Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
ACE
I am an anxious motherfucker. A bundle of nerves. A finger-tapping, knee-bouncing asshole who’s earning dirty looks from everyone who’s sitting with me every time my knee hits the underside of the table.
“Calm your tits, bro.” This comes from Derek, who’s sitting right next to me in our usual booth. It’s like it’s become a habit, us hanging out together at Logan’s. “You’re so fucking edgy you’re making me nervous.”
And Derek is never nervous. About anything.
It’s nine-thirty and there’s no sign of Ruby yet at Logan’s. I check my phone—wait, scratch that. It’s actually nine-forty-three and she’s still not here.
Fuck. She’s ditching me.
If she doesn’t show up tonight, this is it. I’m leaving her alone. I don’t need some girl stringing me along. Even if she’s hot. Even if her skin is kitten soft and her greenish-hazel eyes were eating me up earlier. Even if she’s the reason I play that much better whenever she’s close by.
Not sure if that’s the real reason I started to play better, but it sure felt like it.
Our practice Friday was terrible. The game Saturday was a scrambling shitshow and we only pulled out a win by sheer brute force and a little bit of luck.
The speech Mattson gave us after the game left me feeling like a failure.
His pep talk this morning when he spotted me in the gym did nothing to make me feel better either.
I was out on that field, throwing balls away left and right and getting fucking sacked but then Ruby appeared…
And I started playing better.
Way better.
It’s like a miracle occurred. Or maybe it’s Gwen and Eric bringing the luck, but I doubt that. I could give two shits about them. I mean Eric is nice and he’s a loyal fan. Gwen is scary and I would never want to cross her. I don’t want to show off for the two of them.
For Ruby? All I want to do is impress her.
Guess I didn’t impress her enough though because her pretty ass still isn’t here. And if that isn’t low-key depressing…
“Sorry.” I reach for my beer bottle and try to drain it, only to discover it’s already empty. “I need another one. Where’s the server?”
It’s extra busy tonight, thanks to the half-off promotion. The bar is wall to wall filled with people, including lots of women.
Like a lot.
The majority of them are attractive. A lot of them are making eyes at me from where I sit at our usual booth in the back of the bar, fully expecting me to make eyes at them in return because that’s what I do.
I flirt. I put on the good ol’ boy act like Derek calls it and next thing I know, they’re cuddling up close to me and asking if we can get out of there, and of course I oblige them .
Tonight though? I’m not interested in a single one of them.
What the hell is wrong with me? Why wouldn’t they interest me?
I’ve never felt like this before. Women throw themselves at me and I catch them.
Take them somewhere dark and quiet and shower them with all the attention they’re searching for.
I leave them satisfied and I’m always satisfied too. Until the next one. And the next one.
And the next one after that.
Some might call me a manwhore, and maybe I am, but who am I to turn all those beautiful women away? They’re willing and so am I. We’re consenting adults so where’s the harm in it?
My gaze scans the room, touching on every pretty woman I see. Fuck Ruby Maguire. She’s missing out on a good fuck and she’ll regret not showing up tonight. This was her last shot.
Looks like she blew it.
“That one’s staring at you, bro,” Derek murmurs, blatantly pointing at an attractive brunette with a giant rack. “Look at those titties.”
“Titties, D? Seriously?” I send him a withering stare before I refocus on Miss Titties because damn, that rack is huge. I should wave her over. Hell, I should be waving a couple of cuties over to join us because then I’ll have options.
She waves at me, her boobs bouncing with the movement, and holy hell.
I’m. Not.
Interested.
I’m not interested in a single one of them. The blonde that’s shifted into my line of vision isn’t blonde enough. The girl with the long, tanned legs and decent tits—her legs aren’t right. Neither are her tits. And neither of them is wearing a T-shirt with a funny message.
I like that about Ruby. Her funny T-shirts.
Hell, I like a lot of things about Ruby.
Yet I don’t think she likes me much.
Our server eventually makes her rounds and I order two beers, which has Derek looking at me funny.
“You okay there, QB?”
I sit up a little straighter, honored he’d call me that. I only ever heard him call Cam that and it feels good. I finally feel accepted. “I wanna get drunk.”
“Not a smart move during the season, bro. Isn’t that your plan?” Derek studies me, rubbing a hand along his jaw. “Forget the beer. Go find a cute girl and lose yourself in her for a while. Burn some calories.”
He knows that’s what I’ve done in the past, which makes sense why he’s pushing me to do it right now. But I shake my head, my voice firm when I say, “Nope.”
