Beside Callie was a man, and Theo recognized him, even though he’d not been around town for a long time.
“What is this?” Ruby asked.
“Ruby!”
“Honey, hello, sweetie,” he said.
Theo placed a hand on her back, offering her comfort as he got a sense she really needed it in that moment.
“You okay?” he asked.
“This is your boyfriend,” Callie said, smiling.
He noticed Ruby hadn’t looked away from her father.
After a few seconds, she seemed to shake herself out of it. “Mom, this is Theo. Theo, this is my mom, Callie James.”
He shook her hand as he didn’t know what else to do. Turning to the guy, he waited another few awkward moments.
“This is my dad.”
She didn’t offer any name, and still, he shook his head, getting a sense he really didn’t want to get involved.
“Why’s he here?” Ruby asked, turning to her mother.
Shoving his hands back in his pockets, Theo really didn’t know what to say.
“Honey, he’s your father.”
“He left eight years ago.”
“And now I’m back,” he said.
“What’s going on? You’re just going to allow him to come back here? All is forgiven?”
“Sweetheart, we never actually got divorced, and he owns the house, and we’ve been trying to keep things amicable for you.”
“Wow, I can’t—”
“How about we sit down and have some pizza?” Ruby’s dad said. “I think that’s good for everyone, and we can just relax and get to know each other.”
“I need to go and put my bag in my room.” She grabbed Theo’s hand, and he saw her dad looking ready to attack him.
“You’re not taking a boy to your room.”
“Theo’s my boyfriend. We’re not going to do anything. Besides, you’re not the boss of me.”
“Ruby!”
They were gone before they could be stopped.
Within seconds, he was inside Ruby’s bedroom, and one look around her room, he knew it was hers. The color scheme was so light and bright. Pictures filled one wall, from family to scenic views.
“Sorry about that,” she said.
“Hey, I didn’t think for a second seeing your dad would get me into your room.”
“It’s nothing. I’m sorry. I’ve not seen him in a really long time.”
“Eight years?”
“Pretty much. I wasn’t interested in visiting him in the city. Mom didn’t want to drive me out. He didn’t want to come and pick me up. I like where I live so never saw a reason to change. I was a bitch down there, wasn’t I?”
Theo sat down on the edge of her bed. “You’re asking my advice?”
“You’re supposed to be meeting my mother, and it’s turned into a mini drama.”
“It’s nothing that we can’t handle.”
She tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling. “We?”
“You got that right, we.” He held out his hands, and she took them. “I don’t know everything that went on down there well enough to tell you if you were a bitch or not. It’s not my place.”
He grabbed her ass, holding her close. He hugged her, and she ran her fingers through his hair. He loved the touch, the gentleness of her fingers on him.
His cock started to harden at the merest caress from her.
She suddenly pulled back and smiled at him. Seconds later, her lips were on his, in their first real kiss.
****
Ruby’s lips still tingled as she sat at the table, very aware of her father near her. Theo sat opposite her while her parents were on either side of the table.
“So, your mother tells me you’ve already got your letters and packages ready for the colleges you want to attend next year.”
She stared at her mother’s pizza on the plate, and anger simmered inside. Why did he have to come back now?
One glance at Callie, and she looked fine. It pissed Ruby off.
“Don’t ignore him, sweetheart,” Callie said.
“I don’t get this,” Ruby said, looking between both of her parents. “He just got up and left. I mean, why is he even here?”
“He wanted to come and see you. We know it has been a long time, and we didn’t want to rush you.”
“I still love your mother. We have been through a difficult time,” he said.
Ruby shook her head. “No, that is not possible. People who love each other don’t go to the big city to get a job and never turn back up.”
“Honey, he did turn back up. You just weren’t here when he did. It was only the one time, but we’ve been building … bridges. I did send divorce papers, and that’s when he came back, not too long ago,” Callie said.
Ruby got to her feet. “I don’t want to hear this.”
Stepping back from the table, she didn’t stop when her parents told her to. Theo was right behind her, and she was in his car, not looking back at the house.
“You want me to go?” he asked.
“Yes, please. I don’t want to be at home right now.”
He pulled away from her house, and she didn’t even look back.