Page 7 of No One's Like You
Exactly the question Ruby didn't want to hear. The girl finishes her beer in one gulp and shrugs.
"Well..." Jerome says, crossing his legs and interlacing his fingers to rest them on his lap. "I see an opportunity there; you can get closer to her now that she's going through a rough time."
"I see her every day at the bar, Jerome," Ruby's response makes the man remove his glasses in a gesture worthy of an impressed diva.
"Don't go there, Ruby, you know what I mean. You've spent your whole life waiting for a chance to be with her and, if I may comment," Ruby shakes her head, but he continues, "you've wasted a lot of time with this nonsense of just being friends."
"It's not nonsense," Ruby counters, annoyed by the comment. "She's been my best friend since we were kids..."
"The same amount of time you've been in love with her," Jerome interrupts.
Ruby glares at him, and he raises both hands.
"Ellie has never given any sign that she feels anything but friendship toward me. Besides, that's water under the bridge. I'm with Amelia now and I love her," she says and frowns when she realizes she's out of beer.
Jerome tries to keep his expression from being too cryptic and lets a few minutes pass while Ruby orders another drink and peels peanuts with more force than necessary.
"What I believe is that you can't live so long loving someone without knowing if it's reciprocated at least a little," the stylist continues once her beer arrives. "I know you're scared, I think I would be too, but I'm still sure it's worth trying; just seeing you two together shows you love each other more than normal. And yes, I know you love Amelia, she's a good woman and you get along well, but are you in love with her?"
Ruby opens her mouth, but only a stammer comes out that even she doesn't understand. Jerome is right; sometimes the soul grows tired of that feeling which, despite the years, hasn't diminished; on the contrary, her love for Ellie has grown alongside her. Each stage by her side has made Ruby love her more, feel immeasurable admiration, and want nothing more than to be next to her. Unfortunately, Ellie discovered her taste for boys early on, and Ruby stayed by her side, bleeding from the wound, though hoping that one day she would notice her. Maybe now is her chance, but she's terrified just imagining that her best friend might not feel the same way and that theirrelationship would fall apart after so long. No, she can't do it.
Jerome looks at her with sympathy, although he knows Ruby hasn't put her life on hold and has had incredible experiences with other girls, she's never been truly happy because none of those women have been Ellie. He decides to give her a break; his intention isn't to make her feel bad, just to open her eyes and help her make a decision.
"By the way, I wrote to your mom a few days ago to invite her to the salon. I want to treat her to a haircut or whatever she wants, but she brushed me off."
Ruby appreciates the change of subject; she was starting to feel suffocated.
"I don't see her bouncing back. She spends all day locked up at home, has lost weight, and refuses to go back to her life," Ruby says with regret, remembering the happy woman her mother used to be. "I'm thinking of stopping by this afternoon to talk to the director of the center where she volunteered; there's always something to do there, and I need to get her out of that isolation."
Jerome listens to his friend and nods while his mind races. He knows he's heard someone mention needing help with something, but he can't place it. Suddenly he jumps from his chair and snaps the fingers of his right hand, causing Ruby to nearly choke on her beer.
"My neighbor is desperate to find someone to help with her mother," Jerome tells her. "She repeated it to me last week when she came in for highlights which, by the way, turned out divine, let me tell you. Anyway, her mother is ina wheelchair and, although she's completely independent, they're looking for someone to keep her company, go out with her and such. Maybe your mother might be interested."
"I can tell you right now she won't be interested, but it's not her decision; if I don't get her out of the house, she'll die of sadness," Ruby laments. "Give my number to your neighbor and have her call me if she's still interested."
They pay the bill and, as usual, say goodbye at the door of Jerome's salon. They hug, but this time the stylist does it with more strength and for a longer time.
"See you, okay?" Jerome says with an affectionate gesture.
"Sure," Ruby waves goodbye.
Her body moves slowly, but Ruby's mind races like a thoroughbred, thinking about the conversation she's had with Jerome. She's never felt such a strong need as she does now to take a step forward, to at least test the waters with Ellie and the possibility that she might feel something similar. Plus—she remembers—Ellie told her she was sick of men, and that has to mean something. She sketches a faint smile.
"I think it's time to devise a plan."
Chapter 5
"Would you like some more, Amelia?" Ruby's mother asks when Amelia spears the last pieces of pasta on her plate.
It's Saturday, and she and Ruby have gone to have lunch with Ruby's mother as they try to do every weekend.
"No, Adele, I'm fine," Amelia says, smiling as she raises her hands. "It was delicious, but I can't eat another bite."
"Are you sure? You're both too skinny," Adele insists.
"You're the only one who's lost weight here, Mom," Ruby says bluntly.
Amelia smacks her on the thigh under the table, and Ruby straightens up as her mother pierces her with those dark, penetrating eyes.
