Ruby snatched her list back out of Wyatt’s hands and smoothed it out on the table next to her, making sure it was out of his sight. “Don’t touch.” She snapped. Several people glanced their way but Ruby steadfastly ignored their looks.
Seconds later he looked back up from the specials list and pouted. “Ruby, you’ve been studying and marking that listy thing for the past several minutes. What gives? You’ve been completely ignoring me and you know how I feel about being ignored.”
“I’m not telling.” Instantly feeling juvenile, she stuck out her tongue at him. Wyatt always seemed to yank out the worst in her and put it on full display for everyone. “It’s private, Wyatt. Mind your own business.
Normally she kept to herself and analyzed stock options for her bosses’ clients. Mind-numbing work for some but she liked it. Somehow that all went away around her long time bestie. Despite his flaws and nosiness, he kept her balanced…most times. Not right now though.
“What are you doing with that mile long list of guys’ names?” Jessica asked from where she was peeking over her shoulder. “Are you making a list for an event or something? Davis Long? Harry Telns? What kind of an event involves those two?”
Ruby blushed and shoved the paper into her purse, deep in her purse. “Since when do you guys need to know everything I do?”
“It’s a list of guys?” Wyatt was not to be distracted. He had perked up at the news. “Am I on it?”
She quickly shook her head. “Not a chance.”
He got up and plopped down in the seat next to her. “And why not?”
“Can’t we just drop it? What are you having?” Ruby grabbed up the menu and buried her head in it.
Both of her friends laughed.
Jessica slowly pulled the menu down and raised an eyebrow at her. “I know you love your lists and all but is there a reason you are keeping this one all secretive? Usually you are over-the-top excited to show us your organization. To the point where we beg you not to. So what’s with this one?”
It took several attempts, involving looking between her friends and the menu multiple times and opening her mouth over and over before she whispered out. “It’s a dateable list.”
“A what?” Both friends leaned closer. “I didn’t hear you.”
Ruby groaned and took a deep breath. “It’s my date list; a list of dateable guys I know or have met or know of. I started it yesterday.”
Wyatt snatched the paper out of her purse and immediately smoothed it open on the table. His finger quickly scanned the list top to bottom.
“Something is wrong with your list, Ruby.” Wyatt declared.
She folded her arms and glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. “No there isn’t. Just because I don’t have everyone I know on there doesn’t mean there is something wrong with it. I am taking my time figuring out who should be on it.”
“But Ruby, I’m not even on here. You forgot me.”
She laughed. “Of course I didn’t forget you. I just didn’t include you. You’re not dateable.”
“Plenty of women find me very dateable.” He pushed.
“Good for them, Wyatt. Go date them.”
He looked over the list again. “Why am I not on the list? And why was Devin able to make it on?”
Huffing, Ruby pulled the list out from under his hand. “I told you why you’re not. You don’t even know what I’m looking for in a man, so how would you know who should and shouldn’t be on my list?”
His smile broadened as he leaned over to grab the list back again. “You have a list to decide who can be on your list?”
While she nodded, he shook his head.
Jessica chimed in. “So then, what does it take to get on your date-worthy list? A job?”
Wyatt smacked Jessica in the arm. “I have a job. It’s not fancy but it pays my bills.”
“Uh huh.” Jessica pushed at him.
“That’s not on my list.” Ruby took her menu back from Jessica and stared at it, ignoring her bickering friends.
Wyatt grabbed her hand. “Name one thing on your list.”
With a sigh she tried to pull away. He squeezed and let go.
“I’ll stop bothering you if you tell us one thing.”
“For how long?” She retorted.
“All day.”
She shook her head. “So generous of you. I’m going to have to say no.”
Jessica tapped the top of the menu. “Aww if you tell us what’s on the dating requirements we can help you look. Add names to the list and all that.”
“Or cross names off.” Wyatt added cheerily. “We’ll be so helpful.”
“One thing.” Ruby groaned. “In order to be dateable material, I am looking for someone who doesn’t mind if I disagree with them every once in a while. Not on anything big like where to live or how to raise kids but stuff like nachos are better than corn dogs or who is going to the playoffs.”
Wyatt elbowed her in her side. “I am adding my name to that list.”
Ruby was scoffed and laughing at the same time. “Because you possibly meet one part of the qualifications?”
“Yes! We disagree all the time and we are still as close as clams.” He pulled a pen out from where it always hung out behind his ear. “I say we keep my name on the list until I hear something that disqualifies me.”
“I’ve never thought about you that way, genius.”
He shrugged. “First time for everything. Now, we need to get eating so I can go finish making a custom table for Mrs Jantins. She said she needs it ready by Thanksgiving and I don’t want to leave it all to the last second.” Wyatt nudged at Jessica and winked. “That would be very irresponsible of me. No one wants to date an irresponsible man. I totally deserve to be on the list.”
