Ruin’s Embattlement (Tenillo Guardians AIMC #19)

Desi Chapter 7

I was on the couch, watching television with Mom. We were painting each other’s toenails. It was a sappy romantic comedy, which was appropriate since today was Valentine’s Day. She was getting ready to go to dinner with Dad. This morning, he’d made her breakfast in bed. Tyson, Shane, and I had gotten out of the house, letting them have privacy.

I was popping a jellybean in my mouth when there was a knock at the door. Wondering who in the world it could be since everyone here tended to walk in or give no more than a cursory knock before entering, I got up to answer it. When I swung the door open, I found Niam standing there. He had a scowl on his face. In his hands was a box with a bow on it and a vase of the prettiest roses I’d ever seen. They weren’t the typical red ones. These were a breathtaking lilac color.

“Here,” was all he said, shoving them at me. I took them because I was afraid he’d just drop them. He walked off without saying another word. Shoving the door closed with my foot, I carried them to the living room. Dad had obviously gotten these. He was going all out, not that he didn’t make Valentine’s Day memorable for Mom every year. As I handed them to Mom, she gave me a puzzled look.

“Who are those from?”

“They better be from Dad, or else someone is going to get his ass killed, and you have some explaining to do. Somebody sending you flowers and a gift must have a death wish,” I teased.

“Your dad already gave me my gifts. Hmm, let me see,” she muttered. A card was stuck in the bouquet. She’d set the flowers and box down. She removed the card and read it. A smile began to spread across her face.

“Do you have a secret admirer we have to tell Dad about?” I teased her again.

“No, because these aren’t for me. They’re for you.”

I froze. I had to have heard her wrong. She giggled, then pushed the box toward me and handed over the note. With shaking hands, I read the card first.

Roses are lilac. Violets are blue. I can’t rhyme worth jack. But I can say I’ve missed you. Hugs, Tanner. I had to read it three times before it sank in that Tanner had sent them. She was watching me, grinning. With unsteady hands, I dropped the card and picked up the box. Untying the bow, I opened it. Inside was a bag of unpopped popcorn with extra butter, a box of cinnamon Red Hots, a box of chocolate-covered almonds, and a DVD of a horror movie I hadn’t seen yet—all my favorites. And there was a note. My hand shook a little more as I read it.

Desi, please accept this as my first effort to regain our friendship. I’m hoping you’ll share the popcorn and candy with me while we watch this movie together. I’d love to do it tonight, but if you have plans, then as soon as possible. Just let me know when. Oh, and I hope the flowers make up for my horrible poem. Please don’t show anyone—your Tanner.

I sat there, not knowing what to say or think. This was so out of character for him. Or at least the Ruin I’d come to know over the past several years. Mom was sitting there watching me. She wore an expectant look. I knew she wanted to know what the note from the box said, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to share it. Except if I didn’t, who would help me to decipher its meaning?

“Oh, come on, I’m dying over here! Tell me what my son wrote. I mean, the poem wasn’t the best, but it was cute. I didn’t know he had it in him. From the look on your face, the second note is even better. You can talk to me, Desi. I know he’s my son, but you’re my daughter.”

Isaiah was a good person to talk to, but he was a guy, and that meant he thought with a man’s brain, which every woman knew, was nothing like a woman’s. I needed a woman’s perspective.

I wordlessly handed her the second card. She swiftly read it and perked up. There was a smile on her face as she handed it back to me. “Well, well, it seems my boy is finally getting out whatever crawled up his ass years ago. That’s good news, honey. It means the two of you can be friends again. I know how much it hurt you to lose his friendship and vice versa. He’s been different, and so have you.”

“Mom, I don’t know if being friends again is possible. All I can think is, why now? What changed to have him go from being critical, overbearing, and outright judgmental of me to this? It has to be more than the fact he’s out of the Corps. The only positive I can say for him in this whole mess is he has never taken his dislike of me out on Shane. He was weird Friday night, too.”

“Weird, how?” she asked. I told her about him wanting to watch a movie.

“I think he’s being sweet and making an effort. Let me ask you this. If you could have his friendship back, would you want it?” she asked.

I wanted to say no, but deep down, I knew it was a lie. Even though he didn’t love me the way I loved him, I would give anything to have his friendship again. Without it, I felt like there was a big hole in the middle of me. She didn’t interrupt my thoughts. Finally, I answered her honestly.

“I miss his friendship so much. If I could return it to the way it was, yes, I’d want it. But I don’t think that’s possible. Whatever caused him to turn against me in the first place is still out there. I don’t know what it is. What’s to prevent it from doing harm again? Sending gifts and notes won’t heal the rift or explain why.”

“And you don’t know what to do with the fact you love him,” she stated softly.

Her words jarred me, but I pretended I misunderstood them. “Of course, I loved him as my best friend. That hasn’t died. It was he who killed it on his end.”

“I’m not talking about platonic love, Desi. I’m talking about the kind that makes a man send you flowers and sweep you off your feet—the romantic kind. The kind of love Omen and I have, plus the other couples on this compound.”

