She's the One

by Teresa F. Morgan

  “We should have a boys’ night in,” Callum said, ladling sugar into his coffee. Steve watched, trying to hide his grimace. He remembered the days when he used to take sugar in his drinks. He’d weaned himself off it, and was now grateful. Unwanted calories, plus he enjoyed the flavour of the coffee.

  “Yeah, I can’t afford to keep going out. I want to move out of my parents’ place,” Brett said, grumbling. The three of them were wedged around a small table.

  “You’re still living at home?” Callum teased.

  “Yeah, after my ex dumped me, I moved back a couple of months ago so that I could save for a deposit on a property.” Brett scowled at Callum. “And one day I want to open my own restaurant.”

  “Come on over to mine,” Steve said, before even thinking it through. The place wasn’t his. It was Ruby’s.

  Brett frowned. “Won’t Ruby mind?”

  “Nah, believe it or not, I’ve got her wrapped around my finger.”

  “I don’t know,” said Callum, “Won’t it be a bit weird? I don’t think Miss Whiplash likes me much.”

  Brett punched the top of his arm and Callum winced, a look of ‘what did you do that for?’ “Keep calling her that and she won’t like you. Besides, she’s not that bad. She’s only doing her job. If you didn’t fuck about, she wouldn’t have to nag.”

  Callum rubbed the top of his arm, then brought his mug to his lips. “So what have you got, an Xbox or a Wii?” Callum turned to Steve, changing the subject back, and Steve’s mouth opened, then shut.

  What did he have?

  “Um, both. Only bought them the other day—” He shouldn’t have said that.

  “Whoa! How much exactly is Ruby paying you?” Callum eyed Steve suspiciously.

  “Oh no, I mean…” Steve laughed as he spoke, scratching the back of his head, hating the fact he couldn’t run a hand through his gelled hair, but getting used to it. “I only unpacked them the other day. I’ve had them in storage for a bit.” Luckily, the lads didn’t seem to question it and Steve let out a relieved sigh as they walked back down to the office with their hot drinks in hand.

  “So we’ll come over with the pizza and beers – tonight?” Callum scraped his chair along the floor as he stood up.

  “Yeah, why not. It’s Friday,” Steve said. “Do you guys have work tomorrow?”

  “Not till later,” Brett said shaking his head.

  Shit, what was he doing? He didn’t own any games consoles. Trip to the Mall required urgently – he’d slip out at lunchtime.

  Callum smiled eagerly. “Perfect.”

  ***

  As soon as Steve arrived back home, he started setting up the games console in Ruby’s lounge, plugging it into her TV. He’d hidden the boxes so they didn’t look just bought. Ruby stood there, hands on her hips, and he knew he’d have to do some sweet talking. She didn’t think his charm worked on her, but it did.

  “What the hell is that?”

  Steve tapped the boxes. “Xbox. I can play with Callum then.” He grinned, showing off perfect teeth.

  Ruby rolled her eyes. “Is this why you borrowed my car at lunchtime?”

  “Yep. You wanted me to be ordinary, so that’s what I’m trying to do. Mr Mediocre Man is into computer games.”

  “Mediocre man?”

  “Yeah, you called me that when we were shopping that time, and it stuck. By the way, they’re coming over at seven with pizzas.”

  “What? Who?”

  “Brett and Callum. I couldn’t ask you in front of them, how un-cool would that look?” he said, his expression and tone wry. “Sometimes I need to look as if I wear the pants.”

  “I’m your sister, not your wife.”

  “I know, and a bossy one, too. But because I need to make it up to you, I’m letting you boss me about.” He winked, then continued with getting the TV set up.

  “And the word is trousers. Ditch the American.”

  “Trousers.” Steve nodded.

  “Right, so I need to make myself scarce?” Ruby puffed cushions on her sofa and tidied the lounge so it looked uncluttered, stacking CDs, putting books back on the shelf and magazines in the rack.

  “No, you like pizza, join us. It’ll be fun.”

  “But…I’m their boss,” she said, hesitantly.

  “Ruby, you don’t have to be their boss after hours. Relax and let your hair down.”

  She flicked her fringe out of her eyes and slumped onto the sofa, Steve sat beside her with the remote controls.

