Chapter 47
47
RUBY
The streetlights blur past as Tyler drives us home, the car filled with a comfortable after-dinner silence. Lucy's dozed off in the passenger seat, her head resting against the window. I'm in the back, my mind replaying the events of the evening—the laughter, the confessions, the unexpected support from my brother.
And then, out of nowhere, like a crack of lightning on a clear day, a thought hits me so hard it steals my breath…
I love Chuck .
Before I can process this earth-shattering realization, before I can clamp my mouth shut and pretend I never had this thought, the words come tumbling out of my mouth.
"Oh my God, I think I'm in love with Chuck."
The car swerves sharply, tires screeching as Tyler yanks the wheel, pulling us onto the shoulder of the road. Lucy jerks awake with a startled, "What happened!", looking around in confusion.
Tyler throws the car into park and whips around to face me, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You what?"
I clap my hands over my mouth, as if I could somehow stuff the words back in. But it's too late. They're out there, hanging in the air between us, impossible to take back.
"I... I don't know why I said that," I stammer, my heart racing. "I didn't mean to?—"
"Didn't mean to what, Ruby?" Tyler interrupts, his voice rising. "Didn't mean to fall for my teammate? Or didn't mean to blurt it out like that?"
"Both? Neither? I don't know!" Panic rises in my chest. This isn't me. I don't blurt out declarations of love. I analyze, I overthink, I make pro/con lists. I don't... I don't do this.
Lucy places a calming hand on Tyler's arm. "Ty, maybe we should?—"
But Tyler shakes her off, his gaze fixed on me. "Ruby, do you have any idea what you're saying? This is Chuck we're talking about. Chuck, who's been in more tabloid scandals than actual relationships. Chuck, who's one bar fight away from getting kicked off the team."
His words sting, partly because they echo my own fears, but mostly because they feel unfair. "That's not who he is," I argue, surprising myself with the vehemence in my voice. "You don't know him like I do."
Tyler scoffs. "I've known him a lot longer than you have, sis."
"Maybe," I shoot back, "but have you ever really talked to him? Like, really talked? Because I have. I've seen sides of him that I bet you've never even glimpsed."
"Oh, I bet you have," Tyler mutters, and I feel my face flame with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.
"That's not what I mean and you know it," I snap. "God, Tyler, why can't you just be happy for me?"
"Happy?" he repeats incredulously. "You want me to be happy that my little sister is in love with a guy who's more likely to end up in rehab than in a stable relationship?"
His words hit me like a slap. "You're such a hypocrite," I seethe. "You trust Chuck on the ice, you call him one of your best friends, but the moment I show interest in him, suddenly he's not good enough?"
"That's different," Tyler argues. "Hockey is?—"
"What? More important than my happiness?" I interrupt. "Nice to know where your priorities lie, bro."
We glare at each other, the tension in the car thick enough to cut with a knife. Lucy looks between us, unsure whether to intervene.
Finally, Tyler sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Rubes, I'm just trying to protect you."
"I don't need your protection," I say, my voice softer but no less firm. "I'm a grown woman, Tyler. I can make my own decisions."
"Even if those decisions get you hurt?"
I meet his gaze steadily. "Even then. Because that's life, Ty. Sometimes you get hurt. But sometimes... sometimes it's worth the risk."
Yup. I said what I said.
A long moment passes, the silence broken only by the sound of cars whooshing past. Then, to my surprise, a small smile tugs at Tyler's lips.
"When did you get so wise, little sis?"
The tension cracks somewhat, and I feel myself relax. "Probably around the time I realized I was in love with your knucklehead teammate."
Tyler groans. "God, I can't believe this is happening. Chuck Newcomb, of all people."
"Trust me," I say wryly, "I'm as surprised as you are."
Lucy, speaks up. "So... what are you going to do now, Ruby?"
I take a deep breath, the full weight of my revelation sinking in. "I don't know," I admit. "I guess... I guess I need to talk to Chuck."
Tyler nods, resigned. "Yeah, I guess you do." He turns back to the steering wheel, but before he turns back into traffic, he looks at me in the rearview mirror. "Just... be careful, okay? And if he hurts you, I reserve the right to check him into the boards during practice. Or worse. I’m still wanting to give that guy from the library the beat-down he deserves."
I can't help but laugh. "Deal."
As we pull back onto the street, I lean my head against the window, my mind whirling. I'm in love with Chuck Newcomb. The thought is terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure.
I have no idea what's going to happen next. But for once in my life, I'm okay with that uncertainty. Because sometimes, the best stories are the ones you never saw coming.
And this? This feels like the beginning of one of those.