Your Dad's Perfect (Ruby)

A knocking wakes me, my mind trying to ignore it.

"Ruby! I need my fucking clothes." My body moves, and I see Alaric sitting up.

"Shit, I fell asleep." He moves and grabs his clothes.

"Alaric, he's right outside the room!" My words are whisper-shouted.

"Ruby! Open the fucking door." The bang makes me jump. As I rush to get dressed, Alaric looks around the room.

"Get behind the door." Alaric pushes me over, and I stand confused.

"Alaric." What is he doing?

"I can't hide, you're smaller."

"And where am I then?" He can't open the door and be in here.

"You're in my room. You were reluctant to go to bed because Jake would join you, so I gave you my room, and I slept in here."

Oh, that could actually work.

I watch him move the door and unlock the door. Opening it, he stands, blocking me.

"Dad?" Jake's voice shakes.

"Ruby is in my room. She wasn't willing to sleep in here in case you climbed into bed with her again," Alaric says, and I hear Jake laugh.

"She's overdramatic." I hear his bathroom door close and lock. Alaric pulls me out from behind the door and takes me to his room.

"Just, I don't know. Get in bed and pretend to be asleep so he comes and wakes you." He walks out and down. Going into his room, I climb into his bed. I'll be leaving soon. Likely never to see Alaric again. Although I feel that is maybe for the best. Half an hour later, I heard a car leave.

Getting out of bed, I walk downstairs, stopping in the kitchen to look at Alaric.

"Ruby?" He looks at me, confused.

"Where is Jake?" I expected him to get me.

"He went home, I thought that was you in the car?" He sits staring at me.

"Wait, he left? Like, went home and left me here?" Staring at him, I stand shocked.

"He went out and then came back in. He said you two were getting back, and he said you said to say goodbye. I saw him leave, and someone was in the car with him."

I laugh, he fucking left me here. "I'm getting my phone." Walking out, k

grab it back to the kitchen.

He stands, holding out a cup as I wait for Bex to answer.

"I will drive you home. I'm going in that direction today anyway." Alaric looks at me.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

"Thanks, I need to ring anyway. I've fifteen missed calls." I forgot about her after everything with Alaric.

"Ruby, about time." Bex's voice comes through the phone.

"Sorry, I got distracted."

I hear her laugh. "Mmm, under someone's daddy?"

"No, yes, kind of. You rang a lot, why?" It's not like her to ring so often.

"After you called, I spoke to Ivy; the ball is tomorrow night; you forgot."

Shit. "I planned to cancel. The masquerade ball isn't something I'm looking forward to." I didn't want to go without a date.

"Well, you're too late with cancelling. You need to get a dress and a mask. You should have received a confirmation email. There's a meal and then the ball." "I'll figure out getting a dress."

"You haven't set off home yet? Jake told Oliver he was on his way home."

"He is, but without me. I'm sorting it out. Thanks for the reminder about the ball." I Hang up, and my head falls forward.

"Ruby, calm down. I said I would drive you home, and I will. Let me grab what I need from the office. Then we will leave." He smiles and walks out.

I sit and drink the coffee. I am still

confused by what Jake is playing at.

Why would he lie to Alaric? I was

here, and he must have known would see Alaric. Nothing makes sense.

"Let's go." I turn and look at Alaric. Walking out, I get in his car and sit quietly as he drives. "This is my fault." I turn and look at him. "Alaric, it isn't your fault."

"It is because fast night I put the call

through. I must have been half asleep. I wanted them to block his account in the morning. Tomorrow morning. Only, I must have said it wrong. They blocked it this morning."

"You took his money?" That was quick.

"I called him, asked why he lied and left you here. He was saying he had given up acting, and you weren't together anymore. He knows I've cut him off."

He continued driving, and now I understand why he said it was his fault. Jake left this morning because he no longer needed to play the perfect boyfriend.