  “How much did this set you back?”

  “Don’t ask. I bought the Wii too.”

  “Well, make out you’ve had them a while, not you’ve just bought it.”

  “That’s why I’m sitting here trying to work the damn thing out!”

  Ruby huffed and disappeared upstairs, and Steve fiddled with the equipment, trying not to get frustrated. Why had he agreed to tonight? He’d played on the things, occasionally, because they were available in hotels and on film locations, as a way to kill time while waiting around during filming. But they were already set up, he just had to press a button and go. Steve plugged both the Xbox and the Wii into the TV. Even kids used these game consoles, so it couldn’t be that hard to set up.

  Steve was about to throw the remote control at the television when Ruby snatched it out of his hand.

  “Oh, give it here. Luckily for you I’ve had a few ex-boyfriends who were addicted to these things.” She pressed a button and the Wii’s welcome screen appeared.

  “A few ex-boyfriends? Not one or two?”

  “Don’t look at me like that. I’m twenty-seven. I carry baggage.”

  “Do I need to go visit any of these ex-boyfriends?” Steve said, seriously, eyeing her suspiciously. Every now and then he’d get that pang of guilt that he’d been missing from her life, not looking after her. When Dad had died, he’d promised himself he’d be the father figure for Ruby. He’d failed.

  Ruby laughed, punching his arm softly. “No, I’m over them.”

  The doorbell chimed, interrupting Steve’s thoughts.

  “Oh, Christ, is that the time already?” Steve glanced at his watch. No, even for a cheap watch, it kept time perfectly. It was just him losing five minutes here and there. He hated running late, and so did Callum and Brett, apparently, because they were early.

  “Ha, you’ll have to wing it now. No time to practise.” Ruby leapt off the sofa, and answered the door. Steve, finding his glasses and putting them on, hastily threw any remnants of packaging behind the sofa and followed. Callum and Brett stood bearing gifts; pizza, computer games and cans of lager.

  “Sorry. Pizzas didn’t take so long at the takeaway, hence we’re early.”

  “Yeah, there wasn’t a queue,” Brett added.

  “Hello, Ruby,” Callum said, entering the house holding two large pizza boxes as Ruby beckoned them in. “All right, Stu.”

  “Hi,” she replied.

  Both wore casual clothes, which for a moment made them unrecognisable out of their work uniform.

  “Stuart, shall I put the beers in the fridge?” Brett asked. He wiped his feet on the doormat, and once he’d removed his shoes, walked into the lounge.

  “Yeah, just through to the kitchen,” Steve said, pointing, used to being called Stu or Stuart now. Ruby tended to stick to calling him Bro when anyone was about. Would she remember tonight? She needed to be careful if drinking as she didn’t want to get sloppy and blow Steve’s cover.

  Once settled, eating pizza direct from the boxes and drinking lager from the can, except Ruby, who had got herself a glass, they started playing the games.

  There was a lot of laughing and jeering. Depending on the game, they either played individually or teamed up. Ruby and Brett versus Steve and Callum. “Good job my neighbour’s partially deaf,” Ruby said, her words slurring a little. “The noise three men make over a game.”

  Steve, pleased Ruby was relaxing, gave her a hug. “See, this is fun.”

  “Yeah, it
is.” She plopped herself next to Brett on the sofa and nudged him. Steve noticed his nervous smile.

  ***

  In the early hours of the morning, Callum and Brett’s taxi arrived to take each of them home. Ruby, a smidge drunk, gave them both a hug before they walked out the door.

  She’d had real fun tonight, and it had been nice getting to know the two men a little better outside work. Maybe Callum wouldn’t be so off-ish with her now.

  “Night, Stu. Night, Ruby,” Callum called out, waving, then walked towards the taxi.

  “Thanks for coming, it was fun.” She paused, hugging Brett, liking the sensation of him holding her. It had been a while since she’d been held. He didn’t feel so scrawny now while she cuddled him. Was it her imagination or did he hesitate in letting her go?

  Ridiculous!

  He smelled rather nice, too, she thought, catching his aftershave, which she had been smelling occasionally.

  Probably the alcohol, it was making her delirious.

