetizer. This time it was a bruschetta with burrata—not mozzarella—plus balsamic dressing, tomatoes, and just a tiny bit of cilantro .
“Thank you, Richie,” Daphne said. Just before he dashed back to the kitchen, she took a bite and said, “Oh, this is good. Burrata is much better than the mozzarella.”
“It’s creamier,” I told her. “That’s what Richie was going for.”
She smiled. “This is a winner.”
“You didn’t even finish eating it.”
“I know a winner when I have one. So,” she asked, glancing around, “ready for dinner rush?”
“Actually, tonight I’m not going to be here for that.”
“What are you doing?”
“Going out with Grant.” After a second, I added, “And Evie.”
She jerked her head back. “Heath’s Evie?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh my goodness. That’s... I don’t understand.”
I laughed. “Honestly, there’s not much to it. Grant and I were supposed to spend the evening together. Then he said Evie wants to hang out.”
Daphne frowned. “So you’re going out with him and Evie?”
“Yes. That’s what I just said.”
“I know, I’m just processing. This is so unusual for Grant.”
“Daphne,” I said, “finish your burrata and stop badmouthing Grant.”
“I’m not. This is a good thing.” After taking another bite, she said, “That’s it. I require weekly updates from you.”
“About the engagement party?”
“No, about you and Grant. Things between you two are going so fast that I’m getting whiplash.”
I grinned. “I’ll do you one better—I’ll send you daily updates if you do too.”
“Is that necessary?”
“No! I was making fun of you.”
Daphne beamed. “Do you mind if I linger until he shows up here? ”
“Why?” I asked.
“I just want to see this with my own eyes.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“Oh, I do. But I still want to witness it.”
I looked at the clock and then at her plate. “Is that why you haven’t finished the appetizer?”
“I’m savoring it, okay?”
“No, you’re moving extra slow on purpose.”
She shrugged. “I wasn’t sure if you’d agree to let me stay, so I thought I’d take matters into my own hands.”
I laughed. “Oh, Daphne. This feels good. I actually have butterflies in my stomach.”
“Because of Grant?” she double-checked.
“No, because of Richie.” I rolled my eyes. “Of course because of Grant.”
She giggled. “You’re serious?”
“Yes. One evening, he showed up here with flowers just because he missed me.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re joking.”
“Nope.”
“Are you sure you’re talking about Grant?”
“Oh, you’ll see.”
“I can’t wait.”
She approved the second course as well, but not the dessert. We were having cake and dessert. She’d tested five different ones already, but Richie promised to think of something even better for next time. He truly loved this challenge.
Daphne and I also shared a glass of wine. It was after five o’clock, so who cared?
“This reminds me a bit of our college days. Going to a bar for happy hour,” she said.
I laughed as I sipped my sauvignon blanc. “College seems like a lifetime ago.”
“I know, right?” Daphne replied just as the door swung open and Evie and Grant stepped in .
“Ruby!” Evie exclaimed, running up to me. “Hi, Daphne. I didn’t know you’d be here too.”
“I forgot to tell your uncle,” I said, looking up at Grant.
Oh, the man was sexy. That suit, the swagger. Yum. And he was all mine. How was I supposed to not have butterflies?
“Hello, ladies. I see you’ve had wine already.” He looked at our glasses.
“Yeah. I’m getting on my best friend’s nerves yet again with the menu, but what can I do? I’m a bit undecided,” Daphne told him.
Grant leaned over and gave me a kiss on the lips.
Now I didn’t just have butterflies—those were some serious tingles between my thighs. I sighed against his mouth. Maybe I shouldn’t have started with happy hour already.
When he pulled back, I noticed that both Evie and Daphne had huge grins.
“I’m so happy that you’re spending the evening with us, Ruby,” Evie said.
I smiled, looking at Grant, who winked at me conspiratorially. Cute of him to make her think I was tagging along, not that she was crashing our date.
“We should get going,” I said as I stood up from my chair.
Daphne jumped from hers as well. “Yes, of course. Don’t let me keep you.” She looked behind her, as if just now realizing that Sherry and our servers were moving around. “Your staff has to prep for dinner rush anyway.”
“Yes, they do.”
She looked at Grant. “So... I hear you showed up with flowers one evening.”
“Uncle Grant, that’s so romantic,” Evie gushed.
He looked at me and smiled. “Been bragging about me, huh?”
I nodded. “Of course. That was a very romantic thing you did. I want everyone to know.”
Grant looked at my lips for a split second. I was certain that neither Evie nor Daphne caught it, but I did, and I knew what that meant. This sexy man wanted to kiss me senseless right now.
“All right, well, I’ll see you,” Daphne told me before she hurried out.
“We should get going, too,” Grant said.
“I’m ready.” I’d brought my bag out here earlier, so all I had to do was sling it over my shoulder. “What are we doing?”
“I thought we could go shopping for a bit!” Evie looked at me like I’d hung the moon. “You said last time that you use a special conditioner to make your hair so pretty.”
“I do,” I responded.
“Can we buy it?” she asked.
“Of course. I get it at a local drugstore. It’s been in the neighborhood forever.”
Evie’s eyes were wide, and her smile even wider.
“She kept talking about your hair,” Grant said as we left the restaurant.
“You’ve got the prettiest hair ever, and I look at a lot of hair in magazines.” She was walking in front of us, looking over her shoulder every few words.
“But you’ve got gorgeous hair, Evie.” She had thick brown curls with a beautiful glow.
“I know, but I want to make it even better.”
