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One Hundred and Four
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Caleb
I hung back in my parent's main sitting room as Aaron and Neal stepped outside to make arrangements for Leyla's body to be brought back from Montana. Aiden assured me that Ruby was unharmed and that she was now busy being fussed by her mother and spoiled by her grandparents. I was happy to hear that they were all able to make it at such short notice. My invitation was rather rushed and thrown together, but I had made up my mind the second I arrived home. I had waited over a decade for Ruby. There would never be anyone else besides her. It was all or nothing, and I wanted to make the biggest and most romantic gesture of my life.
"Mom, this is perfect," I gushed, admiring the sapphire and diamond engagement ring that had once belonged to my grandmother.
Mom's features brightened as she smiled. "I've been longing for the d
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RubyDad produced a folded piece of paper, toying with it between his forefinger and thumb. He noticed me looking at it and held it out to me."The driver handed me this. It's from Caleb," he mentioned, piquing my interest.I took it with a gasp, unfolded it, then ran my eyes across the words. At first, I struggled to make sense of the cryptic message, but after rereading it, I realized it was a treasure hunt clue.It read, 'In the place where tough choices are made, from the corporate building I trade, waiting for you, is rank number two, and a reminder of a promise I made.'"He’s telling me that I have to go to his office building," I deduced.
Little Ruby Red One Hundred and Seven
Caleb I placed the ring box inside the toy wicker basket that I found half-buried under the chippings and set it down. My phone rang in my pocket, serving as a minor distraction. As I fished it out, I saw Ruby's name flashing on my home screen. After letting it run to voicemail, I paced the ground anxiously. Is this a bad idea? I began questioning my decisions, worried that I had rushed into this without thinking it through. Another half-hour passed and I contemplated calling Aaron to see if Ruby had arrived at the office yet. Not knowing what was happening was pure torture, but I stood firm and resisted the urge to call him. After a series of calming intakes and exhales, my anxiety began to subside. The forest soothed me. I
Little Ruby Red One Hundred and Eight
Ruby "Grandma, I can't believe you're here!" I mumbled into her neck as she bear-hugged me. At sixty years old, she was still as strong as an Ox. She didn't exactly fit the typical grandmother stereotype. She has twenty-twenty vision, all her own teeth, unblemished skin with barely a wrinkle in sight. The only thing that gave away her age was that her hair had turned from blonde to grey. Her sense of style was simple, yet respectable, preferring comfort over fashion. Her usual attire consisted of jeans, cushioned soled flats, and a checkered shirt, and a padded gilet. But today she donned a coral maxi dress, plaited her hair, and put on some makeup. "Look at you." Grandma Lizzie leaned back, cupping my face in her hands. "You have been in the wars, haven't you?" She mapped out all my injuries with worldly-wise eyes.
Little Ruby Red One Hundred and Nine
Ruby I gasped, feeling a rush of butterflies take flight in my abdomen. Caleb whisked me into the elaborately decorated marquee and onto a smooth black dancefloor that sparkled as if it was inground with diamond dust. The opulent decor screamed no expense spared. So befitting of a millionaire's lifestyle and unlike any party that I had ever attended before. Around the perimeter of the domed space were tables and chairs that had been covered with crisp white linen. Each chair-back was embellished with azure blue organza bows. Stylish floral arrangements of pretty white flowers among green leaves adorned the center of every tabletop, filling the air with a subtle spicy bouquet. Servers dressed all in white were handing out tall crystal flutes containing a pale effervescent liquid. It could only be champagne. I politely declined a glass but Gran was taking full advantage, no
Little Ruby Red One Hundred and Ten
Caleb We left the party after saying our goodbyes, then retired to my bedroom. Ruby and I were sitting on my balcony terrace that overlooked the grounds. The outline of the moon was barely visible among the fading blue sky. Our guests had long since departed, leaving the gardens below empty and silent. The sleeves of my black leather jacket hung three inches past Ruby's fingertips. I threw it around her shoulders after noticing her shivering. She swaddled it around herself for warmth and I noticed her inhale the scent from the lining, then her body relaxed. Her mouthwatering scent was intoxicating to me and I wondered whether mine would have the same effect on her. Her eyes flicked to mine and for a long moment and we stayed like that, just facing one another without speaking a w
