Ruby, are you contemplating

 "I don't have anything against Maddie," Ruby says while Rafe washes and rinses the dishes while she dries. She doesn't make him do everything like he says half the time. She is trying to do everything with him. However, she does a majority of the cooking because he's pretty tuckered out from truck driving classes and driving the bakery truck.

Rafe is silent as usual. It's hard to tell if he's mad at her or the whole world. She wishes he'd relax, but just as a bowl almost rolls out of the drainer and they both jump to catch it, their fingers touch. Ruby smiles when their eyes meet. He nearly smiles but returns to what is left of the pots and pans. They don't have much to wash and she swears it is therapeutic for the both of them. Yet, it is hard to be a role model. He knows what a trainwreck she can be to organize anything. Actually, he's quite good. She hasn't had a chance to tell him. It never seems to be the right time.

"Don't even think about bothering Harley," Rafe says out of the blue while he's finishing up. 

"Why?" It's not like she's out to blackmail her or anything, but still she'd like to do something a little snide. It might make her feel better. It's not all KC's fault. Although, he's a faded memory for the most part these days. Maybe she's been to busy to think on the past.

"Because," he has suds on his hands, and his nose. She watches him wondering if he knows. 

"You love her don't you?" Ruby has a chance to rub it in. She just doesn't see why anyone would like Harley. Besides, Ruby brought up Maddie not Harley. Rafe won't say a word about her.

"It's not that," he shakes his head, no. "She's in a relationship."

"Relationship?" Ruby shrugs with a laugh. She dries the dish and shuffles away in her crocks. She's wearing a strappy dress that she only wears around the apartment. "You make it sound  like she's got a degree or something."

"Look, it's Brick and I'd hate to see them split up just because of KC," Rafe squints back at her as if she should know. He has talked about Brick before.

"Is he even your friend?"

"Doubt it, but that's beside the point," Rafe finally notices the suds on his nose and wipes it away. "He's had a bad life. His dad broke his arm when he tried to take him away from his mother. His dad has been in jail ever since. It's like the fool doesn't want to get out."

"Well, that is sad, but Brick looks like he's doing just fine," Ruby shrugs giving him a pompus look.

 They'd seen them down at the PRIDE parade. Naturally, Rafe wouldn't let her near Harley. They couldn't even say hello to his brother and his boyfriend.

"I thought you were over all this." 

Rafe glares at her as if she has to stop dwelling on the past.

He has finished up. He wipes his hands on his jogging shorts and stretches his old T-shirt to see how damp it is. Evidently, it's doable for the night.

 It's time to watch a little TV. They do this together because they want to get their money's worth from Hulu and Disney Plus.

"I am," she presses her lips tight. She follows him to the couch. They plop down together, only he's on the left and she's on the right with a huge space between them. Rafe props his bare legs on the coffee table to get comfortable. He turns on the TV. The shows pop up. He guesses right. She likes old shows she remembers when she was younger, the ones she watched with her mom, SAVED BY THE BELL. 

"I just think maybe..maybe we can be friends with Maddie and Boone," Ruby sighs as she digs into the candy dish on the coffee table and grabs a ring pop. She tosses him a green one. He takes it as if this is an automatic routine.

"Why would we do that?" He finally gives her a look that she's not supposed to be talking during the show. They are watching what she wants to watch. He likes nature shows, especially the Dog Whisper.

"Because," she won't look at him. Perhaps she's just testing him.