by Lux Carmine
Later on after school, the female cast and I had just finished the "Look at Me I'm Sandra Dee" number. "Hey, Ruby, good job today," Clara, the understudy, said with a genuine smile.
I never would have expected that I would have fit in with the drama kids. I always thought they were too quirky, too crazy, too free. But that was exactly where I fit. I could lose myself in something else for awhile and the rest of the world would disappear.
I smiled and pushed some of my hair behind my ear. "Thanks. You too, Clara."
"We're going to go to the diner on Fifth, do you want to come with us?"
I felt a warm male body behind me and I glanced over my shoulder and smiled up at Billy. He draped his arm over my shoulder and eyed the girls standing in front of me, shooting them a flirty grin. "Whatcha talking about?"
"The girls were inviting me to go have some after rehearsal food at the diner on Fifth."
He stared down at me, his eyes lingering on mine for a long minute. Maybe he was trying to read what I was telling him. Maybe he just l liked looking into my eyes. He grinned and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "You definitely should. These girls are lots of fun." He leaned down and whispered into my ears, sending tremors through my body. "Plus it gives me and the guys time to plan something extra special for the love of our lives." He nuzzled my temple with his nose and then spun away, running towards my guys.
The girls were a combination of grins and gawks.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Sure." I could use more girlfriends and I was starving since I hadn't finished my lunch. I glanced over my shoulder after we'd passed them. Clara was busily talking about the play and the costumes and her excitement at kissing Kevin, even if it was just on stage.
And all I could think of were the possibilities of what the guys might do to surprise me for my birthday.
22
I came home to an empty house and had dinner alone with Beth and Gary, which was a little odd, but not unpleasant. I asked about the guys and what they were up to and Gary zipped his lips and threw away the key. They weren't going to tell me anything and I was okay with that. After dinner I went upstairs to my room, took a deep breath and dialed my dad. I rubbed my sweaty palms on my jeans and hugged the stuffed black puppy that my mom had given to me on my sixth birthday to my chest.
"Hello?" His voice was followed by the laughter and tinkling of silverware on dishes.
"Hey Dad, it's Ruby."
A chair pushed back from the table, the scraping of the wood on the floor tickling my ear. "Hey, how are you?" I could hear the phone rustling as he walked.
"I'm not good. Aunt Sara kicked me out and I need a place to stay."
"Yes, I heard about the unfortunate thing with you aunt. I'm actually having dinner with her right now. Ruby, you know I really can't have you come live with me. It would upset Martha too much."
"I know, Dad. That's why I'm not asking to stay with you. I'm asking for money."
"Money?" he chuckled. "Ruby. Come on. We barely know each other and you have the balls to ask me for money?"
"I'm your daughter. And mom never asked you for a cent. But I need you now that she's gone."
He paused and sighed. "How much do you need?"
"I'm going to need my first year's rent on this place I want to get. I'll be eighteen tomorrow so I can sign for myself, but I'll need to pay up front."
"Alright. How much?"
I told him and he was silent for a long moment. I pulled my phone away from my ear to check the signal and the connection. He was still on the line. I pressed the phone back to my ear, struggling to hear what he was going to say next.
"Text me where to meet you and I'll give you the money."
Relief flooded me and it took all that I had not to scream for joy. "Thank you, Dad. Thank you!"
"Sure thing."
We hung up and I immediately texted him the guys' address. I didn't want to meet him in a public place, I didn't want to run the risk of him seeing me and then being able to get away. I didn't really anticipate that happening, but it could.
About an hour later, just as the chill in the night air was really starting to take hold, the doorbell rang. I was already on the couch, anxious for the arrival of my father and my freedom. I opened the door with a flourish and my smile faded as I stood face to face with my Aunt Sara, my father standing beside him.
"Ruby, can we come in?" he asked.
Gary came up behind me and offered a smile and a hand to my dad. "Hi there. I'm Gary Scott." He nodded to my Aunt Sara and then to my dad before he continued, "You must be Ruby's dad?"
"Yes. Peter O'Hart," he said. "I was hoping that we could come in and sit down with Ruby and have a chat about some things."
"Certainly," Gary said, gently taking my shoulders in his hands and pulling me back to allow them enough room to come in. "The living room is right over here. Can I get anyone anything to drink?" he offered as he led me to the couch and sat me down. When everyone mumbled that they were fine Gary sat down right beside me.
