Class Clown (The Thornback Society #4)

25. Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Three months later

Ruby’s Truth: Trust the zing.

Five o’clock in the evening was my favorite time of day. It was the time when a freshly-showered Nico would knock on my apartment door and greet me by snagging me around the waist, pulling me up against his chest, and kissing me like he hadn’t seen me for weeks. His hair would still be slightly damp and curling at the tips, and the smell of his shampoo and laundry detergent would wrap around me as tightly as his arms.

He’d perfected this move to the point where he could also kick my front door closed behind him and walk us to the kitchen before putting me back on my feet and saying something like, ‘Missed you, Bee’ or ‘Hey, Bee’ which was somehow ten times more romantic than any flowery poem.

A full three months into our life in Logan and I could tell you with fervent commitment that it did not get old, and that I still wanted to pinch myself over the massive change in him. How was this the same person who was so quiet and stilted in our past life? Now he was warm and affectionate, open and communicative. It wouldn’t be fair to say he’d entirely changed, because when we were with others he’d become the wallflower once more, but with me he was everything I’d wanted and a few things I hadn’t known I needed .

“How was your meeting with the admissions advisor?” I asked him as I smiled up, still holding on to shoulders that had only broadened after a few months working construction.

He grinned. “Everything is in order for me to start classes with the winter semester in January. They accepted my application.”

Waiting to find out if he’d get into Utah State University had been hard on him, even if he’d pretended that time took care of all things and we’d know soon enough. He’d been a little fidgety leading up to this meeting and it was my turn to grin.

“I knew they would. You’re a veteran, a rule-follower, a smarty pants, and all sorts of other things they’d be lucky to have at their school.”

“I think what really sealed the deal was me telling them my girlfriend says they’d be idiots to not let me in.” He tickled my sides and I scurried backwards, bumping up against the fridge.

“You’re welcome to drop my name any time. The people of Logan love me.” I stuck out my tongue and popped open the fridge to snag two drinks. He was always thirsty after work, and I made sure to have drinks on hand. “How was work?” I asked him, handing him a cranberry juice – something I’d teased him about endlessly. “Any body parts get nailed to something today?”

“It’s disturbing that you ask that with hope in your voice,” he replied, popping open his bottle. “Work was busy, and no one was injured. It’s nice that the snow stopped last night.”

“Don’t get too excited. You’ve been warned about Logan winters, right?” I asked, opening my diet cola and taking a swig. “You’re going to be missing Texas before January is over.”

He shrugged. “I’ll be cutting back to part time when school starts, so it’ll be fine.”

“Did you do an ice cave deployment you never told me about?” I asked. “You seem awfully unworried about frostbite.”

He took another big swallow, and shook his head. “Weather doesn’t scare me, and I happen to know a nurse who would treat any frostbite.”

“With kisses,” I wiggled my eyebrows and he chuckled.

He tipped his head toward the couch and I followed him over, sitting on one end and stretching my legs out to push my toes up against his thigh. This domestic feeling had caught me off guard at first, how we were both content to spend several days each week simply existing together inside of my home. We’d cook meals and watch shows until he made his way back to Brooks’s guest room and I’d never felt so secure. This love didn’t require elaborate dates or big gestures, it simply required closeness, which was fine by me.

“What sounds good for dinner tonight?” I asked him. “I have eggs and bread. Toast and fried eggs? I might have some strawberries left.”

He caressed the top of my foot. “Actually, I thought maybe I could take you out tonight.”

I sat up. “Okay. Just let me freshen up a bit.”

I’d been home for an hour already and that meant the hair had been pulled up and comfy clothes put on. I danced happily around the apartment, gathering clean clothes and making quick work of changing into jeans and a cute blouse before heading into the bathroom to refresh my make-up.

I bent down to pull my make-up kit out from under the sink, and when I stood I was met with Nico’s dark eyes looking back at me in the mirror. I screeched and grabbed at my chest.

I scowled over my shoulder at him. “Do not sneak up on me like that,” I cried. “What are you doing?”

“Sorry.” His eyes took in my skin care products. “I thought I’d chat with you while you got ready. I really can’t get over how much goes into your skin routine.”

