by Laura Ann
Ruby
Ruby hesitated momentarily before hitting the ‘send’ button. That same red flag that had nagged her during their date was waving through her mind once again. Pursing her lips, she shook her head and hit the button. He said he was just nervous, which makes sense. I’m sure it will be just fine.
Clicking out of her email, she started searching for lesson inspiration.
RUBY DIDN’T PUT NEAR as much work into her appearance this morning as she got ready for their lunch date. After her run, she showered and dried her hair, but it was up in a ponytail and she wore no makeup. Her clothes were casual, just white shorts and a v-neck t-shirt.
As she pulled open the cafe door, she glanced around, finding Braedon already there. He waited in a side booth, waving frantically at her. With a light laugh, she walked and sat across from him.
“Hello, Braedon,” Ruby said.
“Ruby.” Braedon’s voice was breathy and it put Ruby on edge.
Maybe he was out of breath from waving? Even her inner voice didn’t sound convincing. Clearing her throat, she pushed past the odd moment. “How was your weekend?”
Braedon smiled. “It would have been better if it had been spent with you, but it was all right.”
“Whoa, Romeo. We just barely met. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Ruby jerked back at his words and felt her previous concerns rise again.
A wounded look crossed Braedon’s face before he smiled once more. “Sorry. You’re just so beautiful. It makes me say things I shouldn’t. It’ll all work out.”
“O-kay” Ruby pursed her lips and went back to her menu. Just finish lunch and you never have to see him again. She set the menu down. “I think I’ll take the turkey, bacon, avocado. What are you going to eat?”
Braedon raised an eyebrow at her. “Are you sure you want to eat that many calories? You’re so perfect, it would be a shame to change that.”
Ruby’s jaw dropped. Closing it quickly, she took a deep breath through her nose. “Braedon, you have no right to tell me what to eat and I’d appreciate if you stopped talking about how I look. In fact,” she reached down and grabbed her purse. “I don’t think this is going to work out.” She started to rise, but Braedon quickly spoke up.
“Wow. You’re really sensitive, you know that?” He shook his head. “All I was doing was looking out for you, You really shouldn’t get so upset when people try to help you.”
Ruby felt herself bristle again but then paused. Deflating, she sat back down. “I apologize. Maybe I am a bit sensitive, but honestly, if you continue to make comments on my food choices or my looks, I’m out of here.” She crossed her arms and glared at him, firming her resolve.
Braedon nodded. “Understood.” He put his head back in the menu.
With a sigh, Ruby waited for the waitress to come so they could order, tapping her fingers impatiently on her thigh.
The rest of their date was tense and mostly silent. Once in a while one of them would pipe up with a bit of small talk, but the conversation always died quickly. When they were done eating, Ruby paid for her food and practically leaped out of her chair.
“Good seeing you Braedon. Take care.” With swift steps, she fled the establishment, not even waiting for his response.
After she had put some distance between them, Ruby felt some of the tension leave her body. “Good riddance,” she muttered as she drove, shaking her head.
The next couple of days passed in quiet bliss and Ruby let the strange date with Braedon fall to the background. Instead, she focused on lesson planning, ordering new supplies and what to get her friend Piper as a wedding present.
“What about a crock pot?” Ruby asked her grandma as they were sitting down to breakfast one morning.
“Always useful,” Grams replied.
Ruby’s shoulders fell. “I’m terrible at this. She probably already has a crockpot, not to mention it’s just so ... boring.” She scrunched her lips to the side as she thought.
Grams chuckled as she stood from the table, patting Ruby on the shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll figure something out. Often when people get married, they’re grateful for just about anything.”
Ruby nodded, unconvinced. She pushed back from the table. “Maybe I’ll do some online searching and see if I can get some inspiration.”
As she walked into the family room, she scraped her dark, heavy hair into a messy bun on the top of her head. “Whew,” she muttered. “Feels so good to have that off my neck.”
