Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
We’re getting shitfaced
Ryker
A delayed flight and terrible traffic meant we didn’t arrive at our hotel until early evening.
As we rode the elevator to our level, Evan gave me a pep talk about showering and dressing quickly to make our seven p.m. reservation.
Really, he should be telling himself. He was the one who took ages getting ready.
I could be showered and dressed to go within ten minutes.
When the airline had announced our flight was delayed, I’d called Ruby to keep her updated. She’d asked if she could check into our room and wait there until we arrived. I wasn’t sure why she wasn’t staying with Noah, but before I could press, they’d called for us to board.
“Is Ruby coming out with us?” Evan checked.
“I doubt it. She’s here to visit her boyfriend.”
“Good.”
I raised a brow. “Good?”
“You know I like Ruby, but the whole point of tonight is that it’s a double date.”
I glared at him. “You didn’t tell me that?”
“Why does it matter? Apologies for offering you sex on a platter.”
“Maybe I’m not in the mood.”
“Uh-huh,” he disbelievingly muttered. “Or maybe you’d rather be left alone to obsess over the photo of Ruby.” He held my gaze, studying me as though my expression was an open book. “You rubbed one out over it, didn’t you?”
“I did not.”
My instant defensiveness was such a fucking giveaway. That picture had thrown me for a loop.
“I’m not judging you, man,” Evan went on. “I did and I didn’t even see the picture. My imagination was enough.”
“You’re a pig. You know that, right?”
He smiled proudly. “So I’ve been told.”
Once locating our room, I didn’t have a moment to pull myself together before Evan was throwing open the door.
Then there she was – my best friend and the girl I’d gone to sleep thinking about.
The whole ride from the airport I’d continuously reminded myself that Ruby was just my best friend, not the daring sender of racy photos. With that reminder having being on repeat, I’d thought I was ready to act normal around her, but I hadn’t factored the Miami heat into the equation.
Unlike the thick winter clothes she’d worn over Christmas, today she was dressed in a jean skirt and cropped singlet. So much of her skin was on display, and holy hell her cleavage was deep. Had her tits always been that size?
“Wheels!”
Grinning, she slid off the bed and rushed over to hug me. I took a measured breath as her warm body wrapped around mine. I was in a simple tee and shorts, so our skin met in way too many places.
“I am so glad to see you,” she smiled.
“Why aren’t you with Noah?”
She recoiled slightly, which was strange. Or maybe she hadn’t and I was the one acting weird.
“I surprised him... so he wasn’t prepared... and he’s... ugh... he’s busy tonight.”
“Surely he can drop his plans for you?”
“No, it’s...” She trailed off. “I figured I could hang with you instead. Seems like fate we’re both here.”
“It’s a cockblock is what it is,” Evan grumbled. “I need Ryker as my wingman tonight.”
Ruby squared her shoulders. “As a matter of fact, I happen to make an excellent wingwoman. Wheels, tell him about the time I helped you score with that bikini model.”
I merely shrugged. “She helped me.”
Evan didn’t bother arguing. He knew a lost cause when he saw one. If Ruby was here with no plans, there was no way I was leaving her alone. The only other option was for us to both stay in while he went out. He either got us both, or he got neither of us.
“Fine,” he conceded. “But you can’t look too hot, Ruby. I don’t want you intimidating our dates. I plan on getting my trunk off tonight, and if it’s not with one of these girls, then you’re going to need to step up.”
She barked out a laugh. “That should be easy. I didn’t bring any party clothes. I wasn’t planning on going out.”
“Baby,” Evan drawled. “You could wear what you have on right now and still be the hottest girl in the place.”
A heat climbed Ruby’s neck and settled in her cheeks as she coyly smiled. Had Evan always been this flirty with her? I mean, I knew he thought she was attractive, but I didn’t know it ran that deep.
“Keep your eyes on your volleyball player,” I warned. “Otherwise you’ll have a fraternity and water polo team on your ass this weekend. We’re in Noah’s territory.”