I opened my kit and shuffled through it for some eye shadow. “You shared the cabin with me all summer, this should not be such a surprise.”

“I think your products multiplied when you got home.”

“My skin needs to be babied.”

“It’s like the whole health and beauty section exploded in here.”

Finished with my shadow, I paused before re-lining my eyes to grin at him. “I find it soothing. Like a spa. Besides, a girl needs at least one place in her life where she can be a slob and this is mine.”

He leaned closer. “We’ll have to make sure we have double sinks, then.”

He was thinking future. Me likey.

“What’s this face?” he asked, smirking. “You’re going to have to stop being shocked when I talk about our future. I didn’t move to an entirely different state on a whim. You’re it for me.”

I nodded, butterflies flying. “Me too, Papa Bear. ”

He scrunched up his face. “No. How are you still struggling with this nickname thing? You read romance novels like some people follow sports. This should not be a problem.”

I snapped my fingers. “How about Captain? Or Lieutenant?”

He shook his head. “I don’t even want a nickname.”

“I’ll land on it.”

“How about you finish up your eye stuff and let’s get out of here, I’m hungry.”

“Aye-aye, Seargent Sweet Britches.”

He groaned.

“Does it ever scare you that we don’t fight?” I asked thirty minutes later as we dove into the bowls of pasta at our favorite Italian place. “Because people should fight, unless they’re not being authentic with each other.”

He chewed his fettucine alfredo thoughtfully. “I’ve never been sad to not fight with someone.”

“But we should at least argue more,” I returned. “Right? My friends argue with their boyfriends.”

“About what?”

“Anything. Being late to things, not agreeing on directions, where to have dinner. Are we being honest with each other?”

He grinned. “You’re always on time, which I love. I follow your directions because you actually know where we’re going, and we like the same foods. I don’t see that as an issue, but a relief.”

I pulled a face. “It’s suspect.”

“Why?”

“Arguing is healthy. If you don’t have a difference of opinion sometimes then what does that mean?”

“We have differences of opinion all the time, Bee. Like your gas tank, and your fuel light. I don’t know why you let it get that low.”

“True.”

“That movie we watched last weekend was not my cup of tea.”

I gasped. “How dare you. That was the best historical romance I’ve seen in ages. ”

He shrugged. “See, difference of opinion.”

I frowned. “We didn’t argue about it, though. You just snuggled in and watched it without complaint. Are you afraid to speak your truth?”

He shook his head. “No. I care more about snuggling with you than what we’re watching. It’s not worth fighting over.”

“I bet that changes after the infatuation stage ends. Pretty soon you’ll be wanting to listen to National Public Radio every time we’re in the car and I’ll wonder where your love for pop rock went.” I stirred up my big bowl of ravioli, stabbing a few with my fork.

“Why am I the one turning into a bore here?” he asked, his lips ticking up in amusement.

“Good point. I’m older. No wonder I made you watch a historical romance. Next thing you know, I’ll be making you sit through reruns of The Andy Griffith Show and talking about kids these days. And, because we don’t argue, you’ll sit there and take it. You need to stand up for yourself more.”

“Bee, you need to stop assuming I’m sucking it up and keeping it to myself. What if I do not care? What if I don’t have a strong opinion on the matter?”

I reached across the table to take his hand. “Were you raised in a home where no one valued your opinion and so you learned to people please?”

He set his fork down and sighed. “Ruby, love, I don’t want to fight with you. I want to laugh with you, and watch stupid shows with you, and kiss you as soon as I get off work. And I want to take you to dinner, and not have you worry that there’s hurt in our future.” He turned his hand over to take my fingers in his. “I want you to trust me.”

“I do trust you.”

“Then the next time your friends tell you about their arguments, be grateful that we get along so easily.”

I bit my lip. “Can I lie? Maybe make up a fight, you know, so that I fit in?”

He tamped down on a smile. “If you need to. But make it small, because your friends will not be shy about putting me in my place if you exaggerate too much.” I nodded. “Hypothetically, what would you tell them we fought about?”

I pursed my lips and shrugged. “I have no idea. ”

We both went back to eating, releasing our held hands to cut our food and I thought about it. A few minutes later I tapped the tabletop, making him look up quickly, mid-bite.

