We’d come in from the hot tub, dried off, taken a quick shower, and then snuggled in bed, kissing.
Yes, we’d made out, and I’d felt like a teenager again in the back of my car. That’s how thrilling making out with R
uby had been.
We hadn’t made love again, although I’d been more than ready to. I’d promised her I’d go slowly, and I meant it. But right now I wanted to move heaven and earth to help her, to kill with my bare hands whoever had done this to her, had made her feel this way, so sad and upset.
“Baby, baby, it’s okay.” I said the soothing words over and over to her, until the sobbing became weeping, and then soft whimpering.
Finally, she pulled away from me. Her eyes were red and swollen. Her nose was pink. And my God, she’d never looked more beautiful to me.
I was in deep. So deep. I hoped I could deal with the baggage she was so clearly carrying.
“What can I do for you?” I asked. “Anything? A cup of tea?” I handed her the box of tissues. “Glass of wine?”
She shook her head, sniffling and taking a tissue. She blew her nose loudly and then grabbed another and wiped her eyes. “I must be a complete mess.”
“You look beautiful.”
That got a smile out of her. “Now I know you’re lying to me.”
“Never.” I touched her hair.
“I’m so sorry. I never cry. I’m serious. I don’t know what came over me.”
“It’s okay to be emotional, baby. I sometimes have that effect on women.”
That actually got a chuckle out of her. I was on a roll.
“But seriously. Is there anything I can do to help?”
She shook her head. “I’m good. I just had a dream. Well, it was more of a nightmare.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Are you sure? I’m a good listener.” I smiled.
She swallowed audibly. “I’m not ready to talk about it.”
“Oh.” I held back a sigh. “All right.” I couldn’t force her to tell me anything, of course, but for some reason, I wanted to know what had upset her. And then go eliminate it from the universe. Anything that made Ruby Lee cry had to go. Simple as that.
“Could you excuse me for a minute?” she said.
“Sure. Of course.”
She got up and went into the bathroom, closing the door. I heard the water running in the sink for a few moments, and then it shut off. I figured she’d come back out momentarily, but instead the whoosh of the shower made its way to my ears.
A shower? In the middle of the night?
Should I join her?
I waited a few minutes. Maybe she was just going to rinse off. I’d give her some space. After ten minutes, though, I started to worry.
I got up and went into the bathroom. “Baby?”
Then I heard her quiet sobs. She was in the shower scrubbing her skin with a shower pouf. I opened the glass door.