Page 14 of Romancing the Clone (Sunrise Cantina #3)

CHAPTER

THIRTEEN

RUTH-ANN

Simone came to see me. To apologize for hurting my feelings. To tell me that she missed me.

It’s a wonder I’m not a puddle of happiness on the floor. I can’t stop smiling.

I’ve missed seeing her, too. I’ve been tortured this last week, wanting to go and apologize for being weird, and knowing that I can’t.

I would love to explain the truth to her, but it’s not just my safety that’s at stake.

It’s Ruthie and Ruth, too. We’re all clones, and as much as I want to be at Simone’s side every day, every hour, I can’t tell her the truth of who and what I am.

I’ve told myself over the last week that it’s best to not get too invested, to just let things die, no matter how much it hurts.

But she showed up today, stunningly beautiful, with a cake in her arms. And while she claims the cake is for everyone, the look in her eyes tells me the truth. She’s here because of me.

I can’t tell her to leave. The thought never even crosses my mind. All Simone has to do is smile and I’m lost, fascinated by her pretty face and the warmth in her eyes. The way her fingers brush against mine when we reach for the same plates.

Zaemen and I have the kitchen handled between the two of us, meanwhile Jerzec is swamped out on the floor.

As the extra pair of hands, Simone opts to wait tables with him.

I offer to, but Simone is better with people, and every time I peek out the door, she’s in a lively conversation with seated patrons, making sure they’re enjoying themselves.

Pluto behaves himself, curled up on a towel behind the bar that Ruthie thoughtfully set down for him.

He probably thinks he’s guarding all of us, which is sweet.

By the time the last orders are in, Zaemen and I are both exhausted.

My feet hurt and my clothing smells like seed oil.

We turn the exterior lights off, lock the door, and all collapse into a booth in the back of the cantina.

Ruthie leans on Kazex’s side, her eyes heavy and tired, while Aithar and Erzah count up the credits.

Simone scoots in next to me, our arms brushing, and her smallest finger brushes against mine under the table.

I know it’s a bad idea, but I twine my fingers with hers anyhow.Pluto pushes his way under the table and lies across our feet…and starts licking my ankle. It’s ticklish, but I know it’s because he loves me, so I don’t mind.

“The tables need to be cleaned,” Jerzec says, propping his head up in his hands.

Zaemen slides out of his seat and dramatically sprawls on the floor. Before anyone can comment, he sits up with a grimace. “Ugh. Remind me not to do that again. The floor’s sticky.”

“Tables and floors,” Jerzec amends. “Who wants to volunteer?”

No one says anything.

“Don’t everyone volunteer at once,” he drawls.

“I vote we have Dopekh do it, since he abandoned us today to go moon over Salvotor,” Zaemen says.

“You know what? I second that,” says Erzah.

Ruthie just tucks herself closer to Kaz and lets out a huge yawn. “And we get to do it all over again in the morning.”

“It’s a good problem to have,” I say. “There are worse things than being wildly successful on your opening day.”

Kaz grins and presses a kiss on Ruthie’s now-drooping head. “I’d say we should have a drink and celebrate, but that would involve getting up from here.”

Ruthie doesn’t open her eyes and just groans.

Under the table, I feel Simone’s thumb stroke over the heel of my palm.

My nipples prick in response and heat throbs between my thighs.

I keep my expression bland, but my heart races at her small touches.

“If you guys need help again tomorrow,” Simone says, “I don’t mind stopping by once my cart is empty. ”

“You’ve helped plenty,” I protest. “And you have to wake up super early to bake. We can ask Ruth.”

This makes Ruthie open her eyes. “Bad idea. She had major back pain today. Straik’s been hovering over her like a mama bird. He’s not going to let her out of his sight.”

“Okay, not Ruth. Maybe Sakkar, then,” I amend.

“Sakkar would never let us live it down if we asked him for help,” Aithar points out. “I can ask Michaela.”

“She’s running a dairy—and you’re supposed to be helping her,” Erzah says. “What about Zaemen’s lady friend?”

Wait. Zaemen has a lady friend? I look over at him.

Zaemen just huffs, his face neutral. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. And we don’t need help. We’ll manage.”

“Even so, I’ll swing by once I’m all sold out,” Simone offers. “Just in case.”

And her thumb draws tiny circles on my skin.

“You’re a saint,” Ruthie says with a yawn. “I only got one piece of cake, but it was delicious.”

Oh, the cake! I gasp, clutching at Simone’s hand because I’m just now realizing that I never got a slice to enjoy myself.

We’d had multiple people asking for dessert, but the kitchen was so far behind that the idea was out of the question.