Sitting down with her laptop, she pulled up a search engine and went to work. Bored after a while, she pulled up her email, deciding to clean her inbox. Ruby frowned when she recognized an email from Braedon.
“What could he possibly have to say after the other day?” She opened the email.
Dear Ruby,
I enjoyed our lunch. How about we do a dinner date this Friday?
Braedon
Ruby’s eyebrows shot up her forehead and her jaw went slack. Is he crazy? There was nothing good about that lunch at all. “Except maybe the food,” she said aloud.
With a sigh, she opened up a reply.
Dear Braedon,
Thank you for your invitation, but I think it’s best if we remain just friends.
Thank you,
Ruby
“That should do it,” she said as she pressed ‘send’.
CHAPTER 3
The next morning Ruby took a deep breath, enjoying the crisp, morning air as she moved through her morning run. She loved the isolation of the forest. Just her and nature. Perfect.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she recognized the sound of pounding sneakers behind her. Realizing the runner was going faster than her, she shifted to the right-hand side of the trail to let them pass.
“Good morning,” a male voice said to her left.
Her recognition of the voice startled her and she lost her rhythm for a moment. She looked over with wide eyes. “Braedon,” she panted. “What are you doing here?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Friends can run together, can’t they? Isn’t that what you wanted, was to be friends?”
Ruby scrunched her brows. “I suppose, but how did you even know where I was?” Actually, I wanted you to leave me alone but didn’t want to hurt your feelings.
Braedon shrugged, all while staying at her side. “I run too if you recall from our first date. Sometimes I come to run these trails and I happened to see you. It was a perfect friend opportunity.”
Ruby didn’t like the way he said the word ‘friend’. Somehow he made it sound wrong “Well, it was nice of you to say hi. I don’t want to keep you from your exercise though.” Facing forward, she hoped he would get the hint and take off on his own. No such luck.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind keeping your pace.”
Ruby hid her scowl. How do I get rid of this guy? She found herself picking up her pace just slightly; her body was reacting to his insinuation she was slow. You’re going to mess up your run. She scolded herself. All because of a little bit of competitiveness.
Forcing herself to slow back down, she tried to put a pleasant smile on her face. “Well, it’s really nice of you, but I would feel bad if you held yourself back because of me.” It was difficult to talk while she ran, but she had no desire to have this guy stick around. None whatsoever.
Braedon smirked and looked over at her. “That’s what friends do, Ruby.”
Ruy pinched her lips together and focused back on the trail. Maybe if I just ignore him, he’ll grow bored and head off on another trail. One ... two ... three miles went by and Braedon stayed right next to her. Neither spoke a word, the sounds of their slapping shoes the only break in the forest music.
When Ruby took the loop in the trail that would lead back to her house, she knew she had to do something. I do NOT want him knowing where I live.
She stopped and bent over her knees, catching her breath.
Braedon jogged a couple more steps, before stopping and walking back to her. �
��Is something wrong friend?”
Ruby grit her teeth. If he doesn’t stop calling me that, I’ll ... Her thoughts trailed off. Truth was, she wasn’t sure what she would do. However, the way he kept emphasizing that word was driving her crazy and was also kind of creepy.
“I, uh, I’m pretty much done,” she responded to him. “I’m going home now.” She gave a small smile. “Have a good day.” She took off down the trail, listening intently for his footsteps, but she heard nothing. A quick glance over her shoulder showed he was not following her and she let out a breath of relief.
Her anxiety at him showing up at her run kept her pace a little faster than normal as she ran the couple of miles back to her house. Once there, she stood, catching her breath on the doorstep and looking all around their property. Nothing seemed out of place and she couldn’t hear anything that put her on edge.
Grateful Braedon had decided to leave, she went inside.
“Back already?” Grams’ voice came from the other room, where she sat clicking away with her knitting needles.
“Yeah. I cut it short.” Ruby walked into the room with her grandmother. “Braedon showed up.” Ruby crossed her arms and leaned against the wall at the entrance to the room.
