Page 35 of Spyder
She arches an eyebrow at me, a small smile on her lips. “Are you sure about that?”
“I’m very sure about that.”
“What about his club? What did he tell you about them?”
A small frown touches my lips as I consider whether to tell her all I learned. Or if so, how much. I know how she can be. Aside from being a bit judgy, Rube has always been pretty protective of me. I know that’s part of where the judgment and harsh truths come from… her desire to keep me safe.
But I don’t want to keep things from her. She’s my best friend and I’m a grown woman. As much as I appreciate her looking out for me, I probably don’t need it as much now as I might have back then. I like to think that I’ve grown, gotten more mature, and a little more worldly. I’m not as naïve as I was when we were younger. But her opinion does still matter to me. A lot. She’s the closest thing to a sister that I have, so I value what she thinks.
“He says that people misunderstand them. That they’re not anything like what people say they are,” I say.
“Of course, he’d say that.”
“I believe him, Rube,” I say. “I’m not naïve and I can usually get a pretty good sense of people.”
“I know you can. But I also know you let your heart get the better of you sometimes,” she replies. “You always have, babe.”
I fall silent. There’s no use in arguing the point anymore. She’s not wrong about me, but at the same time, she doesn’t give me credit for growth over the years. I know I should probably cut her a little slack, though. I haven’t been back in town all that long, let alone spent much time with her, so she probably hasn’t really been able to see it in me.
The bottom line is that I know I’m not the same girl who left Blue Rock all those years ago. Not by a long stretch. She seems to pick up on my vibe and gives me a tight smile, letting me know that she’ll stop pushing which I appreciate. Ruby has always known just how far she can go and when to back off. But no matter what, she’s always there to be my cheerleader or help me pick up the pieces if things end up going sideways. And she has never once said “I told you so”, and I totally love her for that.
“So, how was it?” she asks, pivoting the conversation.
That’s the other thing about her. She may try to dissuade me from hooking up with somebody, but she always wants the juicy details when I ignore her advice.
“A lady doesn’t kiss and tell,” I reply and flash her a grin.
“Well, it’s a good thing I’m talking to you and not a lady then, isn’t it?”
My laughter echoes around the empty classroom and I throw my pen at her. It bounces harmlessly away and hits the floor, rolling under one of the desks.
“You are an ass,” I tell her.
“Come on, Bell. I told you I have to live vicariously through others.”
I laugh. “Your husband is gorgeous. He was an underwear model, for crying out loud. A literal underwear model,” I tell her. “How can you possibly not be satisfied going home to him every night?”
“Oh, I’m very satisfied,” she says with a smile. “But life is a buffet and I just want to see what else is on the menu. Nothing wrong with a little peek now and then.”
“So long as you’re only eating at home, I suppose not,” I reply. “And to answer your question, yes. It was great. It was amazing, actually.”
“Amazing, huh? What made it so amazing?”
I nod and feel my body warming as I think about the feeling of his hands and mouth on me. About the feeling of having him so deep inside of me. The fire between my thighs burns hot and I feel myself growing wet again. I clear my throat and try to get control of my thoughts and push away my arousal. Sitting here getting hot in front of Ruby is not on my to-do list.
But I nod anyway and focus on what made it amazing. And while the physical aspect was certainly a big factor, it was far more than that. I look up at her and try to organize my thoughts.
“It was just like our bodies were totally in sync. We were just moving as one. Totally in rhythm with each other,” I try to explain. “It was the eye contact and the connection we seemed to have. I mean, I’ve never felt anything like it before.”
Ruby’s smile is wide and the sparkle in her eyes is mischievous. “Sounds like somebody’s already falling hard.”
“Please,” I say with a chuckle. “It’s a little early for all that. I’m just saying we seem to have a connection and it made things last night pretty incredible.”
“Just… be careful, Bell,” she says. “I know you’re smart and you’re not a gullible child. But I also know you’ve got a big heart. And I’d hate to see you get that heart trampled on by somebody who’s not who or what you think he is.”
***
I walk out of the store, my head still in the clouds. Not even Ruby’s doubts and naysaying can dull the shine I’m still feeling after my night with Derek. I’ve never taken drugs—I’ve never even smoked pot—but I’ve heard people describe what a high feels like, and I imagine it’s kind of what I feel like right now. And if that’s the case, I can see why people get high in the first place.
