Ruby: I know. I should. I don’t want you getting sick too.
Ruby: I told Jasmine I was sick and she immediately asked if I was pregnant. Why is that her first assumption every time?
Aaron: Because she’s Jasmine.
Ruby: Lol. You’re so right.
Ruby: Speaking of her, we got into a fight at the end about her wanting to switch to pairs skating.
Aaron: How’d that go?
Ruby: Fine. I think I still catch her off guard when I talk back to her, so it makes me feel like I win when she doesn’t have a comeback immediately. We’ll see what she decides. You know how she is.
Ruby: Going to shower and see if that makes me feel any better. I’ll call the doctor after and see if I can go.
Aaron: OK.
Aaron: Call if you need anything.
1:15 p.m.
Ruby: Guess what?
Aaron: What?
Ruby: It’s not the flu, just an upper respiratory infection.
Aaron: They gave you meds?
Ruby: Yes.
Aaron: Sorry, honey Aaron: Want me to pick up your script on the way home?
Ruby: It’s okay. I’m already at the pharmacy waiting.
Ruby: The doctor made sure to tell me three times that my birth control won’t be as effective while I’m on antibiotics.
Aaron: Did you tell him we’d planned on you not taking them anymore after your next period?
Ruby: Yes. It was so awkward. It was like he was pretending he didn’t hear me.
Aaron: Lol. It’s that cute, innocent face.
Ruby: :) Ruby: How’s your day going anyway?
Aaron: Fine.
Aaron: My CO is in a shit mood
Ruby: Sorry. One more year and then you can rethink what you want to do again.
Aaron: :] only a year
Ruby: It’ll go by fast.
Aaron: :]
2:55 p.m.
Ruby: [picture attachment]
Aaron: [picture attachment]
Ruby: What is that???
Aaron: Tacos from a new food truck in town
Ruby: Bring me some, those make my sandwich look like crap.
Aaron: Snooze you lose
Aaron: Come have lunch with me tomorrow Aaron: If you’re feeling better Ruby: “if you’re feeling better”
Ruby: ……
Aaron: :] love you
Ruby: Yeah, sure.
Ruby: Love you too, but I’d love you more if you brought me tacos
4:50 p.m.
Aaron: What are we having for dinner?
Ruby: Whatever you decide to bring home.
Aaron: That’s what I thought Aaron: Vietnamese?
Ruby: Yes please.
Aaron: OK
Aaron: Are you lying down?
Ruby: Yes. I tried cutting some bandanas for that big order to Canada I got but I cut myself because I wasn’t paying attention, then I started worrying about contaminating the cloth and getting other people sick so I stopped.
Aaron: Jesus, RC
Aaron: Chill Aaron: You’ll catch up on everything. Worry about feeling better. That’s all that matters Ruby: You’re the best, have I told you that today?
Aaron: I know
Aaron: Not today.
Ruby: Cocky Aaron: You’ve never complained.
Ruby: I knew you were going to go there.
Aaron: :]
Ruby: Why don’t skeletons watch scary movies?
Aaron: Because they don’t have the guts
Ruby: You knew that one???
Aaron: I GUESSED
Ruby: Bye
Aaron: I got a tear in my eye
Ruby: ….
Aaron: ….
Aaron: Leaving here in a sec, Ruron.
Ruby: Okay, Ruron.
Aaron: Think of a better joke before I get home.
Aaron: Meant to tell you that you might as well throw away your pills now that I think about it.
Ruby: You’re a real bossy pain in the you know what.
Aaron: I know.
Ruby: And I’m sick.
Aaron: So? I’m not scared of a little infection.
Ruby: Oh brother.
Ruby: I’m feeling bad but not that bad.
Ruby: But if you get sick don’t blame me.
Aaron: Never Ruby: :) Aaron: :]
Acknowledgments
I think it’s a well-known fact I have the best readers on the face of the planet. Thank you all for knocking my socks off with all your love and support with every release. Whether you’ve been with me from the beginning, or are taking a chance with me for the first time, my gratitude knows no bounds. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
A big shout out to my Slow Burners! You’re all my spirit animals. Thank you for being so understanding when I disappear on you guys for long periods of time, haha. You’re the most awesome reading group on the Internet.
A big thank you to Nissa for all of her advice and knowledge on Filipino foods, and for being so cool in general.
A big thank you to my friend Eva. You know how much you do for me. I know how much you do for me. The group does too. Thank you for everything.
Thank you to Letitia Hasser at RBA Design for the amazing cover and putting up with my dumb ideas and anal crap. Jeff at Indie Formatting Services, thank you for always being so professional and great. Virginia and Becky at Hot Tree Editing for never reducing me to tears with edits. Lauren Abramo and Kemi Faderin at Dystel & Goderich for being the best team.
To my pre-readers/friends who can’t get rid of me, I can never thank you enough for what you do and never wanting any credit for it. My books wouldn’t be the same without your gentle “Mariana, why?” comments.
A great big thank you to the greatest family on the planet. Mom and Dad, Ale, Eddie, Raul, Isaac, Kaitlyn, my Letchford family, and the rest of my Zapata/Navarro family.
To Chris and my boys, Dor and Kai. Every book is for you guys.