Grams frowned and looked at Ruby over the edge of her reading glasses. “What do you mean?”
Pushing off the wall, Ruby sighed and began stretching while she talked. “A couple of miles into my run, I heard another jogger, but he never passed. It was Braedon. He pulled up beside me and said ‘friends run together’ and stayed with me.”
“How did he know where you were?” Grams asked, the clicking picking back up.
“He claims it was coincidence, but I’ll admit it makes me a bit nervous. The guy is just a little bit off.” Ruby sat down and reached for her toes.
“Is he the reason you came back early?”
“Yeah. I really wasn’t comfortable running with him, so I made up some excuse and took off for home.” Ruby switched legs. “I’m just glad he didn’t try to follow me. I’m not sure what I would have done.”
“Hmmm ... “ Was all Grams said.
“What?”
Grams shrugged. “I just think you should be careful. Not everyone out there is good,” she said.
Ruby nodded. “You’re right.” She stood up and walked over to give Grams a kiss on the cheek. “Maybe I’ll change routes, that way I won’t run into him again.”
Grams nodded, then shooed Ruby away. “Go shower. You’re all sweaty.”
Ruby laughed and walked to the bathroom down the hall.
THE NEXT MORNING, RUBY got in her car and headed to the grocery store. Her morning run had been blissfully peaceful and she had run it alone, for which she was grateful.
Pulling into a parking spot, she hopped out and headed inside. The cool air conditioning felt good, as the day was already heating up and showing signs of being a scorcher.
Ruby stood next to the apples when a voice sounded in her ear.
“Hello, friend.”
“Ahh!” Ruby jumped back, dropping the apple she had held in her hand.
Braedon reached down and grabbed the apple. He studied it in his hand before reaching out and offering it to Ruby.
Ruby’s heart had not yet calmed down from the scare and she was breathing heavily. Her hand was on her chest as if it had the power to calm down down her heart’s pounding rhythm. She could feel a trickle of sweat running down the length of her spine and knew it had nothing to do with the heat outside.
“Br-braedon! What are you doing?”
Instead of answering, Braedon continued to hold the apple out like an offering. One eyebrow was raised and his lips were pursed in an amused smirk as if he enjoyed her fright.
Cautiously, Ruby edged toward him and took the apple. Dropping it in the plastic bag in her other hand.
With a light laugh, Braedon stuffed his hands in his front pockets and rocked back on his heels. “It would seem we have similar schedules.” He glanced up from under his lashes. “I guess we’re just two peas in a pod.”
Ruby gave a small shake of her head. “Did you follow me here?”
Both of his eyebrows shot up. “Really? Why would I do that? We’re just friends after all.” Braedon sneered the last few words and Ruby felt those warnings screaming in her mind.
She gulped loudly, knowing she needed to nip this problem in the bud before it got out of hand. “I’m not comfortable with us running into each other all the time, Braedon.” She tried to speak in a soothing voice. Something inside of her was shouting that Braedon was unstable and she had no desire to set him off. “I’d appreciate it if you just went about your business and left me alone.”
Braedon laughed long and loud, drawing the attention of other shoppers who paused to look at the two of them.
Ruby’s eyes darted around, her face flaming with heat at the attention they were garnering.
“You think I should just leave you alone, huh?” Braedon stepped closer, pushing into Ruby’s personal bubble.
Every nerve ending wanted to sprint away from the man, but Ruby forced herself to stand still. She knew a bully tactic when she saw it, she worked with middle schoolers after all. Don’t show fear. Don’t let him know he affects you.
Planting her feet and straightening her shoulders, she schooled her face so it showed no emotion, refusing to let him move her.
Braedon walked over until he stood only inches from her, the toes of their shoes practically touching. Leaning over, he came nose to nose with her. “We’ll see about that,” he whispered, but the edge of cruelty and madness in the sound caused her to stop breathing.
