CalebI hate arriving late for anything. Aaron said to be there at five sharp and it was now almost half past. Tonight he was going to announce to all our friends and family that his mate, Angie, was pregnant ... again.He had contacted all of our old school buddies and our close family members, asking them to meet up here for a celebratory dinner. Rachel Miller was among the guests. I avoided her like the plague. But tonight, everyone would be seated in couples, which left us as the only two single people in the group. It was awkward, but I could put up with it for Aaron and Angie’s sake.I winced in apology as I approached the table, over half an hour late, leaning down to kiss Angie on the cheek. “I’m sorry, I’m late. Who’s looking after the kids?” I asked, noticing their absence.

CalebI leaned back in my office chair, having driven all the way here with a goofy smile on my face while singing to the radio. I never do that. After Saturday, I won’t have to hide behind shrubs to spy on Ruby anymore.I better rephrase that.What I meant was, I could hand her a bunch of flowers, instead of leaving them on her doorstep and playing knock and run.I spied on her through the foliage like a sixteen-year-old kid, grinning as she glanced around with confusion. She then looked down at her feet at the floral arrangement of her favorite peach roses.I loved everything about her. The way she closed her eyes whilst she smelled one of the flower heads, and how her face lit up with wonder and surprise as she studied the card.

RubyThe day after...“How can you ‘not’ park a Mini in that space?” Sarah huffed, agitated after my second attempt failed and I had to reverse back again.I growled, flustered. “It is new and I don’t want to dent it, so shut up and let me concentrate.”A group of guys had congregated in the parking lot and were all stood by, watching with amusement.Sarah, being her usual sassy self, applauded. “Bravo! Third time lucky. Oh, look, we have an audience.”I turned to glare through the rear window. “So what? They all walk to school.”Who were they to judge?

RubyDad was rather excited as he ushered me through the door to where a white stretch limousine was waiting, parked up at the side of the road.“Oh my God! You guys did this for me?” I practically shrieked with joy.I had always wanted to ride in a limo. I let out a high-pitched girly squeal as I trotted over to look inside.“Oh my God, it’s huge in here!” I breathed, awestruck.I’m not kidding you, I could’ve sprawled out three times over in there.“Pose for a picture.” Dad had the camera ready. He took one of me standing next to the limo, one of me sitting in it, and one of me pretending to drink straight from the miniature bottle of champagne.

Ruby I couldn’t stop smiling as I touched my swollen lips, leaning my back against the front door as it closed. It felt as if I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs. Mom crossed her arms as she observed me, her eyes narrowing and for some reason, then they homed in on my lips. “Ruby, was I seeing things, or was that Mr. Grant, who just dropped you off? Please tell me that you haven’t been walking around like that all night?” She pointed to the mirror above the phone table. “I’d take a look if I were you.” I turned to look in the hall mirror and burst out laughing. “Uh, would you look at that?” I looked like Ronald McDonald with red lipstick smeared all over my face. If it was all over me, then it was bound to be all over Caleb, too. “Yeah, it was Mr. Grant.” I sighed dreamily. “He drov