“Honestly, Ruby, I feel like you know him better than I do these days,” she says, and for a second I think she’s taken a serious turn, but then she giggles a little. “All those nights spent in your bed…”
I give her a long slow blink before pushing back from the kitchen table where we’ve been sitting and I flip her off.
“I love you!” she yells out. “Tell me you love me!”
“You know I love you, you shithead!”
Chapter Eighteen
Caleb
I feel like a hot fucking mess at work, my brain all over the place as I struggle to remember orders or give the correct change.
For once though, it has nothing to do with what happened back in Providence and everything to do with what’s happening here in Hawthorn.
I still have no idea what possessed me to kiss Ruby like I did. I mean, yeah, I really fucking wanted to, have wanted to for a really long time, but still. Wanting something and actually doing it are two very different things.
And as much as I’d like to blame it on the creepy ass professor or the whole panic attack thing and the way she took care of me afterward, I know it’s so much more than that. Both of us are dangerously close to crossing a line I’m not sure I’m ready to cross. And with the knowledge of a house to ourselves this weekend, I can already feel my resolve slipping.
“Caleb?”
I turn and find Adam laughing at me. “What?”
“Dude,” he quips, chuckling. “What’s up with you tonight, you’re like away with the fairies.”
I shrug, shaking my head once as I force myself to stop thinking about Ruby and get back to doing my job. “Nothing,” I say.
“Right,” he says, clearly not believing me. “Anyway, Ken’s on the phone. He wants to speak with you.”
I nod, heading back to the office to take the call. “Hello?”
“Hey, Caleb,” he says. “How’s things?”
I glance around. “All good. Pretty quiet but it’s Monday, so nothing unusual.”
“Good, good,” he says, almost as though he’s talking to himself. “Listen, I just wanted to call and say I think you’ve been doing a great job and I don’t need a week to know that, so if you’re still interested in the manager’s position, it’s all yours.”
I sit on the edge of the desk, the phone to my ear as I take in his words and what they mean.
“Caleb, hello?”
Shaking my head, my hand resting on top, I say, “Sorry, yeah I’m here and um, yep thanks, I would like the position.”
“Great,” he says. “I’ll get the paperwork in order for the change and your pay should reflect this in the next cycle. If you’re happy to carry on from tonight, I’m good for you to just roll with your ideas and whatever else you think needs to happen.”
I take a deep breath, my fingers gripping my hair. “Thank you, Ken, seriously,” I say. “This ah…this means a lot to me.”
“You’re doing a great job, Caleb,” he says again and I can hear the sincerity in your voice. “It’s unusual for someone your age, but I’m confident you can handle the role.”
We talk a little more and when I eventually hang up, I stay in the office for a few minutes, still sitting on the edge of the desk as the reality of what’s just happened hits me. I have a new job, and not just some shitty job tending bar, but actually running the place, being responsible for making sure everything is in order, that everything runs smoothly.
I don’t even realize how much I needed this until right now, until I hear someone tell me they have confidence in me, that they know I can do this.
“Fuck,” I mutter, my hand scrubbing down my face as a smile tugs at my mouth. “Fuck,” I say again, chuckling a little as I push off the desk and make my way back out to the bar.
Adam sees me when I walk out and he stops, giving me a funny look as he says, “What’s got you so happy?”
I shrug, knowing it will seem like nothing to him, but given everything that’s happened, it’s fucking monumental to me. “Looks like I’m your new boss,” I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest as I give him a look.
Adam bursts out laughing as he walks over and claps me on the shoulder. “Nice one,” he says, no hint of annoyance or animosity over the fact that I’m not only younger but have also been here for less time than he has. “So, let me tell you right now, I like to work the busy nights, okay? So if you can roster me on for the weekends, that would be great.”
I laugh, shaking my head at him. “Let me guess, more opportunities with the ladies?”
Adam winks. “Hell yeah.”
When I get home, Ruby is sitting on the couch, surfing her laptop. Although we both tried to play off the kiss we shared today as though it was all for the benefit of her creepy ass professor, deep down, I think we both knew it was something more.
And as I walk into the living room to say hi, I can’t help but wish I could kiss her again right now. “Hey, Ruby.”
“Hey,” she says, smiling as she slams her laptop shut.
I narrow my brows at her. “You hiding something?” I ask, gesturing toward her closed laptop.
“No,” she says, her eyes flicking around the room as she avoids my gaze.
I grin. “Ruby, are you looking at porn?”
“NO!” she shouts, her cheeks flushing.
I chuckle, walking over and flopping down beside her on the couch. “You sure?” I tease, reaching for her laptop. “‘Cause I’d totally get it if you were, I mean after that kiss…” I trail off as her blush darkens and she snatches her laptop away from me.
“I wasn’t watching porn,” she says, her words a little defensive as she glares at me now. “I was…well, you’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Ohhhh,” I say, my eyes widening as I smile. “Are you planning my birthday surprise?”
Ruby tries to maintain the glare, but eventually she can’t, a smile tugging at her lips. “Maybe,” she says.
I laugh. “Any hints?”
She scoffs now, mock rolling her eyes at me. “No, nothing and no snooping from you either, mister,” she says, jabbing a finger at me.
I grab her hand without thinking, pulling her close so she falls against me and I lean down and press a kiss to the top of her head. “You’re too good to me, Ruby, you know that?” I murmur, taking a deep breath in, her scent flooding through me.
She lets out a sigh, her arm half wrapping around my waist. “That’s because I’m awesome, obviously.”
I let out a laugh. “Obviously,” I tell her. “Reid and Sie in bed already?” I ask, knowing I’m home earlier than usual on account of a slow night.
“Nope,” she says, lifting her head from my shoulder. “They’ve gone to see a movie or something. Date night or whatever.”
“Ahhh, okay. We watching a movie then?” I ask, glancing at the TV.
“You up for it?” she asks, looking up at me.
I smile. “Of course,” I tell her. “I’ll just go take a quick shower.”