Chapter 9 #2
“Ruby, this is Mikey.” I reach behind me and motion to her before Ruby can blab my secret. I plan on telling Mikey about my… issues, but I wanted her to warm up to me and open up before I scared her away. I don’t want her to think I’m some creepy stalker.
Either way, it needs to come from me, not my sister. Ruby bullied me into telling her in November before I left. She said if I’m going to try and woo a woman, I shouldn’t go empty handed, so she gave me the soup.
She was tickled pink over Mikey loving it.
Ruby’s hazel eyes shoot to mine, and her lips purse like she’s trying to keep a secret in. Then, they tip into a knowing grin, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Hi, Mikey. I’m Ruby, and I’m so happy to finally meet you. I’d shake your hand, but as you can see, mine are full at the moment.”
Mikey waves. “Nice to meet you, too.”
“Wow, S, you didn’t do her justice at all. She’s gorgeous.”
My cheeks flame. She may be Cupid’s Cove’s sweetheart, but she’s still my little sister, and she loves watching me squirm.
“Um, thank you. Y-you’re really pretty, too,” Mikey says a bit awkwardly. Is Ruby making her nervous? Or is it the compliments?
“Awe, thank you! I should get these eclairs in the fridge, but let me know what you want to eat, and I’ll whip it up for you. You just missed the lunch rush, so it’s not as packed in there.” Ruby gives Mikey another beaming smile before I let her pass and head to the kitchen.
“You and your sister look so similar,” Mikey whispers.
“You saying I’m pretty, sweetheart?” I toss her a wink, loving how her cheeks flush again.
“No,” she grumbles. Her stomach makes another groaning sound, and I would keep teasing her, but I want to get her fed first.
“Sure you’re not. Let’s go check out the menu.” I want to reach for her hand, lead her to the front and keep our fingers intertwined while she reads the menu. Instead, I ball my hands into fists and lead her to the main dining area.
Ruby was right about it not being as crowded, and I’m guessing the rain is keeping people in their hotel rooms instead of exploring the town.
Hopefully this gloomy weather won’t be here tomorrow, otherwise we’ll have to move the festival indoors to the community center.
While it would be fine, it wouldn’t have the same whimsical feel.
“Here’s our menu,” I motion to the chalk board, “and we have some premade sandwiches and salads if you’d rather have one of those.”
Mikey’s eyes bounce around the menu, then track to the prepackaged meals. “What’s your favorite?”
“The chicken caesar wrap is delicious. Ruby’s cutlets are the best, but my absolute favorite thing isn’t on the menu. Do you have any food allergies or aversions?”
“No…”
“Can I surprise you?”
“Are you going to be sad if I say no?”
“Devastated.”
She rolls her eyes, but I see a smile pull at her lips. “If you insist.”
“You won’t regret this. Take a seat in the corner booth. I’ll grab you some hot chocolate then get our food.”
Mikey shuffles over to the booth and slides in, immediately looking out the window and watching the rain run in tracks down the glass.
I watch her for too long, in disbelief she’s here sitting in my café. Fate was really looking out for me today.
When I shake myself free from staring at her, I get to work on her drink. I take extra care in mixing the chocolate and milk, adding a chocolate syrup heart on top of the whip cream before I deliver it to her.
She takes a tentative sip, my gaze tracking the way her tongue swipes away the leftover whip cream on her upper lip. My stomach clenches with arousal when a small hum of delight vibrates in her throat.
I want her so badly it hurts.
“Good?” My voice comes out husky, and satisfaction rolls through me as she nods. “Good. I’ll be right back.”
I practically sprint to the kitchen, trying to put a bit of space between us before I do something stupid like ask her if I can lick whip cream off her lips.
Ruby’s still in the kitchen, carefully assembling the very meal I was coming in here to make.
“How the hell did you convince her to come back with you? Am I finally getting a sister-in-law?” Ruby’s dark blonde eyebrows bounce as she lays the crispy prosciutto on top of the caesar salad mix.
I groan, washing my hands at the designated sink. “I messed up Slater’s instructions and completely broke the van. Instead of just fixing a screw, they have to replace a few parts, and one of them won’t get there until Tuesday, so she offered to drive me home.”
Ruby cackles. “Oh, Saint. You’re in so much deeper than I thought. You barely know her, and she’s driving you home? What will you do if she doesn’t feel the same way? You can’t will someone into loving you.”
She’s right. I can’t force Mikey’s feelings to be something they’re not, but I’m still hopeful she can feel the way I do. “I don’t know how to explain this feeling, Ruby. I know it sounds like I’ve lost my mind—”
“You’ve been purposely breaking your vehicle for a year just to see her! Tell me how you haven’t lost your mind.”
“I haven’t, I swear! We have a connection. Something waiting to surface and bloom. She’s gone through a lot, Rubes. I think she’s guarding her heart with a million walls, but… I think she wants to let me in. She’s been opening up to me. I’m so close, I can taste it.”
Ruby’s eyes soften. She knows how long I’ve waited to find someone I’ve felt this type of connection with. She knows how deeply I want the kind of love Mom talked about. She’s watched me pair people up year after year, hoping to find a match of my own, only to be disappointed.
“I’m worried about your heart, S. But… I haven’t seen you this excited about someone in… ever. So tell me how to help.”
“Just give me the sandwiches and hope the way to her heart is through her stomach like you said.” I grin, nodding at the plate.
Ruby shakes her head but cuts them in half and slides me the plates. “Go get her, then.”