Donning a simple dark green cami with a lighter green tunic over it and skinny jeans, Emma decided low key was going to be her style tonight. She knew that if she showed up wearing too much, Ruby would get her hopes up that she was ready to be on the market again. A few weeks ago she made the mistake of doing just that when she honestly just didn't have any clothes to wear that weren't wrinkled in the dryer. She had a bad habit of leaving them in there once they dried; it could be her second dresser for all she cared. Once Ruby saw her in a short blue lace over dress with black four inch heels, she basically salivated with excitement thinking this was it – Emma was ready. Emma squashed those dreams down as soon as Ruby introduced some random guy she just happened to bump into outside named August. Emma excused herself to make a phone call and ended up walking briskly back to her yellow bug to high tail it out of there. Later that night she received a text from Ruby saying "Sorry Em, I got excited". Emma knew that Ruby was just being a friend and to not take it out on her. She'll get there someday. Just not right now. She enjoyed the single life now that she was used to it.
Emma walked into the darkened bar searching out the red striped hair she knew that always stood out. Walking straight to Ruby, she scanned the rest of the patrons more out of curiosity than looking for anyone in particular. It was dimmer than most bars she and Ruby had been to so searching for anyone would end up being harder than most. She glanced to a corner by the back where a lone ancient pool table sat. The light above the table illuminating just the table and the arms and torso of two casual yet nicely dressed men. They both had tattoos on their right arms. One was all black but the other arm had color on it; she's a sucker for tattoos she'll admit. Before she could look up to see their faces an arm reached out and grabbed her.
"Ems! There you are, I was wondering if you got lost! Here, have a drink on me!" Ruby said enthusiastically while producing the red drink into Emma's hand.
"Vodka Cranberry? Okay, who are you trying to set me up with now? I thought this was a girl's night out?" Emma stated blandly. Vodka cranberries were Ruby's go to when trying to get Emma to loosen up. She didn't want to tell her that she actually hated the drink.
"Oh stop, I'm not setting you up with anyone, I just happen to bump into a couple guys at the bar earlier that looked delicious and thought it wouldn't hurt to flirt a bit, plus you know me, I can't say no to a free drink once I get them talking." Ruby eyed Emma in a way that stated she knew what she was doing regardless if it would look silly to her. Emma just smirked and went with it. It was Friday night and relatively early at the bar so if anything she could feign a headache in an hour then go home to catch up on her favorite TV drama.
"Alright, who are the victims? At least let me get a glance at them first this time. Lately you're just shoving men at me without any warning and I get…" Emma trailed off.
"Scared? Yeah I know, I learned my lesson. Poor August was just a coworker that wanted to say hi to you and I blew that one. Now he never talks to me, not that we ever talked that much before but still. I miss the weird awkward conversations in the morning with him occasionally." Ruby glanced at Emma with puppy-dog eyes.
"Please, you couldn't stand him either!" Emma laughed back at her. It felt good just laughing and loosening up after a long week. She needed this night more than she initially thought. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to relax a little more and just have a good time.
"Hey lets grab a table, I've been on my feet all day" Emma offered, she wasn't in the mood for these guys Ruby had found. She handed her drink back to the bartender, asked for bourbon on the rocks and tossed him a couple extra bucks for the quick response. Turning around she saw Ruby making her way to a table close to the pool table she glanced at earlier. It wasn't right next to it but close enough to see the action, and possibly the owners of the tattoos. She set her drink on the table and sat onto the barstool when Ruby immediately jumped out of her chair.
"Um maybe we should sit over there instead" Ruby said pointing to a table on the other side of the bar closer to the entrance. She turned her head away from the pool table as if it were a horrifying scene.
"Why, what's wrong with here Rubes? Is there someone over there that you know?" Emma strained her neck a bit more to see if there was anyone she recognized. The area was more congested than when she first walked in and didn't recognize any one person in particular.
"It's just, I'm not dressed for this yet, I didn't know he would be here and now that I know he's here I need to change or not be seen. I mean what if he sees me and expects me to look like this all the time. Emma, I look terrible for a first impression." Ruby's tone started to panic.
