when I peeked through around the door, I saw that he had already gone. I walked over to the register and saw that he’d left me a note pinned to the desk with one of my various pointy tools.
Ruby,
I’m very sorry that I caused you pain. Sometimes I forget that you haven’t had an easy past, and that some of the things I say could be more hurtful to you than they would someone else. It was never my intention.
I’m enjoying our friendship(?) very much and I do really want to share the day in Boston with you. If you do not wish to go, I’ll understand completely. If you never wish to speak to me again…well, I won’t really understand that, but I’ll just have to go with it until you see the error of your judgment (and yes, I’m being a smartass. I know).
If you do decide you want to go, I’ll be at your place at eight a.m. on Saturday morning. Be waiting for me outside.
If you’re not there, then I’ll know where things stand (for now).
Sean
Well shit. Now I have to go.
I almost smiled while I stood there holding the letter. He may have been capable of being an unmitigated ass at times, but his apology was both sincere and entertaining. I knew at that moment I’d be down there bright and early awaiting my pickup, though I’d make a point not to look too happy about it when he rolled up. I once heard Ronnie say that it was good to make men squirm a bit, that it gave you the upper hand. When Sean was involved, that wasn’t an easy thing to manage. I’d take all the help I could get.
10
He rolled up precisely on time, wearing the expression I knew he would; that Cheshire cat routine was getting old. I turned my pouty and wounded face up to a ten, and watched all that smug happiness drain from his face. That’s much better. He pulled up right in front of me and jumped out of the driver’s side as I was opening the passenger door. He made a disapproving face and I hopped in smiling at my apparently annoying feminism.
His BMW 6 series coupe was fully loaded and totally decked out with custom improvements. I was no stranger to the pros of luxury cars having had a father who would rant incessantly about the wonders of German vehicles and bought nothing less than an Audi on principle alone, but Sean’s ride was the shit. The leather was softer than a baby’s bum and the interior was posh. The jet black seats and dash contrasted beautifully with the exotic wood grain and occasional chrome detailing. It was nothing less than a work of art. The console was crazy, having only a flat screen and a knob; apparently buttons and gauges were for poor people. The magical knob controlled everything in the car, from the temperature and volume to the navigational system.
“This is an impressive ride…your Mercedes is too. Tell me, do you just appreciate fine German engineering, or are you trying to make up for personal shortcomings?” I kidded. As was becoming commonplace, my witty comment was met with silence and a glare that could combust internal organs. “I’ll take your silence to mean it’s the former.”
It may have been a bit of a low jab, but I did secretly enjoy that I could get him going so easily. The results I could get were amazing when I knew which buttons to push.
“So, did you figure out where you wanted to go today?” he asked, as though no longer fazed by my earlier comment.
“I did. I think I’d like to go to the zoo. I’ve never seen wild animals anywhere other than TV and photos, and I think I’d enjoy them very much,” I said, feeling a bit like an overexcited kindergartener on a field trip.
His lips pressed to a thin line
“The zoo it is.”
Guess he’s not an animal lover…
We took the trip at a reasonable pace, only exceeding the speed limit by five miles per hour. He never once put the radio or iPod on. The windows and panoramic sunroof stayed closed. He seemed withdrawn and especially contemplative. It made for a very exciting start to the trip.
“Can I ask a question?”
Ruby,
I’m very sorry that I caused you pain. Sometimes I forget that you haven’t had an easy past, and that some of the things I say could be more hurtful to you than they would someone else. It was never my intention.
I’m enjoying our friendship(?) very much and I do really want to share the day in Boston with you. If you do not wish to go, I’ll understand completely. If you never wish to speak to me again…well, I won’t really understand that, but I’ll just have to go with it until you see the error of your judgment (and yes, I’m being a smartass. I know).
If you do decide you want to go, I’ll be at your place at eight a.m. on Saturday morning. Be waiting for me outside.
If you’re not there, then I’ll know where things stand (for now).
Sean
Well shit. Now I have to go.
I almost smiled while I stood there holding the letter. He may have been capable of being an unmitigated ass at times, but his apology was both sincere and entertaining. I knew at that moment I’d be down there bright and early awaiting my pickup, though I’d make a point not to look too happy about it when he rolled up. I once heard Ronnie say that it was good to make men squirm a bit, that it gave you the upper hand. When Sean was involved, that wasn’t an easy thing to manage. I’d take all the help I could get.
10
He rolled up precisely on time, wearing the expression I knew he would; that Cheshire cat routine was getting old. I turned my pouty and wounded face up to a ten, and watched all that smug happiness drain from his face. That’s much better. He pulled up right in front of me and jumped out of the driver’s side as I was opening the passenger door. He made a disapproving face and I hopped in smiling at my apparently annoying feminism.
His BMW 6 series coupe was fully loaded and totally decked out with custom improvements. I was no stranger to the pros of luxury cars having had a father who would rant incessantly about the wonders of German vehicles and bought nothing less than an Audi on principle alone, but Sean’s ride was the shit. The leather was softer than a baby’s bum and the interior was posh. The jet black seats and dash contrasted beautifully with the exotic wood grain and occasional chrome detailing. It was nothing less than a work of art. The console was crazy, having only a flat screen and a knob; apparently buttons and gauges were for poor people. The magical knob controlled everything in the car, from the temperature and volume to the navigational system.
“This is an impressive ride…your Mercedes is too. Tell me, do you just appreciate fine German engineering, or are you trying to make up for personal shortcomings?” I kidded. As was becoming commonplace, my witty comment was met with silence and a glare that could combust internal organs. “I’ll take your silence to mean it’s the former.”
It may have been a bit of a low jab, but I did secretly enjoy that I could get him going so easily. The results I could get were amazing when I knew which buttons to push.
“So, did you figure out where you wanted to go today?” he asked, as though no longer fazed by my earlier comment.
“I did. I think I’d like to go to the zoo. I’ve never seen wild animals anywhere other than TV and photos, and I think I’d enjoy them very much,” I said, feeling a bit like an overexcited kindergartener on a field trip.
His lips pressed to a thin line
“The zoo it is.”
Guess he’s not an animal lover…
We took the trip at a reasonable pace, only exceeding the speed limit by five miles per hour. He never once put the radio or iPod on. The windows and panoramic sunroof stayed closed. He seemed withdrawn and especially contemplative. It made for a very exciting start to the trip.
“Can I ask a question?”