After Mikey showered and changed,we finished packing the rest of her clothes and loaded them into the van with her dresser in the back of the truck. We loaded the coffee table and sofa in with the dresser, and we’ll decide what to do with them when we get home.
Home.
Cupid’s Cove has always been home to me. The house with the hot pink door has always been the place I felt the safest, most loved. Now, I’m bringing the girl of my dreams there, where we’ll integrate our lives, and she’ll make it her home. Maybe we’ll have kids, and we’ll outgrow the house as it is, but I know wherever we end up, as long as I’m with Mikey, it’ll be home.
We had to drive here separately—even though I didn't want to—and as soon as we pull into the driveway and park, I’m out and opening her door. She laughs as I grab her by the waist and press kisses to her mouth.
“Stop making out in the driveway and get in here to eat!” Ruby calls from the porch. Mikey and I break apart, and she giggles, tugging me behind her into the house.
As soon as the door shuts, Stella squeals and rushes over, wrapping Mikey in a hug. “I’msoexcited you’re here! Ruby and I planned a charcuterie and wine night for Saturday so we can get to know you better.”
“That sounds amazing, Stell. I can’t wait.”
“You’re already stealing my girl from me?” I wrap my arms around her waist when she steps out of Stella’s embrace.
“Duh. She’sourgirl, now. You have to learn to share.”
“Count me in on that!” Slater calls from the counter.
“Ugh. Pig,” Ruby grumbles. “Sit down before the food gets cold.”
We gather around the counter and take turns dishing up our food. Ruby made chicken parmesan with a side salad and homemade garlic bread. It all smells amazing.
Ruby barely eats any of it, and now I’m extra worried about her. Something seems off, and I want to pry but not in front of everyone else. After dinner, I make Ruby, Mikey, and Stella sit while I force Slater to help me clean up. He grumbles but does it anyway before making an excuse to leave, telling Mikey he’ll come over tomorrow to talk logistics about her job.
Odd. Usually I have to force Slater to leave at a decent hour. Something seems off with him, too.
While the girls chat, I bring in Mikey’s essentials, leaving the rest for tomorrow. Ruby breaks off from the conversation to refill her water, and I take the opportunity to corner her in the kitchen.
“What’s going on with you, Ruby? You barely touched your dinner.”
“Nothing. I’m just not feeling great. I think I might have food poisoning or something, I don’t know.” Ruby refuses to make eye contact when she lies, so Iknowshe’s not telling me the truth.
Does she not trust me with whatever’s going on? Again, I wonder if I’ve missed something because I’ve been so distracted with Mikey, but now that she’s here, I can focus more on the café and make sure Ruby is getting the rest she needs.
“Go home and rest, Ruby. Take tomorrow or the rest of the week off. Whatever you need. You know I’m always here for you, right?”
“I know,” her voice cracks. “Thank you. I’ll come in if I’m feeling better.”
She says goodbye to Mikey, and since Stella rode with her, Stella heads out, too. Mikey and I get ready for bed in comfortable silence, and when we get under the covers, the rightness of having her here once again seeps into my bones.
“I’m worried about Ruby,” I whisper as Mikey lays her head on my chest. My fingers trace a light pattern up and down her spine.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. She barely ate tonight, and she lied saying she has food poisoning. I gave her the rest of the week off because I don’t know what else to do.”
“I think… I think Ruby’s going through something right now. I promised I wouldn’t say anything, and I won’t break her trust, but she confided in me and Stella on Valentine’s Day. Just give her some time.”
Every part of me wants to pry. To demand Mikey tell me what she knows, but I don’t. Ruby will come to me when she’s ready, or Mikey will tell me if she can. I appreciate Mikey not abusing Ruby’s trust in her.
Ruby’s an adult, and she knows she can come to me if she needs something. Pushing my worry for my sister aside, I focus on the here and now. I focus on Mikey, my dream girl, in her rightful place in my bed.
“You know, the garage out there is only used for storage. It’s pretty empty, and I was thinking… it would be the perfect place for you if you wanted to start building custom cars like you talked about.”
Mikey’s face lights up. “Really?”
“Really, sweetheart. This place is your home now, and I want to make sure you love it here. I want to give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of. Speaking of… I have another question since we didn’t get to finish our game.”
