The Light Between Us by Beth Morey Page B

than a night at a time.”
     
    Derek's mouth flapping wordlessly for a moment.  “Well –“
     
    Ridger threw his hands in the hair as if in victory, sloshing beer onto the table and over Sandra, who was still staring bullets into the lead singer and didn't seem to notice or care.  “That is amazing, man!”
     
    “ Well, it's less amazing when this girl gave me exactly one chance to prove that I'm not a womanizing hoe bag, and your girlfriend probably just screwed me out of that chance.” 
     
    “ Don't be so uptight.”  Sandra threw the words over her shoulder. 
     
    “ Don't be such a bitch,” Derek threw back, making her laugh, a short, mirthless sound.
     
    “ She really can be a bitch,” admitted Ridger, leaning close to Derek so she wouldn't hear.  “But I'm so whipped, it just makes me love her more.  Don't tell her, though.”
     
    “ Yeah,” Derek said, staring down at the phone's black face. 
     
    “ So, this chick – what's her name?  Is she hot?”
     
    “ Her name is Ruth.  And yes, she is beautiful.  And – I don't even know what it is, but there's just something about her.  Something . . . real?  I don't know.  She's just different.  Good different.”
     
    “ Man, I have been waiting for this day.  I'm really happy for you.”  Ridger nudged him.  “So, what are you going to do, bro?  You going to call her?”
     
    He shook his head, clenching his hands into fists, imagining himself taking the bottles and glasses adorning the table and shattering against the wall, the floor, anything and everything.  “Is there any point?  She found out that I slept with someone else last night, after we met, and I don't know if she could forgive two major slights in one day.  Even if one of them was just a misunderstanding.  A totally messed up one, Sandra.”  He just about yelled the last words her way.
     
    She spun to face him.  “Look, I really am sorry,” she said, and somehow the ferocious apology she hurled felt sincere this time.  “I messed up, I get it.  Now what are you going to do about it?  And,” her lips curled into a feline smile, “just so you know, the right answer is that you go after her.  Got it?”
     
    “ Go after her?” Derek repeated slowly.  “Are you sure?  I mean, she's got to be so hurt and –”
     
    “ I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't sure.  She's a woman, and as a fellow woman, it is my belief that the majority of us want to be pursued, even when we're all empowered and free and shit.  As long as the guy isn't a total douche.  Which I don't think you are – yet.”  Her eyes glinted with fierce humor.
     
    “ Do it, man,” Ridger nodded.  “This is the first woman in, like, ever that you've wanted for more than sex.  That's legit.  That's worth some groveling.”
     
    “ And flowers,” added Sandra, stabbing a purple nail-polished finger into Derek's shoulder.  “And a whole lot of good behavior.”               
     
    Derek drew a deep breath, cracking his knuckles.  “Okay.”  He nodded, more to himself than his friends.  “Okay.  I'll call her.”
     
    “ Damn straight,” Sandra said, turning back toward the opening band.  “How are they not done yet?”
     
    “ Don't screw it up, dude.  Like, again.”  Ridger held out his fist, and Derek nudged his own fist against it.
     
    “ Yeah.”  Derek stuffed his phone in his pocket and, leaving his drink untouched, wove his way out of the bar .  He hoped his friends were right. 
     
    * * *
     
    Ruth lifted the white porcelain mug to her lips, tilting it up, but only a trickle of latte dripped onto her tongue.  She wanted to slam the empty mug down, to watch it shatter into shards that could slice into her skin and make crimson art of her body.  But instead she set it down carefully next to her laptop, which sat open and practically untouched.
     
    She sighed and tapped her phone to life to check the time.  She'd been here in this