Imperial Love: Can't Help Falling In Love (Peters Story) Book Five

Chapter Five

As Peter walked back home, he opened the door and saw Delilah. Delilah noticed the glee smile on his face, and she noticed that he looked incredibly happy. It was almost a strange-looking smile. Until Delilah called his name, Peter gasped as he turned around to see a smiling Delilah. He couldn't tell if she was making fun of him until he heard her laughter.

"What's got you smiling?" Delilah asked, "Come on... tell me..."

Peter started to get even more excited, but then Delilah remembered that look, it was the same look he had when he developed a crush on her, but only this time, Delilah knew that there was someone new. And she wanted to know everything. Delilah told him to sit down, and he did that, and started to ask him questions.  About who it was, and why, and how, all of the simple questions. She was happy for him.

"Nothing crazy happened Lilah," Peter said, "Her and I just got coffee."

"Tell me who it is..." Delilah said curious and irritating him like a mother berating his son about a girl,

"It's Ruby," Peter said, "It's Ruby... is that what you want to hear?"

"Wait...Ruby from the press."

Peter nodded and admitted it. Delilah was surprised given how she first thought that she was flirting with Gavin but then realized that she could not have been more wrong. Gavin was trying to set her up with Peter, that was another thought that she had. Gavin came down the steps and asked him if he knew about any of it. Gavin looked at Delilah confused and looked at Peter again.

"What is this about?" Gavin asked,

"Your brother and Ruby went on a date." Delilah blurted, "The girl that works with you,"

"When was this?" Gavin asked smiling looking at Peter waiting for answers.

Gavin shook his head and said how he only found out about this. And didn't know why Peter didn't tell him, because they were brothers and told each other everything.  Gavin did sit for a few minutes, wondering why Peter didn't tell him he was interested in Ruby, perhaps it was something that was unexpected and something that Peter didn't even see coming.

"I don't want to fall for anyone right now, especially with me leaving in a week." Peter said to Gavin, "I just don't want to put Ruby through all of that."

Gavin understood what he meant, after all, Gavin was a military soldier at one point as well. He knew what he felt about falling for people in this time. He put Delilah through and Peter didn't want anything bad to happen to him if he was going to fall for someone like Ruby. But one thing Peter liked about Ruby was that she was independent, and always went after what she wanted, she was confident and outspoken and never cared about the consequences. She was always also honest no matter who's feelings were hurt, and she was good at understanding and judging people by who they were.  Which was one of the reasons he felt as if Ruby was different, different from other girls he sought interest in. Different from Delilah, Different from Sophie, different from girls from high school.  Which was one of the reasons he felt as if Ruby was different, different from other girls he sought interest in. Different from Delilah, Different from Sophie, different from girls from high school. Ruby was also maturer, maybe it was because she was five years older than he was. But that didn't really bother him too much because they were both adults, she was only a year older than Delilah though, which also didn't bother him.

It was also clear that Peter had a type, types of woman that he enjoyed being around. This was something that didn't go unnoticed, he liked, smart, vivacious, and outgoing girls. He noticed that as a pattern since the war started. Gavin also noticed it along with Delilah. They both noticed how the confident and intelligent girls were the ones he wanted, Delilah didn't notice it until Ruby came into the picture. It wasn't even his interest in her.  It was the interest in Ruby.

That night, Peter went to ask Gavin for advice, on how he can help things work out between him and Ruby. He wanted things to work out between them, but with him leaving in a week, he didn't know how it was going to be successful. Peter wanted to get to know her more before he knew for sure that something was there between them.  

The two of them spent time talking on the couch that night, and Peter had loads and loads of questions.  

"You just know..." Gavin said, "I knew immediately with Delilah,"

"That's different," Peter argued back, "You two have known each other too long." 

"And also, it's more of whether or not you feel something for that person." Gavin added, "Like I knew there was something different about Delilah, something I knew about her when I first clapped eyes on her."

Peter knew Gavin loving Delilah was different, they had known each other forever and both of them knew they were meant to be together from the start. And Peter was going back to fight soon, and if he died out there and Ruby fell in love with him, Ruby would be heartbroken if he left her behind. And he didn't want to be traumatized and watch her suffer because of him and his coping mechanisms. They both saw what happened to their father and how much it affected them when they were younger.  But their mother had family members that went through the same thing. So it was nothing new for him. 

But this was a different war and a different girl and a different situation. He knew that Ruby was strong, and Ruby was quite independent, and he didn't want to rush into things whether he was leaving or not. Because he rushed before and caught feelings immediately after he got the slightest a bit of attention from a woman, and he didn't want to rush it with Ruby. He made that mistake with Delilah and he made the mistake with Sophie.

"You know at the end of the day, we can't control who we like..." Gavin said, "You can't control it..."

"Are you talking about Delilah," Peter started to say until Gavin interrupted him.

"Not this again..." Gavin interrupted, "I know you could not have controlled it, and I'm glad you found someone..."

"I just hope she likes me back, but I'm gonna wait until I know..." 

"You know what, that's alright," Gavin said, "But don't do what I did, and don't wait until it's too late..."

"I won't." Peter said,

"You promise," Gavin asked, "You have to promise right now."

"Yes... I promise."