Page 105 of Class Clown

“I do. I put together a spreadsheet and you’re looking like a good bet.” I laughed and he squeezed my knee. “This is probably not the best timing for this, in a car speeding down a two-lane road, but I’m in love with you Ruby. Completely and without question. There was no way I was going home to a state where you didn’t live. I need to be with you every day.”

I eased my car off the road onto the soft shoulder and put it in park before I dared to look at him. His dark eyes were filled with confidence and love. He meant it. There were no shadows, or hidden places in his gaze. It was all open, and all for me.

“Nico,” I sighed out his name and reached across to grab his forearm. “I think I love you too.”

His lips tugged up. “You think?”

“I’ll know for sure after we’ve road tripped for an entire day, but it’s looking really good for you right now.”

He leaned forward and pressed his warm, smiling mouth to mine, kissing me, making me believe, and leaving me so filled with sunshine Icould burst.

Our arrival in Logan was absolute chaos. Nico had driven the second shift and I’d gotten restless as we hit the town limits. He’d laughed and poked me playfully in the ribs, telling me that if anyone should have ants in their pants it was him.

He parked my little car along the curb in front of Brooks’s house, his eyes taking everything in. And by everything, I mean all of my friends and their boyfriends standing around the yard watching us with very interested looks.

“Yeah, so that’s everyone,” I bounced in my seat, thrilled to be reunited with my Thornbacks.

“Everyone?”

“Well, Lizzie and her husband Jackson aren’t here because they live in Moab, but, yeah. Even Ford. I’m kind of surprised Hailey got him to come.”

Hailey’s boyfriend, Ford, was a single dad who owned a huge company and didn’t always participate in the group shenanigans due to time constraints – and probably some personality constraints to be honest. He was a little older and a lot more mature, after all. But there he stood, still in his full suit, arm around Hailey’s waist as she beamed at us from underneath a shade tree. My heart melted at the site, knowing he’d positioned her there to keep her comfortable in the August heat.

Meredith was marching toward the car while Brooks stood near his open front door, his bearded face breaking into a welcoming smile. That was also so ‘them’, that my heart softened again. Meredith always marching off to battle, and Brooks waiting at home, the soft spot for her to land. Aryn was jogging toward the car, her shy boyfriend Wesley making his own way over slowly. Sigh. They, too, were perfect. Aryn the athlete and her golden retriever geek guy, happily trotting along after waiting years to be with her.

Man, I loved them all.

I reached for Nico’s hand. “Are you nervous about meeting the rest of the group?”

He turned off the engine and squeezed my fingers. “Not at all. I spent a week sharing a cabin with Meredith, and she tells me that everyone else is, her words, ‘a pussy cat in comparison’.”

I laughed. “She’s not wrong.”

My door swung open and Meredith’s head dipped into my space. “What is takingso long?”

“I’m scared,” I said. “I’ve never brought a boy home to the family.”

She scoffed. “I’ve scared off at least five of your boys in the past two years. It’s about time you brought home a man.” She pointed at Nico. “Let’s go introduce you to your new roommate.”

I watched Nico unbuckle and step out of the car, sure and calm, a steady presence, and I could see what she meant. He was a man. Holy tamale, I’d managed to nab one at long last. There he was, facing down all these new things without any hint of worry, and I didn’t want to miss a second of it. I nudged Meredith out of the way and got out of the car myself.

Aryn and Wesley had arrived and the two men shook hands while Aryn hugged me. “I knew it, I knew it, I knew it.” She chanted. “I bet Wes twenty bucks you’d do something unexpected this summer. He owes me.”

Wesley turned to me and pushed his thin-framed glasses up onto his nose as he smiled. “I fully expected you to come home with a new pet hawk or something, not a man.”

I laughed and hugged Wesley too. “I love that me showing up with a hawk wouldn’t have phased you. I hope you never doubt my ability to surprise you.”

He gave me a soft squeeze and stepped back, taking Aryn’s hand in his. “Cross my heart.”

I walked to the back of my car and popped the trunk. Nico followed me around to grab his duffle bags as Hailey arrived at the curb. Ford was barely a step behind, a smile on his handsome face.

“Welcome back, Ruby.” He greeted me with a handshake. “This means Hailey will be able to sleep at night again.”

I made a face. “Like I’m the reason she’s stressed. You should look in the mirror, friend.” I replied.

He grinned. “Fair point.” He looked toward Nico who had slung one of his bags over his shoulder and held the other in his left hand. “This is the guy, huh?” He asked, reaching for Nico’s hand. “I hope you never try to change her.”

It was unlike Ford to say something so personal and complimentary, and I broke out into a big smile. “Fooord,” I oohed at him. “How sweet.”

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