The free kind.

I don’t expect you to just turn a blind eye, but – I feel like anything I say in this moment is going to make me sound super selfish when it comes to your safety over others.

Wrong answer! That should say you're sticking to yourself, or well, sticking with me. Putting yourself in danger is a big no, babe!

I think it looks like that is none of my business. 

I mean, Granny’s pretty good with a crossbow. I never really thought that would come in handy in this town, though.

Oh, I know.

I had a lot of fun.

I can’t believe you’re still doing this. Not that I’m complaining, of course. 

Okay, okay! Listen, I swear I was going to tell you all about it. Honestly, it’s all kind of... well, I’m not really sure what it is just yet. We still have to sort out the details. I just know that I’m happy. 

He had an entire speech planned out in his head, but it was tossed out the window with a small chuckle early on in the day. This was Ruby. The woman who he grew close to rather quickly. They were unpredictable and all over the place. Hitting her with a speech on how they should take the next step seemed a bit out of place. It wouldn’t even have made sense! It was too formal. Okay, maybe he was psyching himself out for no apparently reason. She already said she wanted to take the next step if he was serious about it. And he was dead serious. Booker hadn’t been in a steady relationship since high school, but everything changed when her met his gemstone.

It seemed almost comical to be nervous in that moment, but there was just something about the woman that made everyone stand on end - in the best way possible. His thumb swiped up along news articles as he waited; not really paying attention to what was actually scrolling along his screen. His mind was elsewhere. It had been for days. This was a big step! A. Big. Step. Hearing the knock pulled him out of his own head, thankfully. Spiraling down another rabbit hole wasn’t an option! There was a pretty lady on the other side of the door. 

Practically stumbling to his feet, Booker made sure his phone was on do-not-disturb before tossing it on the coffee table and making his way to the door. A smile beamed across his face as he opened it rather quickly, allowing Ruby to come into sight. “Hey there, beautiful.” His hand raised high enough to wave on the driver before moving to land on the woman’s back. “I missed you.” A constant notion, apparently. He took a step back and pulled the brunette along with him, so he could lean in and steal a kiss as he shut the door behind her. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to see you this weekend. It was filled with family outings and boredom, if I’m being honest.” His free hand moved to cup the back of her head and press their lips together in a series of smaller kisses before he reluctantly let her go… because that’s how friends greet one another, right? It wasn’t much different the last time they saw one another outside of the woman’s work. 

“I hope you’ve brought your appetite. We’ve got Chinese on the way, and there’s dessert in the fridge… And of course, there’s a freshly stocked pantry and what not, in case you decide that you’re going to stay the night.” His eyebrows wiggled suggestively before he chuckled and shook his head. He needed to get groceries anywho. This was all just a good excuse to do so!

“Hi.” Ruby breathed, mirroring his smile with one of her own as she stepped inside. The touch on her back spread warmth and reassurance across her body, and by the time his lips pressed against hers, the majority of Ruby’s nerves had already dissipated. “I missed you too. Don’t worry - I spent most of it working, anyway.” Working and spending time with Granny and thinking about the man in front of her. So, the usual. 

Tiptoeing around certain things in his life had become something Booker was quite an expert at over the years. It was practically bread into him, if he were being honest about it all. One just didn’t speak of aspects of their lives that they didn’t want others to know about. When it came to Ruby, though, there was never an embarrassment factor that played into it, but the light tread was maintained the facade they were living of simply friends with benefits to topple over. And of course, that happened just the other day. A simple question turned into a bit of a life altering moment. It should have been expected, after all. They were getting a bit ‘couple-y’ than usual recently.

Now, he would have been lying if he said that butterflies hadn’t taken over when she said she was willing to cross the line. It wasn’t particularly the manliest feeling in the world, but when it came to the brunette, all bets were off. He was himself. And if that meant he was a bit of a softie, well, she didn’t seem to mind. Perhaps it was added on to his charm. Either way, Ruby wanted to take things further, and he had wanted to do so for quite some time now. He was just being a punk about it. What if taking things to the next level ruined everything? If for some reason it didn’t work out, would they be able to continue to be friends? - minus the whole benefits, of course. He wouldn’t expect that at all.

