“So what are you doing this Friday?” Ruby asked leaning over the counter at the
coffee shop where Zac worked.
“Um, nothing,” he said drying mugs and placing them next to the espresso
machine.
“Do you wanna go out with me?” She smiled.
“Are you asking me out on a date?” Zac smirked and stood across from her.
“Mm hmm,” she nodded taking his hands in hers. “Since I was a stupid, stupid
bitchy girlfriend who broke up with a wonderful, amazing boyfriend, I feel like I should
make it up to you.”
“Well... you weren’t stupid,” Zac said looking down.
“I was just a bitch,” she smiled.
Zac laughed. “No comment. But yes, I’ll go out with you.”
“Good.”
“Now remember when we were in bed earlier at your house,” he began as he
lowered his voice.
“Yes,” she laughed.
“Why did you say that today would be the last time we could have sex for like, five
days?” He asked.
She laughed at him and ran her fingertips across his forehead brushing the hair off
to the side. “Just because. Don’t worry about it.”
“Is it like, one of those girl things?”
“Yes.”
“Is it like one of those every month things?”
“Yes,” she told him. “You’ll live.”
“Well...okay. I guess,” he said. “So that’s like... Monday?”
“Monday or Tuesday. You should know this by now,” she said and leaned in to
kiss his forehead. “You need to get back to work.”
“Alright. So I’ll see you Friday?” He asked.
“Yep.”
“Are you picking me up?”
“With what car?” She laughed. “I’ll come get you but can you drive?”
“Sure,” he agreed. “So where are we going?”
“Dinner. And it’ll be a nice dinner so we have to dress up,” she said.
“Do I have to wear a tie?”
“You can,” she smiled. “I think it’d be cute.”
“Alright, alright. Since I try to be cute just for you, I will,” he said.
*******************************
“You look like you’re running for Student Counsel President,” Taylor said laying
back on Zac’s bed. He came over to do some laundry and was giving Zac advice on what
to wear for his date.
Zac looked down at his blue and yellow tie with a white dress shirt tucked into his
khaki pants. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Change the shirt,” Taylor instructed.
Zac sighed and loosened his tie. “Well I already tried on every other shirt.”
“Try the blue one. But with black pants,” Taylor said.
“Black pants? No, Ruby likes the khaki pants,” Zac said putting on a light blue
dress shirt and buttoning it up.
“Speaking of Ruby,” Taylor said spotting the blue halter top Ruby left on accident
wedged between the bed and the wall. “Is this hers?” He asked holding it up.
“Yes,” Zac said taking it from him. “She left it here.”
“Ah ha,” Taylor smirked. “Good times.”
“Yes it was,” Zac said tucking in his shirt. “Okay. This better?”
“Yeah,” Taylor agreed.
Ruby pulled the thin strap to her high heeled black shoes around her ankle and
looked at herself in the mirror. She turned around and made sure her strapless bra was
hidden behind the low back of her black halter dress that came just above her knees. She
put her hands on her hips and examined herself to decide what was missing. She adjusted
the front of her bra so it couldn’t be seen in the keyhole neckline of the dress. She put on
her thin gold bangle bracelets to match her gold hoop earrings and ran her fingers through
her hair one last time before turning off the lights and grabbing her black purse.
Zac jogged down the stairs when he heard the doorbell and pulled opened the
door. His eyes widened when he saw her and he surveyed her body before meeting her
eyes. “Jesus,” he said.
She laughed. “Can you come out and play?” She asked tilting her head to the side.
Zac finally was able to breathe out and continued his dramatic reaction to his date.
“Hold on,” he said before closing the door in her face. He turned around and took a deep
breath before opening the door again. He cleared his throat. “Hi,” he smiled.
“You look good,” she told him.
“You..you’re like.. daaaamn,” he said stepping out of the house and closing the
door behind him.
“Well thanks,” she smiled and walked over to his car.
********************************
“So are you coming to the game tomorrow?” Zac asked sitting across from Ruby
at the restaurant.
“Of course,” she said.
“I can’t be home too late since I have to get up early,” he told her.
“I know,” she smiled. “I won’t keep you out all night.”
“So... we’re like, on a date,” he said.
“Mm hmm,” she nodded. “Is that weird? We’ve done it before.”
“I know. But... I mean, it’s you.. and it’s me. It’s me and you.”
“Would you rather it be you and somebody else?” She asked.
“No, of course not,” he said. “But I thought you didn’t want this.. or something.
I don’t know what you want.”
“Zac, it took me way, way too long to realize how much you love me. And how
much I love you,” she explained. “But I realize it now. And I know what I want and
that’s you - for real this time.”
Zac laughed softly. “Are you sure? Because if you’re gonna get me all excited
and then dump me then I won’t be able to handle it.”
Ruby laughed and rested her head in her hand. “I’m so sorry. Yes, I’m sure this
time. And I can’t believe you’re taking me back after what I put you through,” she said.
“Well feel free to keep making it up to me,” he grinned.
The bill came and Ruby put her hand on it before Zac could. “No,” she raised her
eyebrows. “I’m paying.”
“No you’re not,” he laughed trying to take the leather book from her.
“Hey,” she lightly slapped his hand. “I asked you out, I’m paying.” She took out
her credit card and put it in with the check.
“Mmgh, fine,” Zac sat back in his chair, pressing his lips together to keep from
objecting.
**************************************
“How much was it?” Zac asked walking out to his car with Ruby.
“I’m not telling,” she laughed.
“How much?”
“A million dollars,” she told him.
“Alright,” he laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I owe you.”
“So you’re taking me home?” She asked as he opened her door for her.
“I suppose. Unless you have other plans,” he said.
“Well I was going to get you drunk and take advantage of you, but you have to get
up early tomorrow,” she said.
“You don’t have to get me drunk to take advantage of me,” he smiled.
“Aw, come on. What’s the point of having a 21 year-old girlfriend if she can’t get
you drunk?”
“True. Maybe tomorrow night,” he said.
“Your mind is like, totally on this game tomorrow, isn’t it?” She asked.
“I’m sorry,” Zac apoligized. “Am I being weird?”
“No, it’s okay. I know it’s a big deal,” she said leaning against the passenger side
of the car.
“Well when I look at you in that dress, my mind’s not on the game,” he told her.
“Oh yeah?” She smiled. “What are you thinking about then?”
“Mm,” he pressed his lips together as his eyes scanned down her body. “You.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist. “And me. And stuff.”
“And stuff?”
“Mm hmm,” he nodded. “Stuff where we’d be wearing a lot less clothes.”
She smiled at him and brushed her fingers through his hair. “Not tonight, sport.”
“I know,” he sighed. “I should get you home.”
“Okay,” she said sitting up in her passenger seat.
“Just don’t wear that tomorrow,” he pointed at her. “Or I’ll like, fall down.”
*********************************
Chapter 5
