Through Fire (Portland, ME #3) (36 page)

“I will be,” she replies almost soundlessly. I simply wink. There’s not much I can say right now.

When we pull up to Florence House, Nina has her face almost pressed up to the window. I smile at her barely contained excitement. Ruby, on the other hand, seems to look a bit more dejected, if possible. But the moment I give her hand a little squeeze again before releasing it, her face straightens into a forced smile. While Pam and Nina make moves to get out of the car, she quickly pulls down the visor to check her face.

“Come on, baby. Let’s get our girl set up.” It just kind of slips out, but Ruby’s head swivels my way so fast, I’m afraid she’ll give herself whiplash. I shrug and smile at her a bit sheepishly.

“Okay,” she agrees easily, this time with a genuine, full-wattage smile that I can’t resist pressing my lips to.

“Can’t wait until you get her home?” Pam sticks her head back in the door and Nina stands behind her, giggling. “Get your asses in the house,” she dictates, tossing the door shut with dramatic flourish.

-

I
t’s only two o’clock by the time we get back to Ruby’s apartment. Feels like we’ve been gone the whole day.

The moment we spot the splintered doorpost, both of us freeze on the spot. “I’ll fix that,” I promise Ruby, who looks at me with her head slightly tilted to one side, as if she’s trying to figure something out.

“You thought...you were worried...”

I quickly step up and close her in my arms. “Not gonna lie, Ruby. I didn’t give myself any time to think, or I might’ve realized I was overreacting, but the moment the thought even entered my head, I panicked. I’ll fix it.”

“Do you think we can go to your house now?” she asks, taking me completely by surprise.

“For real? Fuck yes, Boop. Let’s get you packed.”

By three, we’re back on the road. This time with most of Ruby’s stuff in the back. She didn’t have much to begin with since the place came furnished. “I’ll have to let Viv know. Give my notice. I hope she won’t be upset.”

“We’ll talk to her together. I don’t think she will be upset at all.”

“Okay.” She throws a hesitant smile my way. “Thank you, by the way, for calling Gunnar this morning. I wasn’t even thinking about my shift. I guess I could have made it after all.”

“We didn’t know,” I reassure her. “Besides, this is better. I think maybe we need tonight to get settled in.” She just nods at that, but I get the impression she understands I’m not just talking about her moving in. Something I still can’t quite get my head wrapped around after this morning’s revelations, but I’m not going to question it. “You okay with ordering pizza for dinner?”

“Sounds good.”

Just like that her smile is wide and bright again.

-

W
hile Ruby putters about in the kitchen, adding her stuff to mine, I quickly make some room in the dresser and walk-in closet. Good thing I just have the basics in the kitchen, a set of four of everything, same apparently as she does. Between us we can host a party. I smile at the prospect, wishing spring was here so we can maybe have our friends over. I’ll have to buy a new grill. With my head going full steam ahead, I don’t hear Ruby come in.

“Wow,” she blurts, startling me. “Big closet for not very many clothes.”

“I know,” I confirm,  as I move my flannels to the same side as my suits, just so she can have the entire wall to herself. “My clothes tend to last, and I mostly wore suits. I may need to get some more jeans and Henleys though. That enough room for you?” I ask her and watch as she dissolves into giggles. Now that is something I’ve not seen before, and I can’t hold back my own chuckles at her hilarity.

“I can’t even fill a quarter,” she snorts, as she watches me stalk toward her, slowly backing away.

I have her trapped with both my arms braced on either side of her head against
her
wall. There’s still a light-hearted twinkle in her eyes when I lean down and kiss her. “Maybe we should go shopping together,” I suggest, running my nose along hers.

“You like shopping?” she sounds surprised, and I shake my head vigorously.

“Fuck, no. I hate it, but with you I might learn to enjoy it. We could help each other try on stuff.” She collapses with her head on my chest, full out laughing now. Best fucking sound in the world. I just hold her shaking body against me, feeling pretty happy right now.

“You know.” She lifts her head, looking at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes, still snickering softly. “Your mother might have something to say about that.”

“She’s not coming,” I declare firmly, but she just snorts.

“I’d like to be a fly on the wall when you tell her she can’t come shopping.”

