After Hours

8 - now I'm so impatient to adore you

On Saturday, I headed into Swindon Books with Harbor. It would be their first time meeting Ruby, and I was slightly nervous. I knew it would be fine, there was no way that they wouldn't like Ruby, but I was slightly nervous of them embarrassing me. I wouldn't put it past them if they did.

I took a deep breath as we entered the shop, and my senses were filled with coffee. Per usual, I spotted Ruby pretty much immediately, but she didn't this time. It was somewhat busy for a Saturday evening.

"Wanna get in line?" I asked Harbor, and we did so after they nodded.

We chatted idly for a while to the soft pop playing in the background, but as we got closer and closer to Ruby, I found myself getting nervous.

"I can tell you're freaking out a little, don't." Harbor said to me quietly. "Don't make a huge deal out of it. Everything's normal."

"Right." I exhaled, and suddenly we were in front of Ruby.

As we met eyes, I watched her eyebrows raise. "Carmel...I haven't seen you in a while." She grinned at me softly, and I swear the butterflies invited themselves in as if they'd never left.

"Yeah, it has been a while. But I'm here now." I smiled back at her. "And you probably know what I'm going to order."

I watched as Ruby scrunched her eyebrows and tapped her chin. "Actually, you know, it's been so long that I've forgotten? What was it again? Black coffee no sugar?"

"C'mon Ruby." I chuckled. "We both know I'm your favorite customer."

"Yeah, you're right." She laughed along with me, and I got to see the smile I'd become so familiar with this past month.

It was only after hearing Harbor's quiet snicker that made me realize I'd begun to space out.

I cleared my throat. "Oh yeah, and this is Harbor, a friend of mine." I said, introducing them. "You can order now, sorry about that."

"Oh don't apologize, I've been waiting to see this in action for a month now." They laughed, before their eyes settled on Ruby. "It's cool to finally meet you, I've heard a lot." I watched as Ruby blushed and Harbor smirked. Sigh...I hadn't expected any less though. "I'll have a chai tea latte."

"Alright." Ruby turned her back to begin making our drinks, and Harbor turned to me immediately.

She's hot! They mouthed, and I rolled my eyes, even though I had to agree. There was a reason I pretty much fell for her at first sight, even though it was about so much more now.

Yeah, Ruby was gorgeous. But she was also incredibly kind, thoughtful, smart, funny, and adorably clumsy, even though she tried not to show it. There was so much more to her than stunning green eyes and vibrant hair, and learning all that about her had really made my December the best one yet.

When Ruby returned with our drinks and we paid, she met my eyes. A silent conversation passed between us, as I knew she wanted me to stay late. I nodded to her, smiling, before Harbor and I took a seat.

"I can't believe I've met Ruby, what a day." They sighed with a smile on their face, and attempted to sip their tea before wincing from the hot temperature.

"I know, I can't believe you embarrassed me like that." I groaned. "Although I can't say I expected any less..."

"Exactly, I was gonna say you should know better." They chuckled. "Also she knows your order by heart? And you doubted that she ever liked you?"

"Ahhh I know shut up." I groaned again. I knew my face and ears had to be beet red. "I'm gonna ask her out tonight though."

Their eyes lit up. "Are you really? Oh my god okay text me how it goes before during and after."