The p makes a popping sound that is oddly satisfying. And I try the word out, saying it over and over again with the hard p.
“Are you already drunk?” Derek asks when I finally stop.
I think about how many beers I’ve already had. I count them on my fingers. One, two…
“I’ve had three.”
“And you just ordered two more?” Derek’s brows shoot up. “I’m cutting you off.”
“No, you’re fucking not.”
“I am.” Derek nods, reaching out to grab my beer bottle, seeming almost disappointed to find it’s empty. “No more for you. You can’t get trashed before the next big game.”
“It’s Monday, Derek. We don’t play until Saturday.” I shoot him a look like he’s fucking crazy. “Didn’t you see how I played today?”
“You played pretty damn good.” He hesitates, tipping his bottle toward his lips. “Eventually.”
All I can do is snort in response because damn it, he’s not wrong.
And I hate that. I need to get focused and not let the little shit distract me.
Then I think of Ruby showing up at practice. Watching me. How I felt a jolt vibrate through my body the moment our eyes made contact. Something came over me and next thing I knew, I was playing better.
Much better.
Feels like lately I’m always thinking of Ruby, which is fucking annoying, especially when she doesn’t think of me.
The server reappears with our orders and I take both of my beers, placing them as far away from Derek’s grabby hands as I can get them. I notice the empty spot beside me, wishing a cute ass was filling it, and when I glance up, I shake my head, positive that I’m hallucinating.
I blink. Close my eyes for a second. Two seconds. Crack them open.
Oh shit. Now she’s even closer.
Ruby. Fucking. Maguire.
She’s got on black shorts that are too damn short and show way too much skin and there are white Nike Air Force sneakers on her feet. She’s wearing another one of her T-shirts. This one is pale pink with black lettering in all caps that says:
DUMP HIM.
Straight across her perfect tits.
I scrub a hand over my face, waiting for her to evaporate, but she’s still there. Approaching our table with a friendly look on her too pretty face.
God, she drives me crazy. I don’t like it.
“Hey, guys.” She stops right in front of our table, offering us a little wave. As casual as she pleases, not singling me out but acting like she’s come to speak to all of us. “How are you?”
“Ruby, what’s up?” Derek nudges me in the side with his elbow, making me grunt. That fucking hurt. “You should join us. Loverboy here has been pining away for you.”
I send him a sharp glance and he shrugs.
How the hell did he know? Not like I told anyone I asked Ruby to meet me here.
“Sorry I’m late.” These words, the smile, it’s all aimed directly at me. “I was talking to my sister and lost track of time.”
Uh huh. I bet she was second-guessing herself the entire time tonight. Should she come here? Should she stay home? Surprised that she was able to convince herself to show up.
Alone.
This feels major.
“How is Blair?” I nod, remembering her older sister. Only pleasant thoughts filter through when it comes to that particular Maguire sister.
“She’s doing great. We haven’t talked in a while so we needed to catch up. She’s just so busy with everything going on with Cam.”
“How’s Cam doing? He’s playing his first game this weekend, huh?”
“He’s actually playing his first game in a few days. His team is playing the first Thursday night football game of the season.”
“Oh damn, seriously? We gotta get together and watch our fucking homie tear it up on the professional field!” Derek practically screams, making Ruby laugh.
I sit there and savor the sound, taking a big swig from my beer, realizing my mistake a second later.
My head is spinning. I swear I can see two Ruby’s standing in front of me.
Shit. I need to stop drinking before I do something stupid.
“You should totally put something together,” Ruby encourages. “I’m sure Cam would appreciate the support.”
“He wouldn’t even notice the support.”
She glances over at me, frowning. “What?”
“Cam. He won’t know we’re supporting him. How can he appreciate it?”
Ruby squints at me, tilting her head. Did I mention she’s got her hair in a high ponytail and my fingers itch to tug it?
Yeah. It’s true. And it sucks.
“Are you drunk?”
“Yes,” I say firmly. “Well, not drunk. More like pleasantly buzzed.”
“Ah.” She’s smiling. “Okay.”
“Sit down.” I pat the empty spot next to me on the booth seat. “Join us.”
“You sure about that?” Her brows rise.
“Hell yeah,” I tell her, slapping the seat again, my palm cracking against the vinyl. “Come on, Ruby Red. Just sit down and let me stare at you for a minute.”
She pauses, her eyes wide and I realize what I just said. Feels like I gave something away.
Like my feelings.
Fuck.