Chapter Fourteen
Emily
Saturday
When I drive past Jake’s place, I force my gaze to remain on the road. The last thing I want is for him to see me driving by. Somehow, we’d end up in an argument. I’d do something wrong. He’d say something stupid. It’s better if we avoid interacting unless we’re at work.
Keep your eyes on the road. You’re going to Ruby’s place, and that’s it.
My teeth clamp together. There are at least a half dozen vehicles in Jake’s driveway and lining the street in front of his house. I recognized most of the cars and pickups. Bella’s brothers and their roommates. He’s probably having a welcome home party.
Without another backward glance, I ease in front of Ruby’s house and park behind Bella’s car.
Ruby’s place is small. It’s a two-bedroom, single-story fixer-upper on the edge of town. But it’s right up her alley. There’s a huge fenced-in backyard for her pets.
Somehow, the EMT gods have been on my side, keeping our two sides of the emergency situations separate. There was one call on Wednesday where we were both at a medical emergency at Brookhaven Market. Luckily, Dale did the talking while I addressed the patient’s needs.
For once, I was more than thankful for Dale and I’s driving and patient contact arrangements.
But it didn’t stop the hair on the back of my neck from standing as I worked.
I didn’t need to turn around to know that Jake was glaring daggers at the back of my head.
And this time, I don’t even know what I did wrong.
Of course, I was worried about leaving him with my mom while I went to work. She’s my responsibility, not his. He has better things to do than clean up after me. Especially since I’m trying to prove I’m a responsible adult.
The moment I step inside the house, I moan at the fresh scent of cookies as music blasts through the house and then smile at the white pot-belly pig with black spots that’s rushing toward me.
Squirt is the four-month-old runt of Ruby’s two adult pot-bellied pigs, Samson and Delilia.
The little guy squeals as his hooves click on the wooden flooring.
“Hello, buddy.” I pick him up and pat his head. Snorting is his only answer as he wiggles against me. Not to get away, but to encourage me to scratch his ears. He’s a big baby with a black and white bandana around his neck.
“Em, is that you?” Ruby peeks her head around the door. “I see you’ve found Squirt.” She grins, her signature ruby red lipstick, emphasizing her adoration for her odd choice of pets.
“Yes, it’s me.”
When she steps into view, her outfit is hidden by a white apron with the words ‘Baking because murder is wrong’ covering the front. “Or he found you.”
“We found each other.” I rub his ear between my fingers and deposit him back onto the floor. “See you later, Squirt.”
Most of the time, her pets stay outside or on the back porch, where she has a space designated for them on the screened-in porch. But occasionally, they get free rein of the house. Squirt twitches his curly tail and scampers to the kitchen.
“Hey, Bella.”
Bella lifts a finger in greeting as she pulls a tray of cookies out of the oven. She’s wearing a cute pink top paired with white shorts, showcasing her tan legs, while I’m wearing black leggings and a plain white athletic T-shirt.
“You’re just in time to help us deliver cookies to Jake’s house.” Bella’s smile is a little less enthusiastic as if she’s already preparing for my reaction.
“What?” I stop in the middle of the kitchen floor in front of the island that holds several containers.
The old white wooden cabinets are scuffed, but they match the small kitchen table on the opposite wall, giving the room a cozy feel. The house is rustic, but there’s a lot of potential for when she gets the updates started.
Bella drops the tray onto the stovetop. “We decided to bring cookies to the guys. They’re all helping Jake with his bedroom renovation. They got there at six this morning and haven’t left yet.”
“We also made sandwiches, which are cooling in the refrigerator.” Ruby tips her head toward the matching white appliance.
“And we made fresh lemonade and sweet tea.” Bella pokes the ‘off’ button on the stove. “I’m betting they’re starving by now.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “And they aren’t capable of cooking for themselves? Or one of them can’t stop for a break and grab some cookies and sandwiches at Brookhaven Market or The Burger Bunker?”
“Em, don’t be like that.” Ruby peels the lid off a container. “Jake is my new neighbor, and I hope to have a decent relationship with him.”
“You’re right.” My shoulders sink. Just because we can’t be in the same room together without fighting doesn’t mean my friends have the same issue with him. “I’m sorry I said anything.”
The hum of the bass fills the room as the song changes to a faster-paced rock number. We’ve always played music when we were together for as long as I can remember. But the music is in direct contrast with my mood, making my head hurt.
“It’s fine.” Ruby uses a spatula to loosen a tray of cookies that were cooling on the island and stacks them inside the open container as Squirt rubs into the side of her leg.
