"Tonight, late night snack. My house?" He asks before Ruthie can even get pass hello.
She had answered her cellphone as soon as she saw the display.
Martin Brewer.
"So am I the one being punished now?" she asks, a smile forming on corner of her lips.
Her dad had gone back to the church and now she was at the house. She was supposed to be helping take the last of the decorations back to the hall. Robbie had been waiting for her outside.
"That was punishment?" he says. "Torturing me with cookies and pie? I don't think you really get the concept, then. I had the best time of my life."
And Ruthie could hear the playfulness in Martin's voice. He sounded so happy. They had left on an awkward note but his confidence seems back.
"Well it was for me, have you seen my thighs?" Ruthie quips, not realizing that she hadn't meant to say that out loud.
"Many times. Did I mention how it was one of the best times of my life?"
Ruthie fells the blood rush to her cheeks, probably looks like a tomato. In all honesty, she wasn't use to him saying things like that. Ruthie felt her heart skip a beat.
"I'm sorry. That just came out." But it's Martin who is apologizing, thought he doesn't really sound like he's sorry. "I'm nervous."
Sure, Ruthie thinks.
She clears her throat. "Aren't you supposed to be driving right now?"
She heard him laugh, "You're on speaker."
"Oh" now that she thought about it, she did hear the echo of her voice.
"So is that a yes?" he asks.
"What?"
"Come over, Please."
"I just really want to see you." He added afterward.
Ruthie wants to say yes, but she hesitates. Somehow going over for a late light snack was a bigger deal. She had thought that he was just as confused as she was, but she remembers that he always had known.
"Are you there?" he asks. Ruthie wonders if he can somehow sense her hesitation.
"Y-yes" She stumbles, finally finding her voice. "I-I just I might have to be at the church late, and you know mom. She just can't stand a mess and I'm pretty sure I have to stay to clean, and the twins you know how they are; they just hate to clean, so I have to clean because cleaning is important, and then I might have to do some other…Stuff." Ruthie finishes, lamely.
"Alright." And the somehow the playfulness in his voice is gone.
Ruthie wants to take the last two minutes back. She feels so stupid. Now so long ago they were fine.
They were quiet for a while.
"Ruthie" he starts. "As friends. We can be friends if that's what you want."
The door to the kitchen suddenly swings open.
It's Lucy and Kevin talking really loud, Robbie not far behind. They are talking over each other. Ruthie doesn't even know what's going on.
She hears Martin say something, but doesn't understand anything.
Lucy raises her voice, which causes Kevin to raise his to match hers.
Robbie looks overwhelmed.
"I…I need to call you back."
She hangs up before she can get a reply.