  “Thanks, team mate,” she said as he let her go, and waved them off, Steve standing beside her. He’d done brilliantly tonight, too. They’d had fun, and Callum and Brett, though younger than him, had accepted him as a friend. Her plan was working, though a boys night in was hardly a way for Steve to find his true love. However, he had to begin somewhere, and friends were a good start.

  Chapter 8

  Monday 28th October

  On Monday, Steve had a later shift to Ruby. She’d been scheduling their shifts to match most of the time, including their days off, but she had a meeting this morning, and needed him in later. He hated the idea that she was at work, and he was stuck home. He didn’t know how long he had in the UK, so he wanted to spend as much time as possible with his sister. But there was nothing he could do. He had a few hours to kill, so he dropped her off, then went home to play the Wii. He particularly liked the golf. Brett was rather good at it too, and the competitive streak in Steve wanted to improve his technique.

  This is when they found it difficult with one car. He felt tied, limited. He could just buy a car, but Ruby kept nagging about him splashing his money around and to live normally. She insisted they would share the car. Or he could take the bus.

  In fifteen years, the public transport system really hadn’t improved. He’d rather take a cab. He could afford a cab.

  He’d just tell Ruby he’d got the bus.

  Steve headed to the hotel early as Ruby would need the car to drive home. Plus being stuck indoors playing Wii was not going to help him find the woman of his dreams.

  Uniform donned with his name badge ‘Stuart’ in place, he knocked on Ruby’s office door even though it was open. Looking up from her desk, she smiled, then glanced at the clock on her wall.

  “You’re early,” she said, frowning. He walked in and handed over her car keys.

  “I know, but I was bored at home. I’m going to sit in the staff room for a bit and read the paper.” He gestured to the paper tucked under his arm.

  In the staff room, Steve looked up from reading his paper – he liked to keep an eye on the media – to see Lydia arrive. He’d worked with her on and off now and was getting to know her slowly. He smiled at her.

  “Do you want another tea or coffee?” she asked.

  “No, no.” He coughed, realising his American twang was back since he hadn’t spoken to anyone much that morning, and cleared his throat. “I’m fine, thanks. But come join me.”

  Lydia returned with a mug filled with tea and sat opposite him.

  He grinned, always the charmer. “Are you on your break?”

  “No, I start in half an hour. I was over at the Mall, and I’m not a great window shopper. I get depressed looking at things I can’t afford to buy, and didn’t really have enough time to go home,” Lydia said, relaxing into the chair. “I like to get a tea before I start, too.”

  She pulled out a small black sketchpad from her duffle bag and some pencils.

  “Do you draw?” Steve closed his newspaper.

  He watched as her cheeks flushed pink, her skin flawless without makeup. “Yes,” she said, shyly. “I want to be an illustrator.”

  “For books?”

  “Yeah, children’s books really.” She flicked open the pad, and showed him some drawings on a page, mainly of cherub like children and a couple of animals similar to the ones on her doodle pad.

  “Cool – so this is just the day job?”

  “It’s my only job, until I make it,” she said, emphasising the ‘make it’. Steve knew all about making it and the long, lonely, broke path it led to. Until you did make it of course…and even then not everything was perfect. After all here he was now hiding behind an idea of Ruby’s, her version of Clark Kent, Mediocre Man. He fumbled with his glasses – remembering Clark’s clumsiness made him look less confident. When of course, Clark was confident, he was Superman for Christ’s sake.

  Steve was far from Superman, yet, fame and money could give you no limitations. He just couldn’t fly, unless he had a green screen behind him and some computer graphics. He quite fancied a superhero role.

  “You know, you really do have the most amazing eyes,” she said, looking him right in the eye.

  Steve frowned. Had he been staring into space?

  “Oh, sorry.” She blushed again, and Steve couldn’t stop watching her. Lydia, although quiet and reserved, actually was very pretty when he took a closer look.

  He used the modest approach. “Yeah, well, they’re pretty good for seeing out of.” He widened his eyes, and pulled a face, so she giggled. He liked that sound.

  “No, seriously, I’d love to paint them, get their colour right. But I think it would come out wrong.”