Standing back up, Braedon spun on his heel and stalked out of the store.
Ruby didn’t let go of her breath until he was no longer visible, it fell out of her in a great puff and she found herself gasping for a few moments before she could get herself back under control. Glancing around, she noticed that everyone was going about their own business, not paying any attention to the threat that had just been delivered.
What do I do? Report him to the police? She shook her head. “And tell them what? He offered me an apple and called me friend in a weird way?” Shaking her head, she closed her eyes, centered herself and took one last deep breath. First, finish your shopping. Then you can go home and figure out what to do. “Right,” she whispered, feeling better now that she had laid out her next few movements. “Shopping, then planning.”
Forcing her feet to move, she finished bagging her apples, put them in her cart and moved on. She worked her way down her grocery list, desperately trying to act as if nothing unusual had occurred at all.
IN AN ATTEMPT NOT TO worry her grandmother, Ruby chose not to tell Grams what had happened at the grocery store. He was probably just trying to frighten me. She thought as she put away the groceries.
“Ready for me to start dinner?” Gram’s voice came up behind her.
Spinning around, Ruby smiled. “I can cook tonight. Why don’t you go put your feet up?”
“Psshh.” Grams waved her off. “I’ve had my feet up all day. Almost finished that afghan for the cancer center. Now move it girlie and let a woman cook.” Grams lightly elbowed Ruby, making her laugh as she danced out of the way.
Putting her hands up in the air, she said, “You win! You win! I refuse to take on a woman in her seventies.”
Grams put her hands on her hips and mocked glared at Ruby. “That’s right. Because I’d win!”
“Absolutely.” Ruby smiled wide, kissed her grandma on the cheek and headed out of the kitchen.
“I’m gonna look up wedding gifts again,” Ruby hollered over her shoulder.
“‘Kay” Grams hollered back.
Pulling up her computer, Ruby put thoughts of Braedon out of her head and focused on what to get Piper and Nash.
SEVERAL DAYS LATER, Ruby texted a group of colleagues and asked if they would like to go to lunch. Gotta take advantage of our time off while we can. Excited at
the prospect of seeing her friends, Ruby walked into the cafe with a smile on her face and a bounce in her step.
She waved when she saw Tia, Snow, and Zellie. “What’s up, ladies?” Ruby said as she reached the table.
A chorus of ‘hellos’ hit her ears.
Ruby grabbed the back of a chair and pulled it out to sit down. “Everyone surviving the heat?”
Snow, whose real name was Willow White, fanned herself. “This summer seems worse than last year! I think it only takes about three minutes before I’m sunburned.”
Willow had been aptly named. She had the whitest, purest skin Ruby had ever seen, which is why they had nicknamed her Snow. Ruby’s skin was fair but creamy. Snow’s skin almost glowed. It looked especially striking against her black hair and red lips. Ruby had often caught people doing a double take when they saw the unusual features of her friend. However, her second-grade students never seemed to mind.
The women all laughed at Snow’s comment.
“I think we say that every year,” Tia said with a smile.
“And every year it’s true.” Zellie insisted. Her comment brought on another round of laughter.
Ruby sat back and enjoyed the laughter and companionship surrounding her. Although Ruby was friends with many of the teachers at Middleton Prep, this particular group had become her foundation. Tia was the home economics teacher. She could bake better than anyone Ruby knew, even her own grandmother. When the group of women got together at Tia’s house, they teasingly called it ‘The Restaurant’.
Zellie stood out amongst the group. Her bright blonde hair was in stark contrast to everyone else’s dark heads. Zellie kept her hair unusually long. When it was down, it hung all the way to the top of her pants. As one of the PE teachers at the school, she always wore her hair up and her friends often told her she should just chop it off. But Zellie simply smiled and kept her hair the way it was.
Their chatter and teasing paused only momentarily when they all ordered their meals. All the women seemed to be enjoying the break from the monotony of summer.