It’s an opportunity I can’t pass up, since Ruby hasn’t been back since that night. She’s only seen my mom once, when she dropped off some clothes for Boston, but she didn’t even really meet her eyes. And she’s not seen my dad at all. “Okay. Deal,” I say with a cocky smirk. “Sunday dinner, two days from now, you can watch.”

Her mouth falls open in disbelief. I once again see an opportunity I’m not gonna pass up. Pulling her against me with one arm around her back and the other in her hair, tilting her head just right, I launch an assault on her mouth. Her hands come up and clutch at my shirt as I walk her backwards, slowly moving her to the bed.

When the back of her knees hit the mattress, her eyes snap open. I see both surprise and heat smoldering there. A little shove and she falls back on the bed. I drop down and pin her down, my hands pulling hers up and holding them over her head.

“You make me happy.” My voice is hoarse as I pepper her face with kisses. “I thought I was happy before, but I was wrong.” I drop my head down and latch onto the soft skin at the base of her neck. I feel her tilt her head to the side to give me better access. When I let her skin slip from the suction of my lips with a soft plop, I’m pleased to see a red mark appear where my mouth touched her. My mark. I lift my eyes to watch Ruby’s face change with understanding. “I will spend the rest of my life erasing every single mark, every single touch, every single gaze any other man has ever left on you, until all you can remember is me.” Her eyes are no longer smoldering, but brimming with unshed emotions.

“
Mi vida
...I love you,” she whispers, tangling her fingers in mine.

“I know,” I affirm to her, my eyes closing as my mouth settles on hers, tasting the salty tang of her feelings from her lips.

R
uby

The house is quiet when I find my way downstairs, carrying an empty pizza box.

We were tangled up in the sheets and each other all night. Except when Tim had to open the door for the pizza, which he brought straight back upstairs. We ate, sitting naked in bed, talking about anything and everything. Some of it interesting or funny, some of it painful, but according to Tim, all of it valuable.

I smile. It was a perfect night that ended with me falling asleep, half sprawled on his chest, his usual tidy bedroom looking like a tornado hit it. I was surprised when I found myself alone in bed this morning.

I drop the box on the kitchen counter and check the clock. Nine-thirty, I have lots of time to get ready for my shift. I start the makings of a pot of coffee. Wherever Tim went, he didn’t make coffee this morning, because the old grinds left in the filter are stone cold.

I’m just sipping my first drops, watching some really eager birds looking for material for a nest. It’s not even spring yet. Getting closer, though. A blast of cold comes in when Tim stumbles in the front door, bags in his hands and a tray with take-out coffee.

“Damn,” he says, spotting me in the kitchen. “I was hoping to surprise you in bed.” He kicks off his boots and walks in, depositing his load on the counter before turning to me and ducking his cold nose in my neck.

“Eeeek, you’re freezing!” I try to push him off but he won’t let go. “What’s all that?” I ask him when I finally give up the struggle.

“We never got around to getting any groceries, so I picked up some necessities for breakfast. Then I passed by that Standard Bakery, and I decided their necessities for breakfast looked much better, and they also have very excellent coffee.” Keeping one arm around me, he proudly presents his purchases. Everything from eggs and milk, to what looks to be half the display case at Standard.

“Why are there two bags of chocolate croissants?” I ask him, my mouth full of cherry danish, still picking through the pile of bags.

“Because, my beautiful Ruby,” he says, tightening his arm around my waist and leaning down to rest his chin on my shoulder. “We’re expected at Viv and Ike’s in half an hour.”

“I don’t have time, I have to get ready, and then I’m scheduled for a shift.” I don’t know if I’m ready to face Viv yet, but I don’t say that out loud. “Can’t we do it another time?”

Tim turns me around and gives me a warm look. “Too late. I already told them we need a talk to clear the air.”

“You did what? Why would you do that?” Now I’m completely mortified. I drop the danish on the counter behind me and try to push Tim off. A fruitless endeavor.

“Look at me,” he says in a stern voice. “Remember what I told you last night? About erasing every single...”

“Yeah, I remember,” I cut him off, not in the mood to have him melt my heart again.

“Okay, well I was thinking this morning, perhaps I should first show you that you already erased any of my memories that came before. You did that the first time we kissed.”

