Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Knight in shining armour
Ruby
As the moaning and spring squeaking resumed, I stumbled into the wall behind me, barely catching myself before I hit the ground. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t fucking believe it. That cheating mother fucking asshole.
I’d treated patients suffering from shock before, usually after they’d been in horrific, traumatic accidents. I’d even been beside them when they came to, when the shock wore off and reality resettled. But I couldn’t imagine ever returning to reality from this.
As much as I wanted to get the hell out of here, I was frozen. My legs didn’t feel steady enough to walk on.
What the hell did I do? Storm in there? Sneak out without being seen? Pretend I’d never been here? Send Noah a picture of his shitty frat door with two accompanying words: “We’re done!”
A scary amount of rage was flowing through my veins, an anger I’d never experienced before. Fuck Noah. And fuck the Los Angeles Rams.
Ryker’s warning from Thanksgiving flooded back, followed closely by Bri’s suspicions that someone had been in Noah’s bed. Were they right? Had this been going on for a long time? Had it happened more than once? With more than one person?
Knowing these questions would consume me, I had to see it with my own eyes. If I didn’t, I’d try convincing myself it hadn’t happened. That I’d mistaken this for something else, and that one of the most important people in my world hadn’t just betrayed me.
Before I could second-guess myself, I threw the door open.
The first thing I noticed was the empty bed that belonged to Noah’s roommate.
Then I noticed Noah’s folded toga. The neat-fucking-freak had taken a moment to fold his costume, but hadn’t taken a second to consider whether he should stick his dick in another girl.
I then noticed Noah’s stupid shaved legs intertwined with someone else’s.
And lastly, I noticed the busty red head as she peaked out from beneath my boyfriend, glaring at me like I shouldn’t be here.
Noah’s face paled. Even after a rotation in ICU, I’d never seen someone such a sickly shade of white.
“Ruby! What are you doing here?”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
The red head’s sweaty brow furrowed. “Who’s this?”
I’m his fucking girlfriend, who the fuck are you? I wanted to shout, but the shock had me paralysed.
Even though Noah had stopped moving, knowing his dick was currently submerged in another girl wasn’t something I could ignore.
“I can explain,” he stammered.
Say something, Ruby. Say anything.
“Do you mind?” the girl snapped. “We’re kind of in the middle of something.”
If the empty condom packet, the tied-off used condom, or the visual of her legs wrapped around my boyfriend wasn’t enough of a reminder, that sure fucking was.
Noah looked at the girl. “Ruby, can you just–”
Her eyes widened as her temper flared. “My name isn’t Ruby.”
Nope. That was my name.
“So – sorry,” Noah stuttered. “Scarlett.”
Scarlett. How wonderful to know the name of the girl my boyfriend was fucking. Right in front of me.
I needed to get the hell out of here. I had enough proof. Noah was a cheating asshole and–
“Stefan was right,” I breathed.
Noah frowned. “Who the fuck is Stefan?”
That snapped me from my reverie. “Seriously, Noah? We’ve been together for almost eight years and you don’t know my best friend’s brother’s name?”
Scarlett shoved Noah’s chest, which also happened to be shaved. God, it was like he was still a pre-puberty teen. The guy needed body hair.
“You have a girlfriend?”
“Had,” I corrected.
As much as I’d intended for that to sound confident, my voice cracked, betraying my emotions. Part of me was burning with rage, while another drowned in sadness. This was Noah – my Noah – the boy I’d loved since I was sixteen.
Noah swallowed thickly. “Ruby, babe, can you please just wait outside for a second while I–”
“While you take your dick out of someone else?” I finished. “Hard pass. Feel free to finish up. Don’t rush on my account.”
“Ruby.”
My eyes fell to my hand as my phone went off.
Ryker: I’m in Miami for a brand deal. What are the chances you’re visiting Noah this weekend?
My knight in shining armour.
The relief I felt was unexplainable. Knowing Ryker was close by filled me with enough courage to meet my boyfriend’s gaze – my ex-boyfriend’s gaze one last time. Then without another word, I spun on my heel and got the hell out of there.