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The reception seemed to drag by and finally the photos were taken of the wedding party, including the one of just the maid of honor and the best man. There was a photograph of the entire group in their regalia, along with just the parents, the siblings, and the new couple… which caused a few glances between them, because the cat was out of the bag now that she and Michael were an item.
… Not that it was hidden all that much.
She took a photo with Rose, one with Ben and her parents, then another with Michael and his parents – which really made things slightly weird.
“You ready to ditch this?” Michael whispered softly, and she nodded. He moved to go talk to Ben and Rose – and she followed.
“Hey, we are going to head out but wanted to give you both our best wishes,” Michael began, moving to hug his sister… before shaking Ben’s hand and giving him an awkward one. Ruby did the same, feeling her cheeks warm at their knowing glances.
“You and Michael, huh…” her brother grinned.
“Hush up…” she hissed, smiling.
“I’m happy for you,” Ben smiled. “I love you, brat.”
“Love you,Phantom…” she mocked and winked at him, proud of his call sign and that he had his whole life in order before him.
“Be good to her and we’ll see you later, I’m sure.”
Michael nodded and took her hand, as they both turned quickly, making a beeline for the doorway before anyone could stop them. They smiled and laughed almost giddily, like two kids playing hooky from school, and ran towards her car in the parking lot.
“You don’t mind driving? I rode with my parents,” he began, and she smiled.
“I prefer it,” she admitted. “I’m a bit of a control freak when it comes to driving, and enjoy it.”
“Lead the way,” he invited, and began unbuttoning his jacket. “This thing chokes sometimes, and I don’t want to get ice cream on it.”
“You’re fine,” she said hoarsely, trying to ignore the fact that he was yanking off his jacket in the passenger seat of her Beetle to reveal a white t-shirt underneath that revealed his tanned biceps rather nicely. He laid the jacket in the back seat and then looked at her.
“Where to?”
“Away…” she said simply, focusing on the road.
“Then take me away,” he said easily, sitting back in the seat. “I’m all yours.”
CHAPTER8
RUBY
This wasby far the strangest first date she’d ever been on. Usually it involved some guy coming up to the house and being intimidated by her father, mother, or brother… or some strange awkwardness that caused her to back out at the last minute – which resulted in another uncomfortable moment.
This was the first time she’d literally grabbed her date’s hand – and ran.
“Chocolate and caramel?” he said simply, like this was an everyday occurrence, staring up at the menu with her beside him.
“Do you like bananas or marshmallow crème?”
“Yeah – and cherries.”
“Trust me?”
“Implicitly,” he smiled.
“We’ll have a banana split, but with only chocolate and vanilla. Noooo strawberry, please. Marshmallow, extra caramel, no pineapple, add nuts, add whipped topping, with extra cherries.”
“Two spoons and two bottles of water,” Michael added, pulling out his wallet and smiling at her. “That sounds divine. Not afraid to share with me?”
“Only if you are going to hog it all to yourself…”
