“It’s just that you always say I’m your role model. What kind of role model likes to be tied up and spanked?” She flung herself back on the bed and squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh God! I can’t believe I just said that! To my sister!”
She felt the bed dip and then Claire’s hand on her own. “Okay, that was TMI. But Ruby, as long as you’re happy, it’s okay. Frankly, I’m kind of glad I discovered this little secret of yours.”
Ruby opened her eyes and met Claire’s gaze. “What? Why?”
Her sister shrugged. “I dunno. It makes you more real somehow. Less perfect.”
“Oh, honey. I am anything but perfect.”
“I’m glad you’re starting to realize it,” Claire teased. “Anyway, have you always been so kinky? Or did Mark turn you on to the dark side?”
Ruby thought about it a few seconds. “I guess I always was, but he’s the one who really showed me it was part of who I am.”
“That’s cool. I’m glad you’re able to accept it about yourself, sis.”
“You know what?” Ruby asked, staring vacantly at the toys around her. “I don’t think I had. Until now.”
“You’re welcome. Now, let’s recap. You’re pervy; Mark’s pervy. You love him; he’s obviously interested in you. So tell me, sis, what’s the problem again?”
Ruby opened her mouth to speak, but no sound emerged. She had no answer.
* * *
Ruby had hired a taxi to take her sister to the airport and on Sunday morning they pulled up to the curb at the terminal. “I’m not going to cry,” Ruby said.
“Neither am I.” But there were tears spilling out of both women’s eyes.
“Give me a hug.” Ruby pulled her sister into her arms and held her tightly. “I’ll miss you.”
“You too.”
“Bye, Claire Bear.”
Claire pulled back, looking surprised. “You said good-bye.”
Ruby started. “So?”
“Yeah. You haven’t said good-bye to me since… well, you’ve never done it. Usually you just say, ‘See you next Christmas’ or something.”
“I don’t know, I guess it just came out.” Good-bye is not forever, just a fleck of time. The words of Mark’s song hummed their way into her brain.
Claire stared at her for a silent moment. “You know, you’ve changed since I saw you last.”
“You think so?”
“Definitely. You seem less edgy, more comfortable.” Claire chucked her on the shoulder. “Maybe it’s all that kinky shit.”
“Stop. Go or you’ll be late.”
“Okay. Bye, sis.”
“Good-bye, Claire.” She watched until the sliding doors of the airport terminal closed behind her sister. After, Ruby did what most women did when faced with a case of the blues. She went shopping. By noon she found herself in retail heaven, San Francisco’s union Square. But she preferred the smaller shops over the department stores, so she made her way to her favorite side street, Maiden Lane.
Maiden Lane was a cobblestoned pedestrian alley lined with eclectic boutiques, high-end salons, and restaurants. Not many tourists ventured down the narrow passage, and locals often enjoyed a cup of coffee or a glass of wine at one of the outdoor cafés.
As she meandered down the alley her gaze landed on a couple sipping wine. The man looked strikingly like Emmett, but it couldn’t be him. This man was sitting much too close to his blonde companion and rubbing her hand in an obviously intimate way.
But it really looked like Emmett. He was even wearing red high-tops, which was Emmett’s signature shoe.
But it couldn’t be him. Could it?
Strolling on the opposite side of the street, she tried to remain inconspicuous, but it didn’t matter. The couple was totally oblivious to everything going on around them. And then the woman took him by the collar, tugged him across the table, and kissed him.
A significant amount of time later, she released him. Grinning, the man leaned back in his chair. His face was now totally in Ruby’s view, and it was like a blow to the chest.
It was Emmett. Ruby forced herself to keep walking. She couldn’t confront him because she wanted to strangle him.
How could he do this to Meg?
Meg was happy; she’d told Ruby that things with Emmett were back on track. Perfect.
Her heart pounded behind her ears as she marched back to Market Street. How could he cheat like this, in broad daylight? Well, the bastard thought he’d never be seen on Maiden Lane, obviously. And it was just a fluke that Ruby had happened to be wandering by; she hadn’t been downtown in months.