My father cleared his throat and gave Gary a sideways look. "I hope you don't mind but I kind of wanted to speak to Ruby in private."
Gary nodded. "Yes, I understand that, but from what I understand Ruby has suffered through some verbal and emotional abuse and I'd like to stay. Is that okay with you Ruby?" he asked, looking over at me. I nodded quickly. I would be terrified if he left.
Gary turned back to my dad and my aunt. "I hope you don't mind. She is still a child, at least for today."
My father looked like he minded, his face turning a shade of red but he cleared his throat and after dropping his head for a moment he lifted it and looked at me. "Ruby. First off I wanted to tell you that I'm glad that you called me when you did. Your aunt and I were sitting down to dinner and after you and I spoke Sara told me her side of the story. And now I'd like to hear yours."
My eyes filled with tears. She was blocking this way too? What other choices did I have in this world? Did she want me to be a homeless teen on the street? Is that what he wanted too? Did he not care at all what happened to me?
"So if I don't tell you my side of the story then you won't give me what I need for the next year to finish high school?"
My father tilted his head to the side, his cheeks getting ruddier by the second. "Now, I didn't say that. I just said I'd like to hear your side of the story."
"Why did you bring her along then? So she could watch when you denied me what I need?"
Aunt Sara frowned at me and shook her head, looking at me as if I had just said that she had killed a litter of puppies on her kitchen table. "Ruby, please. Don't be so cruel."
"Fine," I said. I glanced at Gary and he gave me a slight little nod, assuring me that it was okay to move forward, that I was doing the right thing. "You want to know my side of the story? My mother and grandmother died when they were on their way to pick me up from my Junior prom. A high Mustang full of teens hit them head on and they were all killed. I never got to say goodbye to them. They were just gone. And then I lost and alone. Aunt Sara came and tried to pick up the pieces, but she had just lost her own sister and mother. And then you come in the picture and your daughter had lost everything she's ever known in her life and you tell her that she's not good enough to be in your family." I almost choke on the word, it's too hard to say. I pause and glance down at my shaking hands. I'm not weak, I can do this. I need to say it. I put my hands on my knees and I squeeze tight to stop the shaking and then I look up. "You tell her that your new wife is more important than your only daughter. And that's fine. It would have been a big change for you, but it wasn't right. I forgive you, Dad, for not taking me in in that moment when you should have been a fucking man and stepped up. But it wasn't right what you did to me. And then I move in with my Aunt Sara and she gives me what I need. You gave me a lovely room, Aunt Sara, and you made me dinner. But then I found love. Not with one but with five guys." I glance at Gary and he's now looking down at his own hands which are clasped in his
lap. I wonder if he knew. I wonder if he was going to change his mind about letting me stay or keeping the guys. I swallowed down my fear, forcing myself to continue. "And instead of being supportive and happy that I've found five guys who make me feel like the only thing that matters on the Earth, five guys who cherish me and make me laugh when before all I wanted to do was ball up and die, instead you were mean and harsh and judgmental. You called me names and made insinuations. It's a shock, sure, and I probably had some of the same thoughts about it that you had, Aunt Sara. But I'm your sister's kid and I deserve a little bit of compassion and understanding. That was all I needed from you. And when you couldn't deliver," I said, turning to my dad, "I left your house and came here."
"I..." My father sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't really know what to say... These boys she's talking about are yours?" he asked of Gary.
Gary looked up and nodded. "Yeah. I'm surprised they let her in. They're very closed off emotionally towards anyone but our immediate family unit here. But it makes sense. Ruby is a wonderful girl. And they must have sensed that she was another soul lost in the world who needed a home."
"Pft, we both know what those boys want," my dad said and I gasped.
Gary smiled and shook his head. "Well, they're teenage boys, of course that's what they want but just like you and me we wouldn't just take it. We'd want to earn it. My boys are the same."
"Did they do awful things to you, Ruby? ...In bed?"
I covered my face with my hands and shook my head. "That is private, Dad. It's between me and the guys."
"And the internet," my aunt piped in.
I slapped my hands down on my thighs. "Yes! Some jerk took misleading movies of things they thought were going on. But nothing was going on! Just kissing, some touching. That's all!" I glared at my dad. "Are you going to give me the money or not?"
He inhaled deeply and leaned forward, tapping his hand against my aunt's arm. "Show them to her."
"Show what to me?" I asked, inching closer.
