Ruby set the suitcase down beside Karl’s bed and unzipped it. The second the sound of the zipper filled the air, Karl groaned loudly, flopping onto his back like he’d just completed a three-day journey instead of a one-hour drive.
"Wife... I’m so tired," he mumbled, his arms spread out like a fallen soldier. "I think I drove us here with my mind. That’s why I’m exhausted."
"You didn’t even drive," Ruby said flatly, shaking her head as she pulled out neatly folded clothes.
Kaelan, leaning casually against his own wardrobe with his arms crossed, glanced between them, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement. "You two always talk ?" he asked lightly.
"This is normal," Ruby replied, sorting Karl’s shirts into the wardrobe. "If he’s not talking, he’s sleeping. And if he’s not sleeping, he’s asking for food."
"Hey! I’m an actor now," Karl protested weakly from the bed, lifting his head just enough to look at Kaelan. "I need my energy. It’s part of my... uh... method." Then his head dropped back to the pillow.
Ruby rolled her eyes, but the faint smile tugging at her lips betrayed her fondness. She continued unpacking: socks in the drawer, his personal toiletries on the small shelf near the bathroom, snacks in the kitchen cabinet. Every so often, she glanced at Karl to make sure he wasn’t actually asleep yet.
"Sit up for a minute so I can put the bedsheet on," she said.
Karl groaned again, sitting up with the speed of a reluctant snail. "This feels like boot camp," he muttered.
"It’s called basic living," Ruby replied, smoothing the sheet over the mattress and tucking it in tightly. "If I leave you without doing this, you’ll be sleeping on bare foam."
Kaelan raised an eyebrow at that, his gaze lingering on Ruby as she moved around the room with practiced efficiency. She wasn’t just helping Karl unpack—she was making sure everything was ready for him, like she’d already calculated what he would forget.
When she finished, she stepped back, dusting her hands. "Alright. I think you’re set. Clothes in the wardrobe, shoes in the corner, snacks in the cabinet, toothbrush by the sink. Try not to destroy it in a day."
Karl gave her a sleepy grin. "You’re the best, wife."
"Remember to eat proper meals," she added, her voice softening slightly. "Don’t just survive on cookies."
"I’ll make sure he doesn’t," Kaelan said suddenly, his tone casual but his eyes fixed on her.
Ruby’s gaze met his briefly, something unspoken passing between them before she turned back to Karl. "Good. Then I can leave you without worrying."
Karl pouted. "You’ll still miss me though."
Ruby didn’t answer that right away. Instead, she sat down on the edge of his bed, her expression suddenly shifting from playful to firm. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees so she was at eye level with him.
"Karl, listen to me," she said, her voice low and steady. "This place isn’t like home. You don’t know everyone here. Some will be nice, some will pretend to be nice, and some will try to use you. Don’t trust anyone too quickly—especially not people who suddenly want to be your best friend."
Karl blinked, surprised by her tone. "O-okay..."
"Don’t take food or drinks from strangers unless you see it opened in front of you. Don’t sign anything unless Miranda or I see it first. And if you ever feel uncomfortable, if someone says or does something off—you call me. Immediately."
Kaelan, who had been pretending to scroll on his phone, glanced up briefly, catching the steel in Ruby’s tone.
Karl fiddled with the corner of his pillow, nodding slowly. "I get it, wife. You don’t have to worry so much. I’ll be fine."
"I will worry," Ruby said firmly. "Because I know you. You’re too trusting. You smile at people and think they’re your friend. But in this industry, smiling faces can still stab you in the back." She paused, her eyes softening just a little. "Promise me you’ll be careful."
Karl sat up straighter and raised his hand like a scout. "I promise."
Ruby studied him for a moment longer, then reached out and cupped the side of his face. "Good. Now, remember what I said. I don’t care if it’s midnight or three in the morning—if something’s wrong, you call."
Kaelan’s gaze lingered on them, and something unreadable flickered in his eyes at the way Ruby’s touch lingered on Karl’s cheek.
Karl gave her a sheepish smile. "You’re making it sound like I’m going into battle."
Ruby smirked faintly. "Sometimes, it’s the same thing."
Karl leaned back against his pillow dramatically. "Well, if I don’t make it... tell my fish in Fat Fish Frenzy I love them."
Ruby rolled her eyes. "You’re hopeless."
From across the room, Kaelan finally spoke, his voice carrying an amused edge. "Don’t worry. If anything happens, I’ll protect him." Then, after a beat, his lips quirked in a faint, teasing smirk. "I might even return him in one piece."
Ruby gave him a slow, pointed look that said she wasn’t sure if she believed him. "See that you do."
Kaelan chuckled under his breath.
"Alright, Karl, final instructions before I go," she said, holding up a finger. "Number one—no one here is going to wash your clothes. You do it yourself. Don’t dump them in some random basket and think they’ll magically be clean."
Karl groaned. "Wife, I’m an actor now, not a laundry ghost."
"You’re both," Ruby said flatly. "And don’t you dare wear the same robe for three days just because you’re too lazy to wash it."
Kaelan, lounging by the wardrobe, smirked without looking up from his phone. "I’m going to keep count."
Ruby ignored him and moved to the next point. "Number two—eat your meals on time. I don’t care if you’re busy or tired, you eat. No surviving on candy and cookies just because the set has free snacks."
Karl perked up. "Wait—they have free snacks?"
"Which you will not abuse," Ruby said, narrowing her eyes. "And number three—sleep. No staying up all night watching Soulstream reruns of your favorite actors."
Karl’s grin widened. "Even Kaelan’s?"
Ruby side-eyed him. "Especially Kaelan’s."
Kaelan chuckled under his breath, clearly enjoying the exchange.
To be continued... 🪄