Ruby threw herself into the back of the cab and slammed the door a little too hard.
“The Lumiere Lounge,” she told the driver, tapping the address Ryan had texted her twenty minutes ago.
The ride went by fast with Ruby thinking many thoughts in her head.
She smoothed her dress, checked her reflection in her compact for the fifth time and practiced what she might say to Ryan.
“Sorry I’m late, darling, but the universe conspired against me” sounded much better than “I lost my earring and Claire had to save my ass again.”
She loved Claire, she really did, but sometimes her friend’s ability to know where everything was felt like a personal attack to her.
When the cab pulled up to the Lounge, Ruby’s eyes widened.
This was not their normal kind of place.
It had soft orange lights, and serious men in suits standing by the door.
It whispered money and connections.
The kind of place where Ruby felt like she should be wearing something more expensive, even though this dress had already cost a lot of money.
“Great,” she muttered to herself as she paid the driver and stepped out.
“Ryan and his surprise venues.”
And there he was.
Checking his watch with that look she knew so well.
The one that said, “I love this woman, but why is she always ten minutes past fashionably late?”
He looked good though.
Really good.
His dark hair was slightly messy as usual, a dark blue button-down that made his eyes seem warmer, and that lean, fit body that always made her want to forget parties and just go home instead.
“There you are,” he said as she reached him.
Ruby was grateful he didn’t sound mad.
“The traffic was a nightmare,” she lied smoothly, stepping into his arms.
He smelled clean, like soap and that familiar scent of his body.
He hugged her back and rested his hands low on her waist.
“Right,” he said, his lips brushing her temple.
“Was the traffic also responsible for the earring crisis?”
Ruby pulled back, pouting.
“Claire told you?”
“Yeah.
I’ve tried calling you twice but your phone wasn’t going through.
So I called her to see if you’d left yet.” He chuckled, a sound that always made her stomach do a little flip.
“You’re lucky I love you.”
“I am,” she agreed and leaned in to kiss him.
It started soft but Ruby had never been one for soft, not when Ryan tasted this good.
She deepened the kiss, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him closer.
He responded instantly, his hands tightening on her waist, his mouth moving against hers in a way that made her forget all about the fancy intimidating lounge.
This was her favorite part of dating Ryan.
The easy spark between them that never went away, even after three months of all the mess she brought.
When they finally broke apart, he was breathing a little harder.
“We should go inside,” he said.
“In a minute,” she murmured, nuzzling his neck.
“I’m enjoying the peace before the noise.”
“Come on.” He said and took her hand, his fingers lacing with hers.
As they walked toward the entrance, he stopped and reached into his jacket pocket with his free hand.
“Since I knew you’d be late.
I got you this.”
He opened a small box, and inside was a watch.
It looks stunning.
The exact one she’d been pointing at in magazine windows for weeks.
Ruby’s jaw dropped.
“Ryan!
You didn’t!”
“I did,” he said with a small smile.
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again.
“You’re the best!
The absolute best!” She pulled back with her eyes shining.
“Put it on me!”
He took the watch from the box and carefully fastened it around her wrist.
The cool metal felt perfect.
She held her arm up, admiring it under the lights.
It was everything she wanted.
“I love this,” she said, turning her wrist this way and that.
Then she tilted her head, her brow furrowing a little.
“Wait.”
Ryan’s smile wavered and a flicker of something crossed his eyes.
“It’s beautiful,” she said quickly trying to explain.
“Really.
But why did you get the regular one?”
Ryan went silent as he stared at her, his expression blank.
He didn’t even blink.
“I mean,” she continued, her mouth moving without her brain’s permission, “you could have gotten me the Ultra.
This one is just common.
I think four teachers at work have this exact one.
The Ultra has a diamond something, you know?”
“Ruby,” he said, his voice dangerously quiet.
“Do you have any idea how much that ‘common’ watch cost?”
“I already said it’s beautiful.
And I love it!” she insisted.
“I’m just saying… next time, Ultra.
For the variety.”
He closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath.
When he opened them, he was all business.
“Do not complain about the gift.
That’s rule number one for tonight.”
She pouted but nodded.
“Fine, I’ve heard you.”
He looked like he wanted to say something else, maybe something about how she always tested his limits, but he just sighed and took her hand again.
“Let’s go inside.”
The building was even more impressive inside.
It was packed and Ruby immediately felt her eyes start scanning the room for the food tables.
That was the real reason she went to parties after all.
Ryan led her through the crowd toward a group of people near a large, curved bar.
“Hey, everyone,” he said, wrapping his arm around Ruby’s shoulders.
“This is Ruby.”
She pasted on her brightest smile.
“Hi!
It’s so great to finally meet you all!” She shook hands, accepted compliments on her dress, and subtly tried to spot the trays.
Ryan introduced her to his friend Mark, the celebrant, a friendly guy with a loud laugh who immediately offered her a drink.
“Champagne?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” Ruby said grabbing a flute from a passing waiter’s tray before he could even finish.
But she didn’t linger there for too long.
She sneaked away and went to load up a small plate with everything that looked delicious.
She was just heading back toward the area Ryan had pointed to when she felt the familiar urge.
“Restroom,” she said to Ryan as she passed him the plate and changed direction.
She found it down a dimly lit hallway, away from the main party’s noise.
After taking care of business, she spent a minute in front of the mirror reapplying her lipstick and admiring her watch again.
She smoothed her dress, took a breath and stepped into the hallway.
Turning right toward the lounge, she suddenly walked straight into someone.
“Oops, sorry!” she muttered, looking up from where she’d been checking her hem.
The woman she’d bumped into was on her phone and her back was half turned to Ruby.
She ended her call with a sharp, “We’ll discuss it later,” and turned to face Ruby.
And Ruby in turn froze.
It took her only a second to recognize the face in front of her.
Layla.
Claire’s cousin…