“I’ve got it. We argue about your riding a motorcycle.”

He frowned. “You don’t like it?”

I shook my head. “I’m a nurse, it’s dangerous, I love your head in one piece.”

“Okay, but are you saying this is what you’d tell your friends, or that you truly don’t like me riding a bike?”

“Probably a mix. It is dangerous, but you’re also really manly in your gear and I don’t hate seeing you pull up on it.”

“Alright. That’s ok to tell your friends.”

He went back to eating, but I came up with another idea. “When to get married.”

His eyes grew big this time. “What?”

“We’re arguing about when to get married.”

“We are?”

“Yeah. You’re in a rush because you’ve seen enough of the world to know what you want, but I’m still young and free-spirited, and not sure I’m ready to be tied down.”

He wiped his lips with his napkin and leaned back in his chair. “We haven’t even talked about marriage. I don’t think you can tell your friends we’re fighting about it.”

I pointed my fork at him. “You just said we’d need double sinks. That’s marriage talk.”

He tilted his head to the side. “Ok. What else do we fight about?”

“If we want to move back to Texas to live by family or not. I don’t, but you’re pushing for it because grandparents are important in a child’s life.”

His mouth opened and then shut. “We’re talking kids too?”

“Yes. You want them, don’t you?”

“You know I want kids. I didn’t realize we’re thinking about uprooting ourselves for them.”

“We are.”

“Well, I didn’t grow up around grandparents, so it doesn’t seem like something I’d push for.”

I nodded. “Okay, I’m pushing to move back to Texas and you’re not. ”

“Ruby,” he said on a sigh, leaning forward again. “Why is it so important to you that we’re arguing about something? To the point where you’re making stuff up?”

I put down my fork. “It shouldn’t be this easy. It’s never been this easy.”

“You were never with the right person. Love doesn’t have to be work, and fighting and making up, and walking on egg shells to prove it’s real. Love can also be peaceful, and kind.”

I looked into his earnest eyes, and a rush of laughter filled my stomach and rose to my lips, causing me to have to cover it up before it burst out.

“Maybe we’re arguing about the strange ways my mind works,” I giggled. “I’m sorry. I love what we have, and I get weird, but you’re right. Getting along with you is much better than having to apologize all the time.”

“Well, I mean, this was sort of our first fight, so if you’re interested in making up I’m not going to argue.”

I raised my hand to signal the waiter, even though we weren’t even halfway through eating. Nico laughed, and turned when the waiter arrived at our table.

“Check please,” he said, throwing me into another fit of laughter.

The next week a total hottie pa-tottie walked past the doorway of Meredith’s classroom where I was currently camped out with her, Hailey, Aryn and Wesley, chatting it up before school started for the day. My head buzzed with that thrill that always came from seeing Nico before he saw me. Secretly watching him was sort of like that adrenaline rush you get at the top of a rollercoaster right before it does the first drop.

I had no idea why he’d be there when his work day started at seven, and it was currently eight, but I hustled to the doorway and paused to take in the view. His broad shoulders were stiff, controlled, but his gate was long and graceful. He wasn’t wearing a ball cap today, and his black wavy hair looked freshly styled.

Good yummy morning to me.

I whistled, long and loud, before he could turn the corner at the end of the hall, and called, “Hey soldier, I’ve got what you’re looking for! ”

He came to an abrupt stop and spun around, meeting my laughing expression. His eyes closed briefly and he shook his head, but then he began marching my way. He had a bag in one hand and a to-go cup in the other, and I didn’t even care what food he was carrying because he was more delicious than anything else.

I waved excitedly, and called, “You look good enough to eat.” One of the third-grade teachers who’d been walking the opposite direction looked to me and smiled. “Am I wrong?” I asked her, and she laughed.

I’d never been quiet about my flirtation situations, and I wasn’t about to start now, even if Nico looked a little pink across the cheeks. I so rarely got under his skin, and I loved it when I did. When he got close, I could see his lips tugging up in amusement, and I wiggled my eyebrows at him.

“Well, this is a nice surprise,” I said, grabbing a fist full of his shirt and tugging him close for a kiss. “My big Hunk-of-Man.”