  “Yeah, like you’d paint them green.” He rolled his eyes and smiled playfully.

  “Stop it.” She nudged his arm, giggling. “Can I take a closer look? Purely for occupational reasons,” she said and tucked a loose strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. “I want to see what colours are mixed in there. I have a boy character who could do with light blue eyes.”

  Steve shrugged. “Yeah, sure. If it’s for professional reasons, why not?”

  Their knees touched as Lydia pulled her chair round closer. Inches away, Lydia looked at one eye then the other. He could feel the warmth of her breath on his face.

  “Can I?” She gestured towards his glasses and he nodded. As she removed his glasses, Steve couldn’t register the feeling that occurred, only it was pleasant. Why had his groin suddenly come to life? She could remove every single piece of clothing from him like that…

  Just not here at work…

  With her expression serious, studying him, Steve crossed his eyes and pulled a face, making her laugh again. She tapped him playfully on his arm and he put his glasses back on, glad to be replacing his disguise, albeit a feeble one.

  “Get what you want?”

  She nodded, and scraped the chair back round to the other side of the table. She flicked open a black notepad and started sketching.

  “Can I see?”

  “No.” She shook her head.

  “Ah, come on, let me see. I did show you my eyes.”

  “I’d rather keep some of them to myself.” She shielded the paper with her arm, like a kid taking an exam.

  “Lydie, if you can’t show me, how an earth you going to get them published?” He reached over to grab the notepad, still thinking they were playing a game. But sweet, quiet Lydia clutched the pad to her chest and scowled.

  “No, Stuart, please, they’re just scribbles. I’ve shown you what I want you to see.” And she wrapped the band around the notepad and tucked it back into her bag. “And it’s Lydia, not Lydie.”

  That’s me told.

  “Hey, Stu,” Callum arrived. Brett following behind him. Both were in uniform ready for work.

  “Hi, guys.” Steve glanced at Lydia. She’d picked up her bag and walked out of the staff room. He didn’t like the awkwardness between them; he’d wanted to e
ncourage her, not upset her. He’d try talking with her later.

  ***

  “Tea?” Lydia asked. She was at the urn filling a mug. It had been the first word she’d uttered to him since their little disagreement earlier on. He’d been tucked away in the bar, and hadn’t had a chance to see her on reception.

  “Thanks,” he said softly, putting a thumb up.

  This wasn’t a chance meeting. He’d seen her go for her break and had made an excuse to Callum. He’d followed her into the staff room, relieved they were alone. One plus side to working late. He stood watching her make the tea.

  “Hey, Lydia, I’m sorry,” he said. “I called you Lydie, like I call Ruby, Roo.”

  “I shouldn’t have got tetchy about it. Sorry.” She still hadn’t looked Steve in the eye once. She blushed and Steve felt the heat of the kitchen too, rising around his neck.

  “I only wanted to look at the pad because I was interested, artist to artist. Not to ridicule you.”

  “You draw?” Lydia asked and Steve frowned at her. “You said artist to artist?”

  “Oh, uh, no…not really. But you were studying me, and—”

  “Sorry, did you say tea or coffee?” Lydia put her tea aside and grabbed another clean mug from the shelf by the urn.

  “Oh, yeah, tea please.” he said, remembering he needed to look as if he’d come into the kitchen for a break. He dropped a teabag into his mug and she filled it.

  In silence, she poured the milk and put it back in the fridge.

  “Look, I don’t want an atmosphere, I won’t call you Lydie again. I didn’t realise you didn’t like it.”

  “Actually…I did like it.” She looked straight at him as he stepped aside and she rushed past him and Steve felt the whoosh.

  ***

  Thursday 31st October

  A few days passed and Halloween arrived. Every year the hotel held a masked ball. It was organised for most of the staff as an early Christmas party, because with the run up to the festive season, it got too busy with other events so this was the best time of year to hold a party. Ruby would rota the staff, so who worked the previous year got to party the following year. Some volunteered, happy to work for the overtime. The guests were invited too. This way there could be no complaints about the noise. Or at least, they’d be kept to a minimum. This year it was on Thursday, so it meant with the restaurant closed especially, the hotel would be fairly quiet and could run on minimum staff.