I loved that she had such high self-esteem. Heath was doing a great job.
The drugstore was a mom-and-pop business. They brought in niche products that you couldn’t find in the big stores. Honestly, I was surprised they were still in business, but I was happy for them.
“What can I get you?” the owner, Gertie, asked Evie. She winked at me and looked appreciatively at Grant.
“She wants that fabulous conditioner you sold me on years ago. ”
“It’s a leave-in conditioner,” Gertie said, immediately taking it from the shelf. “Easiest thing in the world.”
“Yeah,” I said, stepping right behind Evie and running my hands through her hair. She leaned into my touch, clearly enjoying it. “You just put it in your hair like this, after you wash your hair and towel-dry it.”
“And I don’t have to wash it away?” she asks. “This is awesome.”
“Exactly. Easy-peasy, right?”
“That’ll make my hair look like yours?”
“I don’t know if it’s going to be like mine, but it’ll make it look fantastic,” I said.
“Thank you, Ruby. Thank you, ma’am. I want ten bottles.”
I looked at Grant, who burst out laughing.
“Ten? Girl, that’s a lot,” Gertie said.
“I don’t live near here, and I don’t want to risk running out.”
“Hon, you only need a small amount every time. One bottle will last you a long time. I’ll make you a deal. Buy three today. Next time you come to buy more, you can take ten if you want.”
“You’re not a very good businesswoman, are you? You’re trying to make less money, not more.”
“Evie,” Grant said in a stern tone, “that was not polite.”
Evie winced. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”
“No matter.” Gertie looked at me, smiling. She’d known me since I was a little girl. This place had been my favorite store since I was a kid. I felt so fancy the first time Mom allowed me to buy makeup from them.
“We’ll take three,” Grant said.
Gertie took a long time putting the package together. She always liked to aesthetically package everything.
God, I loved this place. It had an old-school vibe about it, with velvet-covered shelves and products displayed erratically. The front window was almost always too crowded with five or six products, but it was authentic, and Gertie was really good at buying the best things .
When we finally stepped out of the store. I took my phone out of my purse. It had vibrated twice. “I’ve got a missed call from Mom. Mind if I call her back before we get to the car?”
“No problem,” Grant said.
I tapped Mom’s number and accidentally must have put her on speakerphone or something, because her voice resounded on the whole street.
“Darling, guess what? I’ve made banana cake!”
“Hi, Mom,” I replied.
“Want me to bring you some at the restaurant?”
“I’m taking the evening off.”
“I love banana cake!” Evie exclaimed just as I was about to take my mom off speaker.
“Who is that?” Mom asked.
“I’m with Evie, Grant’s niece, and Grant,” I said.
“Why don’t you all come up to the bungalow? I’ve made plenty.”
“Yes, yes, yes, please!” Evie turned to Grant, her eyes pleading. He nodded.
Before saying anything else, I clicked off the speakerphone and said to Grant, “Knowing my brother, he’ll probably drop by too. That guy is obsessed with banana cake.”
“Sure, why not? Like you said, the more the merrier, right?”
Oh, I was putting him on the spot. Poor guy wanted to take me out on a date and get good sexy time, and those plans turned into hanging out with his niece and now with my family too.
“You sure about that?” I asked him.
“He already said yes,” Evie replied.
I looked at her. “You’re assertive.”
She covered her mouth. “I’m sorry.”
“No, that’s a good thing, Evie. Never apologize for being too assertive.” I winked at her as I put my phone to my ear. “Sure, Mom. We’ll be there in a few minutes. We’re at Gertie’s.”
“Can’t wait. Darling,” she said, clearly yelling at my dad, “you won’t believe it. ”
I hung up, knowing Mom forgot to, and put my phone in my bag.
“We can walk to my parents’ house,” I informed them. “It’s super close.”
“Sure,” Grant replied.
Evie walked right next to him, holding her bag to her chest. After a few steps, she took a bottle out, reading the instructions, and then put it back.
“This way.” I pointed to the left.
My parents’ front door was open when we arrived. Grant frowned and immediately looked around. “No cameras.”
“I know,” I whispered. “My parents and I have been living in this neighborhood forever and never had a break-in.” I stepped in first and said loudly, “Hello.”
“We’re in the living room,” Mom and Dad said, and then they popped into the kitchen.
“You must be Grant. It’s nice to meet you,” Mom exclaimed, pulling him in for a hug.
Dad schooled his features. I was surprised that Mateo wasn’t here after all.
“As she said, I’m Grant,” my man said, shaking hands with Dad. “This is my niece, Evie.”
“How do you do, Evie?” Mom greeted her. “So, you’re a fan of banana cake as well.”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. One of my nannies loved to bake it, and she taught me, too, but I haven’t had it since she left.”
“Let’s all eat here, standing around the island. I’m sorry. I don’t have many chairs,” Mom said, looking from Grant to Evie.
Grant waved it off. “That’s no problem.”
Mom started cutting slices for everyone.
“So, this evening is turning into something different than you’d imagined, huh?” I whispered to Grant.
He bent to help Evie up onto a chair to eat her cake, then said softly into my ear, “That’s okay. I just want to be with you, honestly. We’re going to have fun no matter what.” Then he added, “Besides, I’ll have you all to myself eventually. I’ll make sure of that.”
I blushed, much like Daphne had done earlier. Suddenly, I understood what she meant, and I was certain that even twenty years down the road, this man would still make me blush.
Oh yeah. I was certainly more invested in us than I should be.