Every protest on my lips turns to dust. “Why do you have to go and say something perfect when I was just working up a good temper?” He throws his head back and starts laughing. Nothing for me to do but drop my face to his chest, feeling every shake and rumble of his body.

-

I
rub my clammy hands on my jeans when we pull into Ike and Viv’s driveway. Tim turns off the engine, unbuckles, and twists his body toward me, reaching out to cover my hand with his.

“It’s gonna be fine, Boop. I swear. Sometimes, the best way to make sure a wound doesn’t fester is to rip off the Band-Aid and let it air. It was my mistake not telling you before, but now that it’s out there, let’s deal with it head on.” He lifts my hand and presses his lips in my palm, and then he tugs me closer, bending his head for a soft touch of his lips on mine. “You have my heart, and I promise you...you have all of my memories.”

We barely get to the door and it swings open, revealing a radiant, and very pregnant, Viv. Tim’s warm hand in the small of my back keeps me from running.

“So what’s the occasion?” Ike smiles when he accepts the familiar Standard bag. Viv’s behind him, pouring coffee. He leans in over the counter. “You know I have to hide these from her, right?” he whispers conspiratorially, as his wife sneaks up behind him and manages to snatch the bag from his hand, a big smile on her face.

“Try it, and you’ll find yourself on the couch, mister!”

“Actually, we have some news,” Tim volunteers and I shrink down on my stool. This is going to be so awkward. Both Ike and Viv raise their eyes questioningly. “First off, Ruby moved in with me yesterday.”

“Yay!” Viv squeals, clapping her hands. “I’m
so
happy.” She rushes around the counter and almost pulls me off my stool in a bone-crushing hug.

“Congrats, man.” Ike pounds Tim on the shoulder.

“Of course, I’ll give you proper notice. Pay out this month and next.”

Viv drops her arms from around me instantly. “Are you nuts? The timing couldn’t be more perfect. My brother and his husband just announced last week they’re coming out from San Francisco for an extended period of time. They want to be here for the birth of this baby and are looking into setting up a second gallery here on the East Coast. I was getting anxiety attacks at the thought of them staying with us for any longer than a couple of days at a time. Don’t get me wrong, I love them, but in small doses.” She moves to the other side of the counter and hugs her husband from behind. “You know what this means, right, baby?” Ike covers her hands on his stomach with his own.

“What’s that?” he smirks.

“We won’t have to be quiet for our morning constitutional,” she mumbles into his back. Somehow I think she’s not talking about a rigorous walk as my eyes snap to Tim, who is suddenly finding the ceiling very fascinating. Ike just chuckles as he turns and plants a kiss on his wife that instantly raises the temperature in the kitchen.

“Good news, baby,” he mumbles, the smile big on his face.

“Alright guys, enough of that,” Tim chuckles. “You’re making Ruby blush.”

Oh, Ruby is blushing all right. I can feel myself turning beet red as I throw him a dirty look.

“While we’re on the subject,” he continues, stepping closer and hooking an arm around my front and pressing his body to my back. “And already uncomfortable,” he adds, giving me a squeeze. “This is probably a good time to let you know Viv and my history is no longer a secret.”

I close my eyes, not wanting to see the looks on their faces, but I can hear Viv.

“I see,” she says softly. “Ruby, honey. Can you look at me?” After a heavy pause, I reluctantly raise my eyes to find hers tearing up. “Don’t mind the tears, I’m told it’s hormones.” She distractedly snatches the paper towel Ike hands her and rubs at her face. “Honey, I’m glad the moron finally found the balls to tell you. It was a stumble in time, and already long forgotten, but you deserved to know.”

“Okay,” I reply stupidly, not sure what else there is to say. Tim moves in even closer and leans his chin on the top of my head.

“I
am
a moron, because I didn’t actually tell her—she found out by accident. It wasn’t pleasant for her.” I’m pretty sure it wasn’t pleasant for him either, since his shoulder is bruised and swollen from crashing the bathroom door, but I guess it’s a good reminder for both of us that honesty is always the better choice.

“Who wants to see the nursery?” Ike breaks through the slightly painful silence that follows Tim’s admission. Eager to get some air, I raise my hand.

“I would,” I say. With a dramatic gesture, Ike invites me to lead the way.