My entire insides were quivering at the thought she knew my secret. I was beginning to panic. I couldn’t let Ruin or anyone else know. “Mom, please, you can’t tell anyone, not even Dad. Please. I’ll die if Ruin finds out and pities me. I couldn’t stand it. Let it be,” I pleaded.

She scooted nearer and then took my hands in hers. She gave them a gentle squeeze. I saw sympathy and motherly love staring back at me. Tears were threatening to fall. I wanted to lie my head on her shoulder and bawl like a baby. Why did life have to be so unfair? However, landing the Infidels as family and having Shane did balance things.

“Desi, sweetheart, I would never betray your trust unless it was to save a life. However, are you positive my son doesn’t love you the same way you love him? Can you say that with absolute certainty? Because I can’t. I’ve had this feeling for a long time that the problem between the two of you is that neither of you is acknowledging your love. He’s not your foster brother. He’s the man you’ve lost your heart to.”

Those words released the dam, and the tears streamed down my cheeks as I sobbed and buried my face in her shoulder. She rocked me as she rubbed my back and whispered in my ear that everything would be alright. I didn’t see how, but it still made me feel a tad better. I had no idea how long she comforted me before I got myself back under control.

“I think you needed that. As for telling anyone, I won’t. But, Desi, honey, you have to consider the possibility I’m right. These latest conversations since he returned, along with the box and those flowers, are olive branches. Take them. Give him a chance. The worst that can happen is you don’t recover your friendship. The least is you will. And the best is you may just discover the love of a lifetime. You don’t want to pass that up, believe me. I found it with Omen, and it has changed my life.”

“But how can I be around him and not give away how I feel while I try to discover if he truly loves me? And there are the other women. I can’t handle them, Mom.”

“What other women?”

“The ones who come to the clubhouse—you know which ones. I saw him with one of them a week ago. She was hanging on him, and he didn’t seem to mind. That’s why I…” I paused. Should I tell her about my date with Konrad?

“Why you what?” she prompted.

“I went out, but not with Isaiah. I went on a date. I had fun. I don’t know if it’ll become anything, but I’m trying because I want someone special in my life.”

“Who did you go out with?” she asked curiously.

“Konrad,” I whispered. Her mouth dropped open.

“Oh my God, Ruin will lose his mind when he finds out!” she practically shouted, but I noticed it wasn’t in an upset way. It was a gleeful one.

“Why are you smiling?” I asked her.

“Because if you want proof that Ruin loves you, wait until he hears this. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like Konrad. I don’t want to destroy their friendship, but I want you with Ruin if it’s between him and Konrad. Did you enjoy it a lot?”

“I did. And so did he. We had no trouble relaxing and talking. He asked me out again, but I’m going to tell him no.”

“No! Don’t do that. Say yes. Then, when it happens, I’ll make sure Ruin finds out.”

“Mom, no, you won’t. That’s horrible. What if they fight? They’re friends.” Where had this deviousness come from?

“The guys will make sure nothing gets out of hand. You leave it to me. Okay, so what is it going to be? Are you letting my stubborn son back into your life and seeing where it goes, or are you ready to walk away and hope you find someone else, even if it isn’t Konrad, which would be bad for their friendship.”

“I don’t want to use Konrad that way. What if he ends up liking me?”

“Ask him if he’s okay going out as friends. Tell him you’re not sure that you can be anything more. If he says no to the date, then so be it.”

I mulled over her idea. She kept encouraging me and asking how I’d cope if I didn’t try. In the end, I gave in to her wishes. I decided to follow mine. She was right. If I never tried, it would haunt me.

“Alright, I’ll tell Konrad and see what happens. But what do I do about this box of stuff?”

“You call my son and invite him over for movie night, only not tonight. Make it tomorrow. That way, I can watch Shane, and you two can have the house to yourselves. I’ll take him and your dad somewhere.”

I was a mess with nerves, but I agreed. She sat with me either for moral support or maybe to stop me from chickening out while I texted Ruin.

Me: I got your gifts. The flowers are stunning, and I love the other items as well. Thank you. I even like your poem. You asked me to watch the movie with you. I can’t tonight, but is tomorrow okay? If not, you tell me which night works for you.

In less than a minute, I received his response.

Ruin: I was worried you’d hate them. When I saw the roses, they reminded me of you. Red doesn’t seem to scream Desi to me, but purple does. As for watching the movie with you, tomorrow night works great. What time do you want me there? Do you want me to pick anything up? I can bring dinner.

Me: Let’s say seven, and if it’s not too late for you, we can order pizza from Mario’s. Have you had it yet since you got home?

Ruin: Hell yeah, Mario’s sounds great, and no, I haven’t. How can I say no to the best pizza I’ve ever tasted and a night with you? I’ll bring our usual and see you at seven. I can’t wait. Thank you.

Me: Pizza and a movie it is. See you then. And yeah, the usual sounds spot-on.

That ended our texting. I had butterflies in my stomach. Mom must’ve known because she worked to calm me down. I had the most incredible parents in the world.

???