Simone had the idea to hand out slices of cake on the house, and now there’s nothing left but crumbs. “I didn’t even get to try it.”

Jerzec leans in. “Everyone said it was amazing. Someone said ‘baller’ but I don’t know if that’s good or bad.”

I laugh, and Simone does, too. “It’s good,” Simone tells him. She looks over at me. “I actually made another small cake, but I guess you’re too tired to come by?”

“Because it’s your birthday?” I ask.

She bites her lip and leans in closer to me, and I wonder if she’s going to kiss me. “I actually thought we could share a birthday since you don’t remember yours.”

I stare at her. No one’s ever done something so sweet for me. “You…you didn’t have to do that.”

Ruthie clears her throat.

I glance up at my “sister” and we exchange a look.

“You’re right, it’s your birthday, too,” Simone says cheerily, misinterpreting Ruthie’s interruption. “I forgot.”

Time to change the subject. Before Ruthie can say anything, I speak up. “I’ll come by. I’d love to.”

Jerzec yawns. “I could eat some more cake, too.”

Oh. My face gets hot, because I’d imagined being alone with Simone. “Um…”

The table jerks. Jerzec sits up, scowling. “Ow, Ruthie, what the kef?”

“Why don’t we start cleaning up,” my sister says, suddenly all energy. “Ruth-Ann, you can walk Simone home while we get started on this mess. Maybe she’ll make us all more cake if we ask her nicely.”

“I guess,” he says, crawling out of the booth and rubbing his knee with a wounded expression.

My face feels even hotter, but I’m going to give Ruthie a big ol’ hug when I see her next. She had the bravery to do what I couldn’t.

“You ready to go?” Simone asks, sliding out of the booth. Her hand abandons mine and I’m eager to grab it again, even though I shouldn’t. I should leave her alone because I can’t tell her the truth of what I am.

But I’m a wimp, because I know I’m not going to. I’m going to happily trot over to the boarding house and eat cake with her and see if we’re going to do more than just hold hands. Honestly, I don’t care if there’s any cake at all. I just want to touch her again, in whatever small way I’m allowed.

Simone yawns as we leave the cantina, and Pluto’s head is drooping with fatigue.

I suddenly feel guilty. As a baker, I know Simone’s hours are very early.

She gets up before dawn to bake a lot of her goods fresh and to fill her cart.

She’s been going all day and she’s probably exhausted.

“We can do the cake some other time,” I suggest. “You must be ready to call it a night.”

“Oh no,” she says, and grabs my hand. “You’re not getting away from me again.”

“Well, if you insist.” But I’m secretly pleased.

We head into the boarding house, and all is quiet.

The person normally at the front desk is absent due to the late hour, and our feet seem impossibly loud on the floor as we head for Simone’s room.

She opens the door and pulls me in after her.

“Ignore the mess. I haven’t had the chance to straighten. ”

“I only judge your baking,” I comment, hoping she realizes I’m teasing.

She giggles, her hand still in mine. She releases me to usher in Pluto, but I don’t mind.

The poor carinoux looks so sleepy. He immediately heads for his favorite corner of the couch, circles twice, and then flops down.

I follow Simone into the kitchen. She opens the fridge, gesturing at the small, square cake inside.

“I thought since the frosting is cheese, it’d be smart to keep it cold.

” She lets go of my hand to pull the plate out of the refrigerator, holding it out to me.

“And I wanted to make sure you got a cake of your own. Happy birthday.”

I take it from her. There’s a big R-A in frosting on the top. Ruth-Ann. There’s no question that she made this earlier today thinking of me. It’s not an afterthought or a “I just happen to have leftover cake” and claiming it’s for me. Everything she did today, she did because of me.

I’ve never felt more…loved. More seen.

“You didn’t have to do this for me,” I comment, still touched by the sight of the small cake. I don’t even care if the lettering is slightly wobbly. I want to take the entire thing home and keep it forever.

Simone leans against the counter, watching me. “I know, but I wanted to show you how much I care.”

“About my birthday?”

She laughs, tossing that long ponytail of hers. “No. About you, silly.”

Oh.

She pulls the cake from my grasp, and I let her take it. I watch as she sets it aside, and to my surprise, she leans in and kisses me.

It’s a light, quick kiss on the lips, but I’m so stunned that I just stand there like a statue. Okay, I’d been expecting more hand-holding and hoping for more, but for some reason, my brain doesn’t seem to realize that she’s kissing me. She likes me.

Simone pulls back, and a mortified expression crosses her face. “Oh my god. I’m sorry. Did I…did I read you wrong? I just thought you were interested?—”