Ruby Sutherland Doesn't Break

Chapter Three

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RUBY DIDN'T LOOK towards the open space of the bar, where there are a bunch of people gyrating to the music with various degrees of success. She couldn't. She knew exactly what she'd find other than most of her graduating high school classmates.
Kara hadn't wasted any time when they had gotten close to the bar. Immediately she had separated from Ruby and rushed inside as though she had come alone. Quickly she had become immeshed with various groups and specifically anyone she thought might be attractive. To Ruby's irritation, Kara had made a point to diversify her group of possibilities to include some of the girls Ruby had told her about. Her high school exes. As well as some of the most annoying men on the planet. All of whom had gotten on her shit list as soon as they started dating and then broke up with Tess. Kara had even snatched up the human worm Steven Bowers.
She had never forgiven him for the shit he had pulled freshman year. Not leering at her on the first day. Not dragging her up in his breakup with Tess, and mortifying her with his implications. Not dating Tess in the first place. She knew the only reason he had wanted her former best friend was because he thought it might convince Ruby to let him get close enough to try to turn her. The most satisfying moment had been the way Tess had destroyed him with her knee and things she admitted to the school right after.
And now Ruby had made her way around the packed place to sit at the bar with her back to where Kara was pressing herself up to him and seven other people. She downed her bourbon in a gulp. The burn in her throat acted as a balm for her beating herself up. She should have known it would be like this. She had known. As soon as Kara had said they'd go to the bar after edging her in a skimpy outfit she had called her fuck me dress when she had bought it six months ago—which Ruby now hated because she had assumed it was a dress only she would get to see.
Ruby hated this. Everything about it felt wrong. Not being in Bright Falls to see the coven and maybe try to make things right with Tess. Her and Kara. The suddenness of the polyamory twist. How there was going to be no discussion about any sort of rules or boundaries or consent. How it felt like they had gone from a committed relationship to glorified fuck buddies. The implications that she didn't want to think about concerning how they never had a fight.
Fuck it.
Ruby was done—at least for now—instead of focusing on how her whole plan with Kara was suddenly in chaos, she was going to let go again. She would treat the situation like they had broken up. It already felt inevitable. They wanted different things out of the relationship. And that had nothing to do with the Kara brand of polyamory. It just showcased it. Kara wanted a roommate to fool around with and take care of her while she did whatever she wanted. Ruby wanted something deeper and more like what the coven seemed to be all about. She wanted—
A new drink was placed in front of her. It was not another bourbon. Instead it was something very familiar. An old fashioned. Something she had often said was a classic hookup drink after she heard the story of Aunt Astrid's first date with Jordan. Something that anyone in the bar who was local would know. Especially her moms. She glanced around, hoping to see either them or any of the coven. She didn't spot them. And there were too many women and enbies—and grossly a few men—who were clearly checking her out to know which could have sent it. Especially her ass which she would remember to thank both her moms for—her mother for the voluptuousness of her body, and Delilah for helping her learn how to use it to its maximum efficiency.
She looked at the bartender.
"Please tell me this is from someone hot and not some dude?"
The man smirked and nudged his head to tell her to look past him. There on the exact opposite side of the bartender's oval station, was the most gorgeous enby. They were watching Ruby with eyes that looked both nervous and wanting. Their stylish messy mop was blood red with orange streaks. Not highlights. Streaks. If that hadn't been a clue of what was going on, there was also the denim jacket that was decorated like they were just coming from a dyke punk concert and an enby rally. She/Them was written in marker art above the left breast pocket. And there was something else about them that immediately made Ruby's legs buckle. With their jacket sleeves rolled up, she caught sight of gloriously muscled arms. Ruby thanked the Mother that apparently Kara didn't like lumberjanes.
Without removing her gaze from this visually amazing person, Ruby made her choice and lifted the old fashioned as if to toast. They reciprocated and Ruby was treated to an adorably mischievous smirk. They both downed the first gulp and met gazes once more. Ruby glance towards the empty stool next to her. The lumberjane glanced at the empty stool next them. They both smirked and Ruby found herself chuckling. She had never had this much fun just silently flirting with someone. The closest she had ever gotten was the faux twin speak thing that she had done with Tess throughout middle school. The lumberjane rolled their eyes and chuckled. Then they glanced at the door and back to Ruby with a raised eyebrow.
Ruby blinked in impressed shock.
This lumberjane was bold.
If she was right, they were giving two options: either one of them joins the other to actually attempt conversation and the typical game for the chance to hook up, or they could both leave the bar together to ensure the hookup with little conversation.
Ruby downed the rest of the old fashioned and glanced towards the door before paying both their tabs. That got her raised eyebrows and a cocky grin from the person she was going to try her best to make scream. She didn't even look for Kara. The rules that she had laid out were clear. No involvement from either of them. Carte Blanc. Kara was already enjoying herself. Ruby would too. And who knew, maybe she would actually hit it off with her new hookup partner. As she walked towards the door where the lumberjane waited, she glanced around Stella's one last time. Not for the coven. She did not want any of them to spoil her game right now. There was one person she had really hoped to see and maybe talk to. But Tess wasn't there. With how many of her exes were present, Ruby couldn't blame her. She just wanted to see her former best friend's face when she told her that someone had used the old fashioned trick like they had both said they would one day.