A car was sent to pick the woman up from work, so he could make sure that the house was relatively spotless - not that he was a messy person. Dinner had been ordered and set to arrive just after she did, and flowers were bought with a smile. Everything was falling nicely into place! Candles were lit around the house, which was actually quite normal, and he made sure he didn’t smell like the gym before settling back on to the couch. Was he being extra about the situation? Possibly. A quick text message was sent to his best friend to let her know what was about to go down, so she could stop pestering him to make things official, and he took a deep breath. Ruby may have already said yes to something more between them, but still! A deep breath was taken. How exactly did one get this lucky? 

To say that Ruby was restless was a huge understatement. She’d barely been able to pay attention during her shift all day, and as it neared the end of her work day she only grew more impatient and nervous. She knew there was no reason to be nervous. This was Booker; this was someone she trusted wholeheartedly, who knew almost everything about her, who wanted the same thing she did - and that’s what they were going to talk about. Exactly how to go about shifting from what they were now to... something more. Ruby was glad she’d taken that step, even if she’d been scared shitless at the time, and despite the quickening pace of her heart, she still was glad.

It was a short ride from the brewery to Booker’s home, but it felt like a lifetime. Ruby knew there were a few things they had to sort out first. There were probably a few things she should tell him, too. After all, she really, really wanted this to last. Maybe she wasn’t in love just yet, but she knew it was only a matter of time before Booker flashed one of his trademark smiles and Ruby would completely tip over the edge of so far gone that there was definitely no going back.

You know, it’s funny that you ask. Someone just sent a car to the brewery to pick me up and take me back to his place. I’d say that’s pretty ideal.

A feigned gasp radiated from the man as he looked in Ruby’s direction in dismay. “I can totally out drink you.” Although, now that he thought about it, did that ever actually happen? They both usually wound up drinking to a point where - well, they knew what was going to happen there. A chuckled defeat fell from his lips as he shook his head. “No, no, I can’t drink more… High school and college parties apparently did me dirty when stacked up against a petite woman with a gorgeous smile.”

And just like that, his smile was once again replaced with a bit of a smirk. “Oh, you didn’t have to say it out loud. It’s okay to internalize the highlight. It’s usually all over your face when you notice me sitting here.” Perhaps a bit cocky, but Booker was quite the fan of the way the brunette lit up when she noticed his presence. When exactly did everything become more than it was? Friends with benefits weren’t supposed to catch feelings. That was rule number one! “And you deserve every penny of it.” Because even though the man was completely smitten by the woman in front of him, she did make a good drink, and the place was a bit more lively with her around.

Placing his hand palm side up across the bar, fingers wiggle as if he was trying to signal for Ruby’s to take. “We can stop and grab something to eat before heading home. And from there, well… I’m sure we can find something to do.” They always did; whether it was something as simple as a movie or each other.

This was their typical routine: banter and compliments and flirting that never got old. Ruby was head over heels for the man in front of her - and as a result, way over her head. They’d started out completely casual, but... their dynamic was basically everything a relationship was without the label. Ruby knew that. She knew Booker knew it too, even if neither of them ever commented on it out loud. “Well, since you’re being so nice to me,” she mused, eyeing his hand as he raised it. Ruby placed her palm on top of his, fingers brushing the inside of his wrist. “I would love to come home with you.” 

Nah, you got hotter.

A brow quirked as the corner of his mouth curled. “I don’t know, babe. I’m pretty sure we wound up where we are because you let me have one too many one night…” They both knew that wasn’t the case. Booker was stone cold sober when things escalated between them. Hell, he was surprised nothing had happened prior to when it actually did. They had always been rather flirtatious. His gaze took in as much of the woman’s form he could see before he internally sighed. Did she know just how hard it was not to lean across the bar and kiss her? The previous smirk on his face was replaced with a genuine smile when she said she missed him. He was quite the sucker for her.

“And here I thought you just liked seeing me in general.” His fingers wrapped around the glass of ale with a small chuckle. After taking a generous sip, his features scrunched. “A part of me is far too pleased to hear that I’m the highlight of your days, at times.” Partly because he was cocky, a trait she already knew about, and partly because it meant there wasn’t anyone else there trying to talk her up. Oh, yeah, he was definitely selfish. There was no denying that one. “Mm, does that mean you’ll come home with me?” A trying expression took over his face as he looked over the rim of his glass.

Ruby smiled in amusement, pushing her hair back over her shoulder as she returned to leaning against the bar. “You only get messy when you try to outdrink me.” It was true, sometimes; not that alcohol tolerance was really a talent to brag about, but it had definitely led to some entertaining nights with friends, present company included. The smile plastered on his face was one she never wanted to forget. 

Sure. Knock yourself out. I pretty much look the exact same, though.