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Caleb My fingers toyed absentmindedly with the diamond ring on her finger. "Believe me, there's nothing I want more. But only when you're physically strong enough, babe. Your dad and I had a man-to-man talk while you were busy smothering Sam with goodbye kisses. I've been given strict instructions to keep it in my pants until you're fit and well enough, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with him. I just don't want to hurt you. Your injuries are only barely beginning to heal." Ruby rolled her eyes but she knew that I was right. "Caleb." She shot me a pointed look. "It's our engagement night and the first time that I've seen you in weeks. If you think for one second that I'm sleeping separately ..." Her words were muffled as I crouched over and cut her off with a kiss, ending her cute little rant. I pulled back,
Little Ruby Red One Hundred and Twelve
Ruby Weeks later … Caleb left early to help with the Luna Festival. The event that I had always assumed was a regular harvest festival, was in fact, a major event here in Lakewood. Set just a few days before Halloween, it was the one night of the year that shifters believed that the Moon Goddess would listen to all of their prayers. "Are you ready?" Gus asked, holding the wicker basket as he waited in the entrance hall. "I've packed us coffee and pastries for breakfast." Gus was Caleb's delta. He was a lot like a politician in many ways but his intentions were much more honest and sincere. His fair skin, light blond hair, and chiseled features made him look like Ryan Gosling. He was easy to talk to and much more approachable than Neal, Caleb's gr
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Ruby The cold, wet sensation from the ultrasound gel made me tense for a moment, watching the small screen with eagle eyes. As the black and white image appeared before us, it was clear to see that there was not one, but two babies nestled together, side by side. Caleb scrubbed a hand over his shocked face, edging closer to the screen. "Well, I'll be damned," the doctor breathed out with surprise. "There is no doubt about it, you're having twins. Do you want to know the sex?" she asked, invoking mixed feelings within me. Part of me wanted to keep it a surprise but the terrified part of me needed to know for sure. Caleb gave me a look which suggested that he was fine either way. God love him, his eyes were glossing over with proud tears of joy
Little Ruby Red One Hundred and Twenty Nine
Ruby "I still remember the first night that we laid like this while watching over Alex. It was the same when Raine was born," Caleb reminisced. Something somewhere caused the room around me to distort, like ripples spreading wide across a calm lake. "Ruby," Caleb's youthful voice called out to me from somewhere beyond a dream. "Babe, you better wake up or else we're going to be late for the obstetrician appointment," I heard him say. Temporary confusion fogged my brain until I realized that I had been dreaming again. Part of me felt the loss of what I hoped our future could be as it slipped away, and the other part of me was relieved that I woke up at that point before the beautiful vision altered into something that could only be de
Little Ruby Red One Hundred and Twenty Eight
Ruby As the years rolled by, Caleb and I looked back on our lives with no regrets. When that time eventually comes when we have to leave this world behind, we would be taking a lifetime full of beautiful memories with us. My heart was full, my life was fulfilled. There was nothing that I would change or do differently. Everything was as it should be. With each lumbered step, my slippers brushed over the soft-pile carpet of the stair landing until I stopped to pause outside the old nursery that once belonged to my children. I thought that we had been bestowed a gift from the heavens the day I found out that we were having twins, but little did I know how much more my heart could contain the moment I discovered that I was to become a grandmother. The Goddess had blessed our family many times, and now my son, Alex, was the proud
Little Ruby Red One Hundred and Twenty Seven
Caleb Ruby turned on the steps of the town hall, facing away from the jubilant crowd. Snowflakes clung to the tips of her lashes, melting as they kissed her rosy cheeks. She tossed the bouquet of white and blue flowers behind her, and as she did so, the women rushed forward, shrieking deliriously, all snatching at the spinning object as it burst apart like a fragrant petal bomb. It was Grandma Lizzie who unwittingly made the save. She walked straight past the jostling females and caught the flowers against her chest. Her face blanched as she realized what had happened and tossed the bouquet away as if it was a hot potato. “Once was more than enough for me,” she joked. “Although, I wouldn’t mind a good old roll in the hay with one of those wolf boys. They've got abs that I could scrub my laundry on and then some.” She winked a
Little Ruby Red One hundred and Twenty Six
Ruby The emotion blazed in Caleb's eyes as I walked down the aisle; his mouth hung agape and his brows started to bunch in the middle, giving me the reaction that any bride longed to see. Caleb swallowed hard, causing his Adam’s apple to bob nervously in his throat. There was no sign of humor on Aaron’s face as he observed his friend's special moment. Instead, his expression was one of relieved happiness. Now that his best friend since childhood had found his soulmate, he adopted an air of accomplishment as if all was now right in the world. As the strong notes of the traditional wedding march came to an end, I released Dad’s arm and came to stand beside the love of my life. Caleb mouthed the word “Wow” as he lifted my chin with his fingers, and breathed, “You look breath-taking, love.”
