Page 32 of No One's Like You
Ruby arrives at the bar where she's meeting Linda—her date for this evening—five minutes early. She isn't nervous, well, maybe a little, and somewhat expectant, because Linda is her first date since breaking up with Amelia. Either way, she senses it will go well; they've been exchanging messages for three days and conversation has flowed between them easily and naturally, something that shouldn't change when they meet in person, unless Linda has lied and a rough-looking man walks through the door, forcing Ruby to throw beer in his face, but that doesn't happen.
Linda enters two minutes later. Tall, dark-haired, wearing a simple dress and a radiant smile that makes Ruby sit up straighter in her chair.
"Have you been waiting long?" Linda asks, approaching her confidently, without a hint of shyness or anything suggesting Ruby will need to break through awkward silences.
"No, I just got here," Ruby responds, standing to greet her.
They move toward each other in perfect coordination and kiss each other's cheek before sitting down. Linda smells good and has soft skin, and Ruby likes how self-assured she appears. They order two craft beers, and before they know it, conversation flows as if they've known each other forever, talking about everything and nothing, until Linda mentions a recent trip she took, and Ruby remembers the one she's planning.
"I'm planning to drive Route 66 in an RV very soon," she explains enthusiastically, leaning back so the waitress can remove their empty glasses and replace them with full ones. "I've wanted to do it for so many years, but for one reason or another, I've always postponed it. Now's the time."
"Really?" Linda asks with a wide smile. "I did part of it with my ex-girlfriend two years ago, from Albuquerque to Santa Monica. Even though we're no longer together, that trip is one of my best memories. I strongly recommend you don't let anything stop you this time. It's a wonderful experience."
For a moment, Ruby deflates when Linda mentions doing it with her ex-girlfriend. She would have loved to do it with Ellie, but things don't always work out how you want.
"What was it like? Can you give me any advice?" Ruby asks.
"Bring good music—you spend many hours driving," Linda smiles, raising her glass to toast with Ruby.
Ruby raises hers and they both take a good swig while devouring each other with their eyes.
"Seriously though," Linda says, placing her glass on the table, "stop in towns that look like they're straight out of a horror movie; in my opinion, they're the best. And don't plan everything; improvising is the best part of that journey." Linda winks at her and Ruby's stomach flutters violently.
"Noted," she says with a half-smile.
"Great," Linda replies, resting her elbows on the table as she leans forward. "Now, what do you say we pay and go to my place?"
Ruby also leans forward while nodding.
"Sounds perfect."
The first thing Ruby notices when entering Linda's house is the smell of incense and wood, and that's it, because before she can focus on anything else, Linda corners her against the entrance wall and bites her lower lip while her hands slip under her shirt and unhook her bra before she realizes what's happening.
"Am I going too fast?" Linda asks, nibbling on her neck.
"No," Ruby gasps, letting her remove her shirt.
"Great, because I've been wanting to do this since I arrived at the bar."
Ruby moans against her mouth when Linda kisses her again, and they lose the rest of their clothes on the way to the bedroom.
"Lie down," Ruby requests.
Linda obeys and Ruby covers her body with her own, tracing her neck, breasts, and stomach with her tongue until she reaches her sex, and Linda moans loudly, her thighs trembling while Ruby drives her wild with pleasure.
"I'm going to return the favor," Linda says after her orgasm, her cheeks flushed and strands of hair stuck to her forehead.
"Oh, really?" Ruby asks, amused and equally aroused.
Linda doesn't answer, she simply acts and penetrates her, moving at a steady, perfect rhythm that arches Ruby's back with little effort.
"It's late," Linda says when both are relaxed and satisfied, while caressing Ruby's back as she sighs drowsily. "Stay the night. I'll drive you to work tomorrow if you want."
Ruby sighs again, her head buried in the pillow and her hand resting on Linda's abdomen.
"Okay, thanks."
Ruby wakes before Linda and turns to watch her sleep. She doesn't feel uncomfortable; the sex was good, the conversation pleasant, and she feels they connected. Linda is attractive, fun, and sweet. But Linda isn't Ellie, and Ruby feels a stab of frustration in her chest.
