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“He gave his ‘unicorn’some stars…” Lily whispered, smiling knowingly. “What do you think?”
“I think this was too much,” Ruby said softly, feeling almost overwhelmed at the strange feelings within her at this sweet gesture… and then looked at Lily.
“What’s Michael’s address?”
Lily reached down and pulled out a sheet of paper from her purse that was folded in fourths, handing it over knowingly.
“I thought you might ask.”
“He doesn’t even like me, always pulled my hair, or said something snotty to me when we were little,” Ruby said quietly, hating that her nose was burning, and she knew she was close to becoming emotional. “This is not needed and… guys don’t do stuff like…”
“Some guys do,” Lily replied, reaching out to touch her hair. “Right, Sophie?”
“Some do, indeed,” her mother added, rubbing Ruby’s back. “Put them on, smile, dry your eyes, baby… and send him a photo. He will appreciate that you liked them.”
“Youdolike them, right?”
“They are beautiful,” she acknowledged – and immediately clipped them onto each side of her head.
Lily stood up and took out her phone, moving to take a photograph of her, quickly hitting send… and the photo was texted to him before Ruby could say a word.
“Whoaaaa…” Ruby drawled in panic, realizing that she didn’t even get to see the photograph that his mother had sent someone – presumably Michael.
She looked at her mother in terror.
“Do I have raccoon eyes? Is my face all splotchy? Is my hair messed up? Tell me the c-clips are even on my head, right? They are even – aren’t they? Oh gosh, I don’t even have any lipstick on or anything a-and…”
“Ruby,” her mother said knowingly, holding back a laugh as her eyes danced warmly. “You look beautiful, sweetie, and I promise that none of those things matter.”
“Yes, it does,” she sputtered immediately… only to hear Lily’s cell phone chime with a noise that sounded weirdly electronic.
“My notification is BB-8 from the Star Wars movies,” Lily volunteered and looked at her phone, smiling broadly – before handing it to Ruby.
Ruby stared at the phone extended to her like it was a rattlesnake or something, her hand moving slowly and trembling visibly, before withdrawing protectively, curling against her chest. Her eyes met Lily’s and she glanced at the phone again between them… as it beeped loudly again.
“Don’t you want to know what he said?”
“M-Maybe?”
“You know he’s waiting for me to respond, right?”
Ruby stared at her, feeling everything in her bristle.
“Quit pressuring me,” Ruby blurted out, and saw Lily look past her towards her mother, almost in an irritating, knowing manner as the phone chimed again.
“Let’s go inside and see what our husbands are up to?” Lily began – and laid the phone down on the chair without another word. As the two women disappeared, the phone chimed once more, and Ruby slowly picked it up.
“Wait!” Ruby called out nervously. “What’s the code to unlock it?”
“1-2-3-4,” Lily grinned. “I like ‘easy’ sometimes in my life. There’s been enough tough spots, and communicating with someone you love shouldn’t be one of them.”
Ruby rolled her eyes at the passive-aggressive comment – and picked up the phone again, quickly punching in the four-digit pin as they disappeared and the door closed behind them.
… And there was Michael’s text messages.
Oh gosh, Mom… I can’t say THANK YOU enough. That picture of Ruby was the best gift ever. What did she say?
Mom?
