Page 78 of The Longshot

“I do,” I tell her with a shrug. “But I made him watch a rom-com earlier this week, so I guess this is what you call a ‘compromise’.”

Ruby playfully rolls her eyes. “Well, what about Thursday?” she proposes. “Does that work for you instead?”

I stand up from my vanity and reach for my necklace in my jewelry box. “I can’t again. Gary’s got a game that night, and I promised him that I’d go.” I struggle to fasten the clasp around my neck, working my way toward the floor-length mirror across the room to get a better view. “Why do they always make these things so bloody hard?”

“Give it to me.” Ruby approaches my side and takes the necklace from my hands. “You were never good with these things anyway.” She effortlessly secures it into place, fixing the zip of my dress while she’s at it.

“Thanks.” I stop, staring at her through the reflection of the mirror. “I appreciate it.”

“That’s what big sisters are for, right?” She places either hand on my shoulder, pulling me back against her chest for a hug. “I don’t mean to pester. I just want to make plans to hang out with you, that’s all.” She squeezes me in tight. “You know how much I love spending time with you.”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry.” I turn around apologetically. “Things have just been… busy.”

It’s the only word I can think of to describe this past week of rekindling with Gary. I don’t think a day has gone by where we haven’t seen one another and now, even the most mundane of tasks have become thrilling just because we're doing them together.

A walk around the park.

A trip to the store.

An action film…

The only thing that matters when we’re together is simply just that—that we’re together. Tonight is no exception. All we’re doing is going out for some cheap food and aimlessly driving around, but it’s dates like these that I’m sure will stick with me for a lifetime.

Not the fancy dinners.

Not the extravagant nights out on the town.

Just us, being… us.

“I understand. Trust me, I do.” Ruby places a clip into my hair. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you so… happy. I felt like for a while I’d lost you, but now, it’s like you’ve found your sparkle again.” Tears well up in Ruby’s eyes, and I have to stop her before she sets me off.

“Ruby!” I draw out her name. “Stop, you’re going to make me cry.” I can feel the waterworks already creeping up no matter how hard I try to fight them. “And I can’t cry.” I place my fingers underneath my eyes. “I just put on all this mascara!”

Ruby fans her face with a laugh. “I know. I’m stopping. I’m stopping.” She leans her head back to steer away the tears. “I’m just… thankful, that’s all.” She brushes along the corners of her eyes until they’re dry. “You’ve been through so much, Chelsie, and you deserve nothing but the best.”

I pull her in for a warm hug, whispering words of affirmation into her hair. “That’s why I’ve got you.”

We stay put for a while until the front door chime goes off, pulling us both back in unison.

“Sounds like he’s here.” Ruby smiles, gesturing her head in the direction of the doorway. “You better go,” she tells me.

I nod, adjusting my dress in the mirror one final time before I leave my bedroom. “Oh, and Ruby?” I stop before I head down the staircase, drawing in her attention.

She looks over.

“You didn’t ask me about Friday.”

With a playful smirk, Ruby catches on to what I’m evidently trying to allude to. “Are you free Friday?” she asks, placing her hands on her hips.

I clutch onto the handrail. “Consider it a sister date.”

“Love you,” she mouths before I rush down the staircase and swing open the front door.

“God damn.” They’re the first two words out of Gary's mouth before he pulls me in for a long awaited kiss.

“God damn?” I can hardly break away from his lips to laugh. “Why did you just say that?”

“I mean, isn’t it obvious?” He scans me up and down with those deep brown eyes. “How do you always look like this?”

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