Chapter 17 Party Pooper
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Party pooper
Ruby
The music was so deafening it drowned out my thoughts, which was per-fucking-fect right now. Add the four vodka sodas from dinner to the mix, and I was on top of the world.
Evan had a booth reserved, which was clearly only intended for the four of them. The fifth-wheel – yours truly – was making it unbearably squishy. My track record with crowded booths wasn’t great lately.
I felt guilty for gatecrashing their date night. Ryker hadn’t mentioned it when I’d called him earlier. If he had, I would’ve paid the ludicrous fee to change my flight to depart three hours ago.
But honestly, the thought of going home and facing my friends was more than I could handle right now.
I’d have to eventually, but staying with Ryker tonight gave me a little longer to get my shit together.
To figure out how I was feeling and maybe build up the courage to talk to Noah and hear his side – not that it would change anything.
Fourteen missed calls, six voicemails and twenty-one messages – that was the current tally. He was freaking the hell out. Worried where I was. Worried who I’d told. Worried about how many people he’d need to handle damage control with.
I’d deal with that tomorrow. Right now, I wanted to dance.
I made a move to head for the dance floor, but before I could get too far, Ryker’s fingers were wrapping around my wrist.
“Where are you going?”
“To dance.”
He groaned. “I don’t want to dance, Rubz.”
“I never said you have to. I’m going to dance.”
He slowly glanced between Miranda and me, torn. He clearly wanted to stay with her, but he didn’t want me going off into a club on my own. I really shouldn’t have come tonight. I prided myself on being a good wingwoman, and right now I was the opposite.
“Evan and Elizabeth will come,” I pointedly said, catching Evan’s eye and hoping he caught my drift.
That would give Ryker and Miranda a moment alone. Unlike Ryker, Evan wouldn’t have any reservations about letting me find a spot on the dance floor by myself. He could continue flirting with Elizabeth just fine from anywhere.
Taking the hint, he got to his feet and tugged Elizabeth to hers.
He was wearing a black cap and matching dark tee that moulded to his muscled arms and torso, and jeans that clung to his thighs.
If Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling had a baby, it was Evan.
The guy was so hot it was unfair. I’d always thought that, and now that I was single, I could admit it.
Ugh. Single.
I hadn’t been single since I was sixteen. I didn’t how to be single. Was this what my nights would look like soon? Going to clubs on double dates? Did I need to download all the apps like Jaz? Or be open to threesomes like Daisy? Or have more than one guy on the go like Bri?
The alcohol must be wearing off, because I was thinking too much again. Once we were far enough away from the booth, I told Evan I needed a drink before heading to the bar.
After waiting in line and paying way too much for a vodka, I found a quieter spot against a wall and pulled out my phone. The girls’ chat was going wild. Daisy was on a date tonight.
Daisy: His friend just ‘bumped’ into us and is staying for a drink.
Jaz: Is tonight the night?
Daisy: I hope so. The friend is hot.
Bri: I can’t believe you’re about to get railed by two guys.
Daisy: *Sweat droplets Emoji*
Jaz: Where’s Ruby? She’s been way too quiet today.
Daisy: She’s probably busy getting railed by Noah.
Bri: Speaking of railing... gotta go. Just arrived at my situationship’s condo.
Jaz: *Fire Emoj* *Sad Emoji* #RidingSoloTonight
Jaz: I’m putting a bottle of wine in the fridge so you can all fill me in on the threesome, reunion sex and one-night stand shenanigans tomorrow.
A deep ache settled in my chest. Telling the girls was going to be hard. Maybe I’d cop out and send them a message before boarding my flight home. That would give them time to digest the bombshell while I was stuck in airplane mode.
The mere thought of not only explaining the story to them, but to my parents, and Noah’s family, and Ryker especially, made me nauseous. It was tempting to release a statement like a celebrity to avoid having to repeat the story over and over.
After almost eight-years, Noah and I have not-at-all-amicably split. Please direct all questions to the cheating asshole at fault.
Alone for the first time tonight, I caved and opened Noah’s messages.
Noah: Where did you go?
Noah: Babe please come back. We need to talk.
Noah: It was a mistake. A stupid drunken mistake.
Noah: I love you Ruby. Don’t do this to me.
Noah: I’m driving around. Where are you?
Noah: Meet me somewhere to talk.
Noah: She meant nothing to me.
Noah: I hate myself. Please forgive me. I’ll make this up to you.
Noah: I fucked up.
Noah: Where the fuck are you Ruby? I’m worried.
Noah: Tell me where you are. You don’t know anyone in Miami.
Noah: I’m not messing around Ruby.
Noah: Where are you staying tonight?
Noah: Please call me babe. Fuck I’m going insane.
Noah: I miss you already. Come back.
Noah: I’m a fucking mess. I need you.
Noah: Don’t do this to me Ruby. Talk to me.
Noah: All my frat brothers are at a party but I didn’t go. I have the place to myself. Please come talk to me.
Noah: I’m sorry. So sorry. If I could take it back I would.
Noah: Don’t throw away our relationship like this. You owe me the chance to explain.
Noah: If you don’t call me back, I’ll call your friends.
That snapped me into gear. I hurried back to the booth, elbowing my way through the crowded dance floor. Noah didn’t have Bri, Jaz or Daisy’s numbers, but he did have Ryker’s.
Just as I reached the booth, Ryker was lifting Miranda off his lap to pull his phone from his pocket.
I must have been hiding in the corner for longer than I realised, because Evan and Miranda had made their way back. They all fit much better without my ass in there too.
I couldn’t decide who’d hit the bigger jackpot. Miranda and Elizabeth for landing Evan and Ryker, or Ryker and Evan for scoring the volleyball players. The four of them were a walking advertisement. They were going to sell a shit ton of energy drinks.