"You have a trust fund, Ruby. Your mother had a very good life insurance policy. We were just waiting until the right time to tell you about it. Like when you went off to college. But it seems that now is when you should be given some of it and so I'm going to arrange for a transfer of funds starting tomorrow so that you can sign you lease and move into your new apartment."
I was shocked. I think for a long moment my heart maybe even stopped beating. "What?"
My father nodded. "Ruby, I haven't been in your life and neither has your Aunt. We haven't walked in your shoes, we haven't raised you. That was all your mother. And if this is who you are then ... That's who you are. We still want to be in your life."
"Really? What about your new family?" I asked, the fingers on my knees gripping tighter just to be sure I wasn't dreaming.
"I'm going to talk to Martha tonight about you. If she loves me then she'll understand."
I stood up and went over to my dad, giving him a hug. He hesitated and then hugged me back.
"You could always come stay with me," he said.
I pulled away, a grin on my lips, and shook my head. "I couldn't. The Lone Wolves aren't there."
"The Lone Wol—oh. Your boyfriends."
I nodded.
I went to bed that night right after my dad and aunt left. It was surprising how exhausting emotions could be.
When I woke up in the morning I realized I was not alone. There were five other male warm bodies in bed with me. I heard of piece of paper ruffling as I rolled onto my side and grabbed it. It was from the guys and it said:
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Did you miss us?
Because we sure as hell missed you.
Happy Birthday Ruby
We are so happy that you are in our group.
I smiled to myself as I put the card back on the pillow and cuddled against Kevin's warm chest. Mike groaned and cupped his body close to mine.
Happy Birthday to me...
Epilogue
"Hey Ruby!" Melissa came over and sat down across from me. I pulled out the bag lunch I'd made for myself in my own tiny apartment's kitchen and smiled at her.
"Hey, how's it going?"
Melissa shrugged. "It's been going okay, I guess." I looked at her saw that she'd been crying. I frowned. "Okay, fine," she said, "Things are not going okay. I just caught Joey locking lips with Emma James."
"The girl he dated last year?"
Melissa nodded and hid her face in her hands.
"Oh no, Ruby, what did you do?" Kevin sat down next to Melissa and pulled her against his chest, comforting her like a good friend would do for another.
"I didn't do anything. It was Joey. Melissa caught him playing tongue hockey with someone else." I sank back against Jason's legs as he stepped up behind me and wrapped me up in a hug from behind. I hugged him back and pressed a hot kiss to his lips.
"I missed you so much," he said, kissing me once more, leaving me reeling.
"I missed you too." I said, almost falling backwards until another strong arm wrapped around me and held me up.
Billy grinned and nuzzled his nose against my neck. "I got a new pair of pants. Wanna feel them?" He took my hand and placed it carefully on his inner thigh, just close enough to the stiff tent in his pants to make me blush. "Do you know what it's made of, Ruby?"
I shook my head, gazing into his gorgeous eyes.
"Boyfriend Material," he whispered against my lips just before I laughed. He ate it up and then kissed my forehead and went off to grab his lunch.
"Are you ready for the play tonight?" Steven asked as he came and sat down where Billy had just gotten up. Steven's leg was pressed against mine. I tried to remain cool.
"Uh-huh. I'm going to be the best Sandy this school has ever seen."
Melissa turned her body so that she was still against Kevin but looking at me. She shook her head as her eyes scanned us at the table.
"What?" I asked.
"I just wish I had one guy who loved me. You're so lucky to have five."
I smiled and glanced at all the guys including Mike who had just sat down on the other side of Melissa. Slowly his foot slid across the linoleum and bumped into mine. "I am lucky, aren't I? Just think that a few months ago I was sitting here with you and you guys were standing over there trying to look cool."
Billy came back, "See, dudes, I told you standing over there would make us look super cool."
The table chuckled.
"You did look super cool. But even better than that was Jason sticking up for me, Kevin calming me down after I'd gotten dropped from Chess Club, Billy's attempts at always making me laugh, Mike's patience and Steven's sage advice. We all complement each other and it makes us that much better," I said. "I hope we don't ever lose who we are together."
"I'll toast to that," Billy said, raising his chocolate milk. We chuckled but all followed suit. "To us," he toasted.
"To us!"
Dear Reader,
Due to the initial fan feedback I have decided to go ahead and write another book in the Lone Wolves Series. Damaged Dropout is now available for pre-order.
I would still love to hear what you thought of Ruby and her guys, write me an email ([email protected]) or let me know in your review.
<3L