Evan cocked his head. “Speaking of the boyfriend, how did he react to the photo last night?”
Ruby’s lips parted as embarrassment crossed her face. Thinking of that photo was the last thing I needed, and I doubt Ruby was keen on bringing it up either. Something told me she’d filed that in let’s never speak of it again territory.
“Ignore him, Rubz.”
I edged further into the room and placed my bag on the bed she’d been sitting on. Her familiar suitcase was already propped beside it.
She fell onto the mattress, kicking out her legs as she peered up at me. “So are we getting drunk tonight or what?”
“Darlin’,” Evan grinned. “We’re getting shitfaced.”
*
I was starting to realise shitfaced was an understatement. While I’d been showering, Evan and Ruby had gone on a liquor store run, and then proceeded to knock a few drinks back before we even made it to dinner.
Turns out Evan could get ready quickly when it meant spending time with Ruby.
I knew both my best friends well. The alcohol in Evan’s system would muffle his already limited filter, and he’d channel all his charm on the blonde sitting beside him. But if Ruby kept up at this rate, she wouldn’t make it to the club.
She was wearing a plain tee of mine as a dress, a belt cinching around her narrow waist. It hit her mid-thigh, then there was nothing until we reached the Adidas Sambas I’d given her.
She didn’t have any dressy shoes as she’d referred to them as, but I liked this look on her. It was simple yet fucking hot, and–
God, Ryker. Stop looking at her like that.
I purposely shifted my attention to the brunette I was supposed to be on a date with, Miranda. From where she sat beside me in the booth, her toned leg rested against mine. She was dressed in a red corset-like top that accentuated her breasts, and a black mini skirt with glittery cowboy boots.
She was easy to talk to, and Evan seemed very satisfied with her friend, Elizabeth. They were attractive, it was undeniable, but they weren’t–
Don’t I warned myself. Don’t you dare go there. What the fuck is wrong with you?
I picked up my drink, sinking down the remainder.
Ruby whistled. “Damn, Wheels. Are we getting fun Ryker tonight?”
Evan snickered. “It’s been a while.”
I shot them both a glare, which they wickedly laughed at together, as if they were in on some private joke.
“Why do you call him Wheels?” Miranda asked.
“Because it took him until middle school to learn to ride a bike without training wheels,” Ruby answered.
“It wasn’t middle school,” I argued.
As Ruby leaned over me, resting a hand on my upper thigh to shift closer to Miranda, I jolted more than I had the first time a girl touched me. I was so far gone right now it was pathetic.
“He was nine, which is still pretty cringe,” Ruby chuckled.
Miranda twirled her straw. “So you’ve known each other since you were nine?”
“Our entire lives,” I corrected. “Our mums are best friends.”
Miranda nodded slowly as she internally tried piecing mine and Ruby’s friendship together. It was a puzzle I’d watched many girls try to figure out, and more often than not, they’d muddled it up.
“I’ve got years of dirt on, Wheels,” Ruby threatened with a playful smirk. “I know all his embarrassing stories.”
She wasn’t lying. She had an arsenal of memories I’d rather we didn’t recount tonight. Thank goodness her phone went off when it did. Noah was calling her, but without an ounce of hesitation, she screened the call.
I was starting to think something was up with them, but having being burned by meddling in their relationship before, I wasn’t about to pry. She’d tell me if she wanted to.
“Scoot, Wheels,” she said, nudging me with her hip. “I’ve got to pee.”
“Me too,” Miranda agreed, before signalling for her friend to follow.
The fact girls couldn’t pee alone never ceased to amaze me.
While they were gone, Evan and I settled the bill. Then as we waited, he kept glancing at me with a smug grin, like there was something he wanted to say but was holding back.
“What?” I groaned, crossing my arms over my chest.
His lips twisted into an arrogant smirk. “You’ll figure it out soon enough.”