Ryker frowned at the screen for a pause before glancing up and finding me. “Why is Noah calling me?”
“I–”
This was my chance to fess up, to fill Ryker in on the real reason I was here with him. But I wasn’t ready to admit it just yet. Once the truth was out there, I wouldn’t be able to ignore it anymore.
I was also terrified of what Ryker might do. A cab could have him at Noah’s place within twenty minutes. I didn’t particularly want to see my best friend in handcuffs or my ex-boyfriend in a body bag... or did I?
“I missed his call earlier and he panicked,” I lied. “You don’t need to answer. I just texted him back.”
Ryker didn’t look convinced, but thankfully he still let the call ring out.
“Who’s Noah?” Miranda asked as she climbed back into Ryker’s lap.
I spoke through the thick lump in my throat. “My boyfriend.”
“You have a boyfriend?”
And cue the relief. Her expression completely shifted as the corners of her glossy lips curled upwards. Girls who were interested in Ryker loved hearing that I had a boyfriend. It’s like my word that Ryker and I had never had a thing wasn’t enough.
I’d known Miranda had been trying to figure it out. The way she’d politely – yet not so subtly – questioned me in the bathroom made it obvious. She was into Ryker, and there was no way he wasn’t into her. She was gorgeous.
Ryker patted the space beside him, gesturing for me to sit. Now Miranda was back in his lap, there was enough room for me.
Taking a seat, I twirled the straw in my drink before taking a long sip. I couldn’t taste the alcohol in this, which meant it was either too weak or I was too drunk.
With everyone else distracted, I subtly typed out a text beneath the table.
Ruby: Don’t you dare. Keep this between us. I’m safe. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
That should keep Noah satisfied. He was all about appearances. If there was even the slightest chance he thought I’d keep his dirty secret, he’d take it.
Just as I finished off my vodka, a waitress appeared with a round for everyone. Evan was a table service kind of guy, and I had no complaints.
As I reached for mine and took a heavy mouthful, I could feel Ryker’s questioning gaze on me. I purposely ignored him. Figures he was still sober enough to sense something was up.
“That thing is going nuts,” Miranda called out to me, nodding towards my phone.
I hurriedly snatched it up, letting out a relieved sigh once realising it was just the girls’ chat again.
Daisy: It’s happening. Wish me luck. *Eggplant Emoji* X2
“Holy shit,” I breathed. “She’s actually doing it.”
That was going to be an interesting story tomorrow. Hopefully it would overshadow my epic breakup one.
“Doing what?” Ryker pressed.
“Daisy is about to have a threesome with–”
I paused. Had it only been Ryker and me, I would have happily filled him in. But it was probably TMI for this group.
“Fuck, that’s hot.” Evan’s eyes smouldered. “Do you know what’s hotter than a threesome though?”
“What?” Miranda questioned, her gaze heavy with anticipation.
“A foursome.”
Wow! I was definitely overstaying my welcome. I hadn’t realised this was that type of date. Is that where I was going wrong? Should I have been suggesting to Noah that we bring a third person in? A fourth? Was I too reclusive?
As Evan leaned in to whisper something in Elizabeth’s ear, I discreetly watched them, curious about what he’d be saying. I knew I should look away, since it felt like I was intruding on their foreplay, but I couldn’t bring myself to.
When she eventually edged back with a mischievous snarl, she reached straight for Miranda. “Let’s go to the bathroom. I need to talk to you.”
My phone lit-up again, stealing my attention. This time it was Noah’s name on the screen. I turned it facedown, hoping that would be enough to fight the temptation to check what he had to say.
The moment Elizabeth and Miranda crossed the packed dance floor, Ryker rounded on Evan. “I don’t suppose you have any idea what Elizabeth would be chatting to Miranda about in there?”
Evan innocently shrugged. “Whether she’d be game on coming back to the hotel with both of us.”
Ryker sighed. “I told you. I’m not putting my dick anywhere yours has been.”
“Don’t be a prude. You’ve already had a threesome. Consider this the next level.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You’ve had a threesome, Wheels?”
Ryker looked sheepish, like it was something he’d planned on keeping hidden from me forever.
His sexual experiences put mine to shame. I’d always known he was... active in that sense, but a threesome wasn’t something I’d ever considered.
I set down my drink. “Was it with two guys?”
“Two girls,” Evan answered on Ryker’s behalf.
“Jeez, Wheels. That’s a lot of pressure. How did it even work?”
Ryker shook his head. “Nah-ah. I’m not that drunk, Rubz.”
“What do you mean?”
“Once we have that conversation we can’t take it back.”
“So we don’t take it back,” I replied simply. “Tell me. I want to know.”
Ryker studied me, his forehead creased. “You really want to talk about this?”
The liquid courage had me nodding. Sex was an invisible line Ryker and I had always drawn. When it came to anything intimate, it was the only time my girls became my go-to over him.
“If you won’t indulge your curious best friend, I will,” Evan drawled, smiling easily.
“Jump in if I make any mistakes.” He leaned forward on the table, his forearms flexing as he clasped his hands.
“It was two Deltas. Or were they Kappas?” The question was clearly rhetorical, because Evan continued without wavering.
“The gist is that they took turns riding his face and cock simultaneously while Ryker–”
“Shut the fuck up, Evan,” Ryker interjected, the tips of his ears turning red.
Holy shit, was he embarrassed? It wasn’t often I witnessed Ryker uncomfortable.
“You can shove your story and your foursome,” he finished.
I lifted my hands in protest. “Don’t say no on my account, Wheels. I can book another room.”
“I’m saying no because I have no interest in hearing Malibu Ken over here moaning and groaning.”
Amused, Evan leaned back. “Party pooper.”