Your Dad's Perfect (Ruby)

We walk through the hall. I don't even need to turn to know his eyes are fixed on my ass. I do, though, his eyes raise, and he smirks.

"You need to stop wearing things like this here."

"Would you rather I was nude?" He pulls me to him.

"Don't tempt me to say yes."

Smirking I nod, and turn back, opening the door I can't help but smile.

"Ruby." I freeze, seeing Jake, and hear the door close behind me. I don't move. I have no idea if Alaric is still there, but the door has a glass panel. I turn and look behind, unable to see him. "Ruby." Turning, I look at Jake. "What?" My word is quiet. "Why are you here?"

"You avoided me all week. You said you were busy, but come here?" He stands, looking around the room.

"Jake, you need to stop following me."

"If you had answered, I wouldn't need to."

"I don't have my phone with me, Jake." I left it at home so I could avoid his calls. "How did you find out I was here?"Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

"Ivy said you were with Bex but wouldn't say where. I rang Lucy, and she told me where you were." He looks around us. "What the fuck is this place anyway?" "Jake, you need to leave."

"Who is the guy?" I don't answer. "Ruby, who is the guy you're seeing? I have a right to know."

"Jake, please stop. We're at a private business, don't do this here." I've avoided any communication with him. I had an assignment due, so that was my excuse. He moves and his lips press against mine, moving I push him back.

"Jake!" What the fuck. "No!" He moves to kiss me again.

"Jake, Ruby." I look up and see Alaric; he came from another direction. "Why are you two here?"

"Dad? What is going on?" Jake looks between me and Alaric.

"You tell me. Someone came to my office and said someone was causing a scene. She said no."

"I'm not talking to you." Jake turns away from Alaric and looks at me. "Can we please sort this?"

"Jake, this isn't the place." Alaric looks at him. "Get in here." Alaric opens a door and pulls Jake in, and I follow. "Why are you here?" Jake looks at me.

"I'm with someone; that's all you need to know, Jake. So stop trying to get me back." I was hoping he had given up.

"And you?" He looks at Alaric.

"This is my business, Jake; you just didn't know."

"And you knew she was here?" Jake stares at him.

"No, I didn't know until I saw you and her together. Jake, she said it's over, so listen to her and stop following her around." Alaric looks at him. "Nothing makes fucking sense! No one goes from one extreme to the other. You're lying about something." He looks at me, waiting.

"I'm not lying about anything, Jake. I took your advice. There's more action in a board game, right?"

He stills at my words. "I didn't mean it."

Laughing, I nod. "Well, if you did or didn't, it makes no difference. We broke up. I've moved on, and I'm not coming back. So stop following me." "Fuck you both." I watch him storm out.

Ine

"Look, I'll grab Bex, and you two go home. I will go to Jake's and try to sort things out and explain this place now that he knows." Smiling, he walks out of the room. Standing up, I go out and sit through at the bar. There are still a lot of people here.

Ages later, Bex walks through. Smiling, she wraps her arm around mine. "Come on, you can tell me everything on the drive home."

We leave together. Sitting in the car,

I spoke to her about how I ended up

with Alaric instead of Kian. Then I

explained about Jake showing up. I expected Alaric to stay hidden.

Him coming out meant telling Jake about that place, and he didn't seem to want Jake to know about those businesses.

"Maybe you just need to tell Jake?" I turn to Bex. "Yeah, for a bit, things will go boom and blow up. Surely, though, it's better than him just walking in on you two?"

She's right but also wrong. "Right now, he isn't speaking to Alaric because of the money. So add this and it will be worse. Alaric has told me they barely fell out. They were close. Until I came along."

I changed everything.