"Woah, Ruby, it's okay, slow down! First of all, you look amazing as always; I've never seen a day that you didn't look incredible. And second, who?" Emma said in hushed tones, enough to show Ruby that she truly believed in what she was saying to her but also to show respect in case this mystery man decided to show up to the table uninvited.
"I don't know his name actually. I've seen him a couple times near work and every time I just get tongue tied and end up running." She swallowed a large gulp of her cosmopolitan.
"Wow, okay, well this is a first. Do you want me to go introduce you to him?" Emma offered.
Ruby looked at Emma as if she sprouted two heads. "You are offering to introduce me to him? You have never offered that before."
"Well I've never had the opportunity to be honest. Besides, I think a role reversal is just what you and I both need. Think of it this way, it'll strengthen our friendship so we know how the other person feels. Plus I know the guys you end up with, I can find out what they're like before they get to you so you don't have to go through the walk of shame the next morning." Emma said through a genuine smile. She really was just trying to help her as much as she found the entire thing intriguing.
Ruby snickered and took one more sip before answering. Looking at Emma and smiling she said, "Okay, but first gauge him out and give me a signal or something. And real quick, do I look alright?"
Emma hadn't seen Ruby like this with anyone she's dated. It was refreshing to see her as a normal girl who got giddy and almost embarrassed when talking about a guy she liked. She smiled to herself that this could end up being a great night for Ruby. She needed a good night too.
"Okay, hun you look perfect really! Now, point him out, where is this guy?" Emma leaned closer over the small table to Ruby. She kept glancing over to the pool table to see if she could make out any discernible features that would point out any one in the crowd. She saw one of the tattooed men lining up a shot. He had dark blond hair and blue grey eyes that focused completely on the cue ball. Someone behind him said something that made him smile and retort a comment that had a few men behind him laugh out loud. He lined up his shot and nearly sank the three in the left side pocket. Another man clapped a hand on his back saying a snide comment it looked like.
Ruby spoke up finally and said, "He's over by the pool table, behind the guy that just got off the barstool to line up his shot". Emma looked to where she was describing and saw a dark haired man with a gray shirt and black vest moving around the table. He kept his eyes on one ball in particular, doing the math of which angle to hit it with in order to sink it into a desired pocket. His eyes were blue as well but a more piercing blue. His eyes almost seemed electric while he glanced over the table locking eyes with the perfect shot in his mind. His hair was messy yet styled in just the right way; he had light scruff that made facial hair look sinful. Steady hands and a flick of his arm shot the cue ball directly at the four ball sinking it into the corner pocket. He smiled knowingly and glanced up to meet her eyes. They locked eyes fleetingly before he smiled again and moved back to the wall.
"He's the blonde guy right there, you can see him right?" Ruby interrupted Emma's thoughts for a moment and got back to the point at hand. Ruby, you're helping Ruby, Emma. She glanced behind the gorgeous man that grabbed her attention and saw the blond man she was talking to. Truth was all of the men were great looking in their own way. She could see why Ruby had eyes for this blonde guy that seemed to be completely oblivious to the two gawking women not twenty feet from them.
Emma took a swig of her drink, realizing she must have been sipping more than she thought when ice hit her lips first with the barest hint of the golden liquor. She touched Ruby's hand and said, "Don't worry, I'll be right back, I promise. Let me go get you a drink first."
Ruby glanced down at her own disappearing drink and nodded at Emma. Walking towards the bar she quickly ran through all the start up conversations on how to break the ice to the blonde man for Ruby. It wasn't common for her to play the role of Ruby and it felt foreign. She was determined none the less and would do it for her. When she got to the bar, there were at least three people deep waiting on the bartender to acknowledge them. It seems her drink would have to wait she supposed and started to turn around when she collided into a perfectly muscled chest.
"Apologies, lass…" A strong hand steadied her arm as she glanced up into the blue eyes from before. His eyes scanned hers as a small smile formed on his lips. "I didn't expect you to turn so soon."