11
“So where are Elle and Theo tonight anyway?” Megan asked as she twirled pasta around her fork.
Ruby sat across the table from her, dark hair as usual pulled into a messy bun, black-rimmed glasses reflecting the overhead lighting. “They went to a charity event in DC.”
“That sounds…stuffy,” Megan said with a giggle.
Ruby speared a shrimp out of her seafood linguine with a smile. “Such a chore, schmoozing with rich people. Elle will be in her element, though.”
“She will,” Megan agreed. “She’s good at that. I’d love to get dressed up and go to a fancy party like that, but schmoozing isn’t exactly my thing.”
“And I’d rather skip the party all together.” Ruby scrunched her nose. “So, how are things with you and Jake?”
“Really good, I think.”
“You think?” Ruby asked.
“Well, it’s all still really new, you know? I’m not sure where it’s headed, but the sex is great, and I really enjoy being with him, so we’ll just see what happens.”
“Sounds like a good attitude,” Ruby agreed with a nod. “After everything he’s been through, he could use some sex and fun, right?”
“Exactly. What about you?” Megan asked, giving her friend a shrewd look. “You haven’t been on a date since we moved to Virginia.”
Ruby made a face. “I hate dating. Can’t I just skip that part and settle down with someone?”
Megan laughed into her wine. “Not unless you want to go on one of those ‘Married at First Sight’ shows.”
“Absolutely not.”
Megan looked across the table at her friend. Ruby had on a black-and-white patterned knit dress with a chunky red necklace, a perfect example of her off-beat style. She was quirky and pretty and funny, and it was ridiculous that she kept herself locked in her tower at the castle most of the time. “You should set up an online dating profile.”
“I’ve thought about online dating,” Ruby admitted. “I should be good at it since I get to hide behind my computer.”
“Then do it,” Megan said. “Let’s make you a profile when we get home. I’ll help.”
“Well…maybe.” Ruby looked away, sucking her bottom lip between her teeth. “I guess I’ve gotten comfortable being by myself.”
“That’s why online dating could be a good first step for you. Just see who’s out there, see if anyone catches your interest. No harm in that, right?”
Ruby polished off her glass of wine. “True. Have you tried it?”
“Surprisingly enough, I haven’t.” Megan had always enjoyed going to parties and bars and never had trouble finding a man to bring home at the end of the night. What would dating be like for her in the future, though, after she and Jake had run their course? Would she set up an online dating profile? Would she reveal her scars in her profile photo? Would anyone click on it if she did?
“See, that’s the difference between you and me,” Ruby said thoughtfully. “You’re just naturally good at this, and I’m not.”
“I don’t know about that. We’ll find you a man…or a woman.” Megan smiled as she remembered that night during their freshman year in college when Ruby had called to gush about the woman she’d kissed after her study group. As surprised as Megan had been to learn her friend was bisexual, part of her hadn’t been surprised at all. “See, you’ve got an even wider dating pool to tap into than I do.”
“All right,” Ruby said with a definitive nod. “You’ve convinced me. Let’s do it.”
They finished up their meal and headed out. When they got back to the castle, Megan paused in the foyer, her eyes on the library. “Did you know Jake’s an author?”
“Yes,” Ruby said.
“Of course, you did,” Megan said, giving her a good-natured nudge with her shoulder. “I think his books are in Theo’s library.”
“They are,” Ruby told her, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “And yes, you should totally read them. Let me know if they’re any good.”
“I think I will. You get us some wine, and I’ll meet you upstairs. I’ve got to feed and walk all the dogs first.” Megan wandered into the library, running her hand over the weathered spines of the books nearest to her. She remembered Theo telling them that his grandfather had stocked the whole library himself. Each shelf had a little brass-plated marker, labeling what it contained. She found a shelf of classics, encyclopedias, English history, science fiction, historical fiction, mysteries, and in the far corner…local authors.
