Chapter 48: Like Old Times
Ruby walked past the small kitchen area in her apartment for the fifth time, her gaze sharpening as she spotted Evie preparing the noodles they were about to eat. With one ear pressed to the phone, her neck tilted as she conversed with Ezra, Ruby had just realized how close they had become. Sure, Evie and Ezra were in a relationship, but they seemed even closer now. Moments ago, Evie had been chatting away with him, and now she was multitasking in the kitchen.
And Ruby was sticking around to eavesdrop on them.
"Are you two about to have dinner?" Ezra asked, picking up on the conversation from Evie’s end.
Evie raised her eyebrows, stirring the noodles with chopsticks. "Yeah?"
"What are you planning to eat?" Ezra pressed on.
"Noodles," Evie replied calmly as she covered the pot and leaned back against the cupboard, the phone still held to her ear. She caught Ruby’s watchful gaze and smirked.
"Noodles are bad," Ezra chimed in. "If you were at home, I’d have whipped up something nicer."
"I know," Evie said readily. "But I’ve been eating noodles for ages and nothing bad has happened despite what people say about their unhealthiness."
"Are you waiting for something bad to happen before you stop?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern and a hint of humor.
Evie rolled her eyes. "Nope. Just for tonight, okay? I promise we’ll cook something better when I get home." She smiled.
"Cool," Ezra agreed. But then Evie narrowed her eyes, intrigued. "And what about you? What are you planning to eat?"
"Me? I’m not hungry," Ezra replied simply. "Just about to head to bed. The place is boring without you."
His comment made heat rush to her cheeks flush.
"Missing me already?" Evie raised an eyebrow, biting her lower lip flirtatiously.
"You have no idea," Ezra teased, then sighed, "I’ll manage."
Evie couldn’t help but laugh. Just then, Ruby rushed into the kitchen, sending Evie a glare as she quickly turned off the gas. "Oh crap," Evie muttered under her breath.
"What’s happening?" Ezra asked, noticing the shift in her tone and sitting up straight, confusion etched on his face.
"Is it burnt?" Evie’s eyes widened at Ruby, not paying attention to Ezra anymore.
"Fortunately, no," Ruby replied dryly, opening the pot as steam billowed upward.
"I have to go now, Ezra," Evie said, turning back to him. "Goodnight."
"Yeah, goodnight," Ezra responded before the call cut off, leaving silence in his space as the phone slipped from his hand to rest on his chest.
Back in Ruby’s apartment, they had already served the noodles, garnished with carrots, bell peppers, onions, and topped with fried eggs. Evie and Ruby settled on the rug, a tradition for their quality time together, despite the couch being empty. The sound of Ruby slurping her noodles filled the air while Evie blew on hers before finally taking a bite.
Evie then glanced up and met Ruby’s intense gaze. "What?" she asked, sensing Ruby scrutinizing her.
"Something’s different about you," Ruby stated, swallowing her food.
Evie paused, the noodle half-chewed in her mouth. After swallowing slowly, she asked, "How?"
"I can’t put my finger on it, but you seem different," Ruby said.
Evie rolled her eyes and folded her arms. "You know you still have to explain," she replied, leaning back slightly.
Ruby nodded, stretching her legs for comfort. "You have that spark I haven’t seen in a while... since Derek. It’s like you’re falling for someone."
Evie’s heart skipped a beat, and after a moment of silence, "You’re being ridiculous," she scoffed, returning her focus to her plate.
"I’m not wrong," Ruby shot back, her eyes fixed on Evie with certainty. "I’m your best friend. I know you better than anyone else."
"You’re just talking nonsense," Evie insisted, slurping another noodle, relishing the spicy, vegetable-packed flavor. Deep down, she knew Ruby was right—she was falling for someone. Ezra.
"So..." Ruby drawled, narrowing her gaze slightly, "What’s going on between you and Ezra? You two seem to have gotten pretty close. I almost thought you’d burnt the noodles in the process." She shot Evie a teasing yet challenging look.
Evie felt heat creep up her cheeks. "We’ve always been close. What are you implying?" she countered, raising her brow in defiance.
"That may be true, but this is different. You were actually talking in the kitchen as if you were talking with the love of your life, twirling your hair and all. You think I didn’t notice?" Ruby pressed, her eyes sharp and scrutinizing.
"Alright, Inspector Ruby," Evie stated, trying to maintain her composure. "You’re not entirely wrong... After that misunderstanding, we got closer," she admitted, acknowledging the truth.
Ruby’s lips formed a teasing smile as she finished her noodles and then sighed dramatically, rubbing her stomach.
"You haven’t mentioned anything about Shane," Evie prompted, wanting to tease her friend.
"What’s there even to say? He’s gone now and He probably doesn’t even remember me," Ruby replied with a pout, crossing her arms.
"How about I give you his number, and you can message him directly?" Evie suggested.
Ruby frowned slightly. "You’re just offering that now?"
"Hold up," Evie replied firmly. "Firstly, you didn’t ask for it before because you said you’d talk to him directly. Secondly, most people don’t like their numbers being shared without permission," she reasoned.
"So why now?" Ruby pressed, skepticism crossing her features.
Evie shrugged. "Just because... If you don’t want it, that’s your choice. But you have a chance here, and it feels like you’re letting it slip away. You know you like him."
She understood Ruby well; when Ruby liked someone, she rarely made an effort. If they moved on, Ruby tended to accept it. But Evie wanted this time to be different; she knew Shane was a good guy and wanted Ruby to pursue what she wanted.
With a determined huff, Evie pushed herself up to gather the dishes. "I’m washing these now," she declared.
"Thanks," Ruby replied lazily, and Evie playfully hissed at her. If Evie weren’t here, Ruby would probably leave those plates until they were needed again.
Evie moved to the kitchen, placing the dishes in the sink, and soon enough her hands were soapy as she worked.
Meanwhile, Ruby was lounging lazily and scrolling through Evie’s phone when she stumbled upon something.
"You still listen to these old songs?" Ruby teased, grinning as she clicked on one.
As the familiar intro of their teenage anthem burst into the air—upbeat, wild, and absolutely ridiculous—the memories flooded back. They hadn’t heard it in years.
Evie gasped from the kitchen. "No way you remembered that one!"
"How could I forget? We used to blast it and throw concerts in your room," Ruby laughed, standing up and heading to the kitchen.
"Come on," she urged, pulling Evie with her.
"At least let me wash my hands first," Evie protested, turning on the tap to wash off the soap as she was dragged into the center of the room.
They pushed the coffee table aside, socks sliding against the hardwood floor, and began dancing—badly but freely, as if no one was watching.
Ruby spun with arms outstretched. Evie followed with an exaggerated hair flip, which had them both laughing.
For a minute, nothing existed. Not Ezra. Not the public. Not the complications. Just two friends with a shared history and a song that brought them back to who they were before everything else.
As the music faded, they collapsed on the couch, breathless and giggling.
Ruby nudged Evie. "See? You don’t need a guy to feel alive."
Evie smiled, her eyes softening. "No... I just need moments like this"