“Ruby,” Taylor said when he spotted her making his way between tables. “Hey,” he
smiled eyeing Ben suspiciously.
“Hey Taylor,” she smiled back. “Busy night?”
“Yup,” he said squatting down next to their booth resting his chin on the table.
“I’ve been here all day.”
“Aww,” she smiled smoothing back his low ponytail. “I wish I knew you were
working, we would’ve requested your section and left you a big fat tip.”
“That’d be nice,” he smiled standing up adjusting his black apron tied around his
waist.
“Oh, this is Ben, sorry. Ben this is Taylor,” she said introducing the two.
“Hi,” Taylor said shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Ben smiled.
“Um, I should get back to work,” Taylor said resting his hands on his hips. “I’ll
get in trouble if I stand around.”
“Alright. Well it was good seeing you,” Ruby smiled.
“You too. I’ll tell Zac I ran into you,” Taylor said throwing his glance over to the
dark haired guy across from her.
“Okay,” she nodded. “Tell him I’ll give him a call soon.”
“Cool. Well enjoy your meal. It was nice meeting you, Ben,” Taylor said
excusing himself.
“Bye Taylor,” Ruby said picking her fork back up.
“Bye,” Ben smiled looking over his shoulder as Taylor walked away.
“That’s his brother,” Ruby whispered leaning forward.
“I see,” Ben smiled.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she grinned.
“He’s hot,” Ben said scratching the back of his neck.
“I don’t think he’s gay,” she laughed.
“Oh come on. He totally shops at Banana Republic, I know it,” Ben said leaning
forward as they gossiped.
Ruby laughed and shook her head.
******************************************************************
Zac pulled his 4-Runner into the driveway next to Taylor’s dark blue Pathfinder
around midnight. He got out, taking his guitar from the backseat and making his way into
the house. He laid his keys on the kitchen counter and jogged upstairs to his room.
“Hey,” Taylor said searching through Zac’s CD’s.
“What’s up?” Zac sighed laying his guitar case down and flopping onto his bed.
“How’re Daniel and Will?” Taylor asked deciding to borrow a Bob Marley CD.
“Good. We worked on a few songs.”
“Cool,” Taylor said sitting down on Zac’s couch.
“So how was work?” Zac asked taking his shoes off.
“Interesting,” Taylor raised his eyebrows.
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, I don’t know what to make of this, but I saw Ruby at the restaurant,”
Taylor began.
“Oh yeah?” Zac turned his head to face his brother.
“And she was with some guy.”
Zac furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“She was eating dinner with a guy named Ben,” Taylor said.
“So?” Zac looked up at his ceiling.
“Well I don’t know what’s going on. But he was holding her hand,” Taylor told
him. “I just thought you should know.”
“You’re bullshitting me,” Zac said with a small laugh. He got up and went over to
his stereo.
“I’m not, man. I mean, I don’t know if y’all are just fucking or what you two do
but -”
“Man, shut the fuck up, Tay,” Zac said putting a Blues Traveler CD in. “You
don’t know anything.”
“Well apparently, neither do you. I’d ask her what’s going on if I were you,”
Taylor said standing up.
“Just get out,” Zac said walking past him to his bed.
“Fine,” Taylor said. “Don’t take it out on me.” He left the room shutting the door
behind him.
Chapter15
