After Midnight | lrh

• 19 •

--- RUBY ---

There were many laters that week. We made memories to last a lifetime, but by some miracle they didn't have to. The laters continued into the days and weeks that followed as well, though they became virtual after Luke and his band returned home to Los Angeles.

For three months, we've been in near constant contact with texts, phone calls and FaceTime. We aren't exactly dating, but we aren't exactly not. Whatever it is that we're doing, I'm perfectly content with every second that I spend in his company no matter how it happens. We've made it a thing to talk every day, and today is no different when my phone rings at 1:03 pm.

These calls come early for him- 10am is basically dawn for a boy who regularly sees every early morning hour and I anticipate his sleep-rough voice and bedhead on every call.

"Hi sweetheart," he says brightly. He's out of bed, sitting at his piano and more chipper than I've ever seen him on these early morning calls.

"Hey there," the surprise shows on my face at his general awake-ness, "Whatcha you doin'?"

He pouts out his lip but his eyes are still sparkling, "Just missing you."

I roll my eyes but grin at his cheesy answer, "You're cute, and I miss you too."

He brightens even more and I had no idea it was possible. He's practically vibrating with excitement as he says, "Oh do you?"

My brow furrows and I'm growing more confused by the second but still I nod, "Of course I do. Every day."

"Then come to LA." he says simply.

"Do.. what?" I stumble over the words as they leave my mouth.

"Spend New Years with me, Ruby. Come to Los Angeles, to my New Years party and let me hold you again." His voice is nearly earnest, and his eyes are huge and hopeful. He looks like a puppy, and the world's hottest man at the same time.

New Years is only 2 days away, and I tell him as much as I rifle through all the reasons I can't possibly come to Los Angeles on such short notice. He seems to have thought of all of them. When I tell him I can't take off work, he tells me he's already had my shifts covered. When I tell him I already have plans with Alex, he says to just bring her.

When I've run out of excuses, I sigh.

"Okay, Luke. I'll come to Los Angeles." I can feel the excitement creeping like fire through my veins and igniting every cell it passes.

He's practically beaming when he replies, "Good, because I just emailed you your ticket. You leave tomorrow."

The rest of the call goes normally for us, but I never quite recover from the shock. When I call Alex after, she already knows.

--- LUKE ---

I'd spent a week organizing this surprise and I'm so relieved when it's finally out in the open. In the four months since I'd met Ruby, we'd become inseparable for two people who lived 3,000 miles apart.

When I'd surprised her during our radio tour at the end of the summer, I'd hoped I could "get her out of my system". Instead I'd learned that it was hard to get someone out of your system when every minute with them just left you wanting more. We'd spent every possible moment together, indulging ourselves with Netflix, takeout and one another.

It's long past time to see her again and I'm counting down the hours until she arrives at my door, in my arms and hopefully in my bed all in short order. Just over 27 hours to be exact.