Losing Ruby
Copyright © 2020 Kelsa Dixon
All rights reserved
— • —
[Brody]
A cold wind whipped through the lot. Huddled against the side of her car, Ella pulled me closer. She wrapped her arms under my jacket, hugging me flush to her. I only wished we didn't have the clothes between us, then I could think of a way we'd warm up real fast.
I stroked my thumb over her trembling lip and she shivered. From my touch or the weather I couldn't be sure. Maybe from both. "I love you, Ella Rose."
She nudged her chin into my hand and smiled at me. "I love you more."
Abruptly, the door to the gymnasium behind us opened and banged shut. "Let's go, Brody," Ruby called out. "Noah's waiting."
The hand I had pressed above Ella slipped to her hip, and my head hit her shoulder with a groan.
She laughed at my dismay—and it was dismay, because if it weren't for Noah, I could've had her at home while her parents were still at work making sure her lip quivered from something other than the cold.
"What'd he do this time?" She nuzzled closer.
"Who knows. For being a smart ass?" Why did he ever get detention? I moved a hand into her hair and kissed her neck, her jaw, her cheek.
"Goodbye, Ella!" Ruby called again. I could see through Ella's window that she was standing impatiently at our car on the other side. A hand glued to her hip, her eyes dipped to meet mine with command.
Ella grabbed my face and kissed me quickly. I deepened it a moment longer. "I'll see you later, Ro," I murmured. When I'd sneak out of my house and in her window.
She leaned in, her breath hot against my neck. "I'm counting on it." Then she turned and pulled open her door, a beaming smile in place as she waved to Ruby. "Bye, best friend." The melodramatic use of endearment added ostentatiously for good measure.
"Oh, you remembered." Ruby placed a hand delicately to her chest, and it reeked of ridicule. "At least one of you remembers where I stand in all this."
Wedged between us. The best friend first. I technically stood in line behind her. Ella practiced a delicate dance to appease their friendship, in return Ruby allowed me Ella's undivided attention generally whenever I wanted it.
"I'll call you later," Ella assured her.
"I can hold a grudge if you don't."
No she couldn't. Ruby was incapable of any emotion that revolved around anger. Hence why I was in fact effectively dating—or more specifically, in a very intense, very committed relationship—her best friend.
I fished the keys from my pocket as Ruby stood by the driver side door with her palm outstretched. I pretended to ignore her as I watched Ella pull away from the school and disappear out of sight. "It's my turn—I'm driving," she finally said.
"You drove yesterday."
"You drove this morning."
"Can one of you just unlock the car?" Luca flipped his hood up and bounced a basketball between his legs as he leaned against the back side of our old 4-Runner.
I ignored Luca. "And once a week is more than enough. You're a terrible driver."
"Noah hates when you drive," Luca chimed in.
YOU ARE READING
Losing Ruby
ChickLit[Ongoing] It took one tragedy to tear them apart. Another tragedy to force them to face their issues. And the scare of a third to finally mend what was broken. Brody has never been able to forgive himself for the death of their sister six years ag...