Little Ruby Red One Hundred and Twenty Five
Ruby “Are you okay, kiddo?” Dad asked, his expression softening as he clasped hold of my trembling hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. I swallowed away the dryness before answering, “I just want everything to be perfect, that’s all.” “And it will be,” Dad was quick to reassure me. “I know how much this means to you; Caleb knows it too. He’s probably memorized his wedding vows off by heart. I bet he was up all night Googling templates from the internet,” Dad remarked in an attempt to make me laugh. His best efforts worked like a charm. I gazed through the tinted windows and out onto the wintry streets. Ice glittered the scraped roads and sidewalks, and some of the maintenance guys were shoveling grit salt on the main walkways throughout town.
Little Ruby Red One Hundred and Twenty Four
Ruby I turned from side to side, admiring how the full-length wedding gown swayed with my movements. The white sweetheart bodice helped to boost my humble assets, glittering as the Swarovski crystals captured the light. The long, silky skirt gracefully swished around my legs, sending a wisp of cool air around my thighs. Dad made my day when he produced a pair of custom-made Sketchers in Bride White. He paid a seamstress from Montana to sew lace into the leather and add sparkles around the soles. It meant I would be comfortable all day long, especially as my ankle still ached from standing for long periods. “Are you ready, sweetheart?” Dad asked, through the closed door. He had resisted the urge to look at me in my wedding dress, pacing the hall outside mine and Caleb’s room like a caged animal.
Little Ruby Red One Hundred and Twenty Three
Caleb "Yeah, plenty of thing’s spring to mind, but there is one that is owed a confession," Dylan said as he grinned at Aiden, then edged his chair away to maintain a safer distance. "I was sixteen, and Aiden was eighteen," Dylan began to confess, much to Aiden's interest. Upon hearing his name, he folded his bare muscular arms across his chest. "He borrowed my bike without my permission and ended up buckling the front wheel. He never said anything to me, and put it back in the garage in the hope that I wouldn’t find out what he’d done. I found it the following day and smelled his scent all over it, so I knew that he had used it. I was passive-aggressive, and in an act of vengeance, I sabotaged a burrito that he’d been saving in the fridge by filling it with laxatives. I watched as he devoured it for lunch, and asked if I could hang out with him and Vanessa that day. He was rather reluctant because he wanted to fool around with her while her dorm was
Little Ruby Red One Hundred and Twenty Two
Caleb Aaron tipped the empty Tequila bottle upside down to prove a point. “No way! We’ve gone through the second bottle already?” He turned to my father with an accusatory tone. “It was opened twenty minutes ago.” Aaron’s face was partially hidden beneath his Batman mask, but the whites of his bulging eyes were visible among the black face paint. He had been doing rather well, talking in a gruff tone to imitate the caped crusader's voice, but the sheer shock at how fast my father could sink his liquor caused his pitch to raise a few octaves. Dad gave a casual shrug of his green padded shoulders as he raised the shot glass to his lips and downed the contents in one large gulp. Even I had to admit that was pretty good going, considering he was wearing a pair of oversized hulk hands