Chocolate chip cookies are lined up next to a row of sugar cookies. “I wish you and Jake would put the past behind you. We’re all friends or at least friendly with the guys, and it’d be easier if we all got along.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You get along with them. You’re talking about my brother–”
“And Dominic.” Bella interrupts me as pink creeps up her cheeks. “We fight like cats and dogs.” She rests her butt against the counter and mimics my stance.
“That’s foreplay.” Ruby laughs while snatching Squirt off the ground and marching to the back porch. “Out you go, little fella. Always sneaking in here trying to get scraps and girls. You’re a little rake.”
Squirt lets out an oink with a smile on his face. If pigs can smile.
“I wish,” Bella sighs with that flush still on her cheeks.
I arch an eyebrow and unlace my arms. “Do you have something to tell us? You look like a cherry red tomato over there.”
“No.” She bites her bottom lip. “Well, maybe. I don’t know.” Her facial features match her conflicted statements. “He’s seemed different lately. More like he’s jealous of other guys rather than just trying to push them off because of my brothers.”
“He’s ass over teakettle for you if you ask me.” Ruby snaps the door shut and promptly stops in front of the sink to wash her hands.
“I agree. He’s been fighting it for years.” I brace my hands on the island. Dominic watches Bella like an inside cat stalks a bird sitting on a porch rail. Watching. Waiting. And ready to pounce the second he’s given the chance.
“He needs to stop fighting it before I turn into an old shrew.” Bella’s eyes dance as she snatches up the spatula that Ruby ditched and shoves it under the cooled cookies.
In addition to the chocolate chip and sugar cookies, there are peanut butter and white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies in the containers. It looks like a lot, but there’s probably seven or more guys at Jake’s house. They’ll devour them in one setting.
“As soon as I get these off the tray, let’s go over to Jake’s house. I don’t want the cookies to get cold.” Ruby dries her hands on a white dishtowel with a pink pig embroidered on the end and hangs it on a silver drying rack.
“What can I do to help?” My innate instinct to help can’t survive any longer without chipping in and offering a hand.
“Grab the pitchers of drinks and let’s go.” Ruby unlaces her apron, revealing a green skintight halter-top dress with more legs showing than a giraffe.
Ruby is a constant contradiction. One second, she’s dressed in dingy muck boots and an old flannel shirt, and the next moment, she’s dressed like a runway model.
Ruby was that girl in school who would’ve looked good in a gunny sack.
She was the cheer captain at Friday night football games and showed pigs for 4H on Saturday mornings.
I glance down at my casual athletic gear–a mauve T-shirt and black leggings. I’m the odd girl out of this group. But for some reason, they put up with me.
“Wait a second.” Bella rushes across the room, yanks open her oversized bag, and digs out mascara, blush, and lipstick.
“One more second.” She continues to dig through the contents in her purse from one side to the other.
“Found it.” She holds up an eyeshadow palette like it’s a blue ribbon at the fair.
“Ugh.”
Her eyes narrow into slits. “Give me your face.”
I raise my hands in defense. “I’m fine. I don’t want to get all glammed up and have the guys think I’m trying to impress them or something.”
Bella arches an eyebrow. “You have boobs and a vagina. That’s all it really takes to impress them. The makeup is for you. You need some color and some confidence. And nothing says confidence like ruby red lipstick.”
“No.” I stumble backwards. “That’s Ruby’s signature look. Not mine. That’s not going to happen.” I’d look like a fucking clown if I tried to pull that off.
They laugh at the expression of horror that’s obviously on my face.
“Okay….” Bella flips the lipstick tube back into her purse and lifts a different one. “I’ll settle for a strawberry milkshake shade.”
“Fine,” I sigh as my shoulders slump in defeat. There’s no point in fighting it. She’ll eventually wear me down.
When Bella’s phone rings, her entire body stiffens. I grab her arm. “What’s going on? Why do you look like someone’s after you?”
“It’s nothing.” She waves her hand dismissively.
“You’re lying. It’s something. Now, spill it.” I cross my arms over my chest and give her my best mean-mom look.
“It’s Brock.”
“What does that jerk want?” Ruby’s eyes blaze with vigilante justice. “Give me the phone. I’ll give him a piece of my mind.”
“It’s fine. I’ll just block him.” Bella pokes at her phone screen.
“You’ve blocked him before.” I’d like to join Ruby on this one. She might get a bit unhinged at times, but this guy is ridiculous. Bella broke things off months ago, and he won’t let it go.
“I know.” Bella drops her cell phone into her purse. “It’s done. He won’t bother me again.”
Somehow, I’m not as convinced as my friend. This isn’t the first time he’s contacted her after she blocked him.