His lips were soft and warm, his breath fresh and minty, and I let out a little ‘mmm’. He kissed me back, but kept the contact brief, and I was okay with that. If he could handle me, I could respect him and his fuddy-duddy stance on too much PDA.

“That’s a pass on Hunk-of-Man. Can you just call me babe, or honey, or something?”

I shook my head. “You’re an original and you deserve an original pet name.” I sneaked another peck. “What has you wandering the school halls this morning?” I asked.

He held up the items he was carrying. “You weren’t in your office, and so I went looking for you. I brought bear claws the size of your face, and some tea.”

“The size of my face?” I gasped, stepping back. “I accept. Come on in, we’re talking biz before school starts.”

He followed me into the classroom where the others had fallen silent, waiting for me to return. When they saw Nico, they all smiled and greeted him. Meredith asked him about some statistic she’d read on children in warzones, Hailey patted his shoulder and asked him if he was sleeping better lately, Aryn made sure they were on for basketball at the rec center that weekend, and Wesley offered to help him with setting up the new laptop he’d bought for school .

They all spoke over one another, laughing and chatting, and it hit me in that moment how genuine they were with Nico. He was quiet in his responses – like always – but his expression was open and engaged.

I frowned, wondering why I hadn’t noticed how fake they had been with the guys I’d brought around before. I hadn’t dated many men long enough to have them meet my friends, but on the occasions when I had, they’d always been polite, and inclusive. Now, however, I saw the difference and, honestly, it kind of ticked me off for a second before I swung around to gratitude. Gratitude for Nico, and gratitude for friends who had tolerated the frogs I’d had to kiss before finding my prince.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by Meredith saying, “You all need to go to your own rooms so I can emotionally prepare myself for the entitled parents that will be joining me at parent teacher conferences tonight.”

We all chuckled as we were dismissed, and Nico fell into step with me on the way back to my nurse’s room. It was nice walking down the hall with him, smelling his laundry scent and feeling his calm presence.

“It’s official, they love you,” I said as we turned into my small room near the front of the school. “Even when you don’t have donuts and tea with you.”

He set the bag and cup on my desk and took in the room like he did every time. Sometimes he seemed surprised to be sitting with me. I’d catch him looking at me, or our surroundings, like he was in a dream and couldn’t believe it was real.

I understood the feeling.

I sat on one of the desk chairs and smiled, asking “Aren’t you usually at work by now?” I picked up the pastry bag to peek inside. “Wow, this really is a giant bear claw.” I pulled out the glazed dough and gave it an appreciative sniff. “Where did you get this?”

He leaned against the exam table and crossed his arms. “A new bakery by Brooks’s neighborhood. He recommended it.”

“Give him my gratitude,” I smiled.

“I’ve been thinking a lot since our dinner out last week, about arguing or not arguing, and the marriage thing.”

I smiled. “Alright.”

“I also wanted to chat with you about my living situation. ”

Oh. I sat up in my seat. “I thought it was going okay with Brooks. Meredith would tell me if he wanted you out. He seems to like having a roommate, and a little rent money on the side.”

“No, he’s great.”

“Is it the accommodations? His kitchen is kind of small.”

He shook his head. “I’m not picky. Military deployments broke me of the need to live high class.”

I nodded, chewing. “There have to be some perks to military life.”

He smiled. “I can kill a man with my bare hands.”

I grinned. “Will you teach me?”

He laughed. “No. You’re dangerous enough with the knowledge you already have.”

I wiggled in my seat. “And these hips, they’re dangerous too.” He nodded, still smiling, and I took another bite of the bear claw while studying him. “So, you’re looking for a new place to lay your head?”

He pushed up from the exam table and moved to where I was sitting. He took the pastry from my hand and put it back in the bag, before pulling me to stand. His fingertips traced along my forehead, down my nose, across my cheek and to my jaw, before tilting my head back.

“Ruby Lili Jenkins, let me tell you a story. It’s your favorite kind.” He pressed his lips to mine before leaning back again, but stayed close, his hands running down my arms to land on my hips. “Once upon a time, a very lonely young man with a boring and strict life met a boy who was all the things he wished he could be. This boy saw past the quiet shell and befriended him. After a few months, the boy invited the shy one to his house, and that was when our hero experienced sunshine for the first time. The friend had a sister, a bright, loud, laughing sister, who moved around the house like she had balloons tied to her wrists and would float away given the chance. The boy watched her, both intrigued and confused. How could she feel so much, see so much, and know so much about the world when all the boy saw was gray? When the sister would talk to him, he didn’t know how to engage with her. She was so foreign. She frightened him a little. She gave up trying, but the boy never gave up observing her whenever he could. Being around her made the boy feel like things would be okay.”

I slid my arms around his waist, my throat thickening, my hands tingling as I pressed them up against his back and hugged him tight .

“The sister moved away to college and the friend subtly asked questions about her, getting to know her through the stories her family told. Over the years he tried to be more like her, to see the brightness in things, to take chances. When she’d come home to visit, he tried talking to her, but she felt untouchable. She was the first girl he had a crush on, and he kept those feelings to himself. Eventually, he joined the military, and he stole a picture of her from the friend’s house to carry with him, promising himself that if he survived his deployment he’d find himself a woman like that. A woman of light. A woman who saw the world as a magic place, and could teach him to do the same.”

I sniffled now, tears forming, my body feeling so incredibly bubbly I didn’t know if I wanted him to finish his story or stop.

“Oh, my love,” I whispered. “I didn’t know.”

“When the boy returned home, he was now a man. He’d learned how to talk more, and to be more open, and to trust himself. He wasn’t afraid of the future anymore. He had deep scars, but he still had hope, because she was out there and she was safe and happy. Then, fate threw him a bone by putting them both at a summer camp together. At first, he was almost scared. He wondered if he’d made her up, and he’d be disappointed to find out she was nothing like the girl he’d carried with him.

The first time he saw her after ten years, she was standing on a chair looking angry and shocked, and he didn’t know how it was possible, but his feelings slammed straight into his chest, and he knew she was still the same person. He didn’t know how he’d manage it, spending months in close quarters without those feelings growing. In truth, he didn’t really even try to stop it. Up close, she was better than he remembered. So funny, smart, kind, talented at nursing – and beautiful. She was beautiful, so much that he sometimes had a hard time keeping his eyes off of her. He became obsessed with the way her hair would move when she walked, and watching her eyes for clues on her thoughts and feelings. Eventually, he decided to be unafraid. This was his chance. Probably his only chance. He could either go for the girl he’d always wanted, or say goodbye to her forever.

So, Bee, you see, when the summer ended there was really no choice for me. Texas wasn’t where you are. And where you are, is where I will always, always choose to be.” He pressed a kiss against my head and squeezed me close. “I love you, Ruby. You’re both my first and my last love.”

I sighed, falling against him fully, sniffling. “That’s better than most of the romantic speeches I’ve read in books,” I said.

He leaned his head down against mine. “Good. I’ve been rehearsing something like it for a while. Every time your eyes got all beady and scared, I composed another line. I wanted you to understand that I’m not going anywhere.”

I nodded against him. “I believe you.”

“I want to start planning our future, Bee. I couldn’t wait until after work today, I had to see you now and tell you. It’s you and me, always. What do you think?”

“I like it.” I replied. “So, are you saying you want me to be part of your living situation?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“I mean, I guess we kind of had a trial run this summer. I think we did alright.” I leaned back to smile up at him.

“I’m going to get you a ring, and make you my wife. Just so you’re real clear on that.”

My lips quivered and I laughed. “Don’t try to propose to me without bedazzling something. A queen needs her sparkles.”

“Alright.” He smiled. “I think we should stay in Utah. I want to finish my degree, and you’re so happy here. It’s home.”

“I agree.”

“I’m going to get a car, too. I’m keeping the bike, but winter is here and I need something that doesn’t expose me to the elements all the time.”

“That’s a smart plan.” I pressed a kiss to his chin. “If I might add something. I’m not trying to be bossy here, but maybe don’t take your sweet time making me a wife. We’ve done the slow burn thing already.”

He grinned and pulled me up to my toes to press his warm lips to mine. I met him with my whole heart, knowing he would always be there to keep it safe. Always.

THE END