Chapter 23 His loss
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
His loss
Ryker
I sat opposite Levi Holloway while the social media team modified the lighting.
He was wearing his hockey jacket and cap.
I was basically in the same outfit, only the football version.
His gear was still justified, given his season wasn’t over yet.
Something he’d already reminded me of twice since I showed up.
The Phil-U social media team had us recording a new video, some sporting quiz they planned on posting everywhere.
Over the years, they’d had Levi and me film countless content, each concept more random than the last. Why people would willingly watch a video of Holloway and me tag teaming sporting facts, I had no clue.
But what did I know? My social media game consisted of resharing whatever the football team posted.
“When’s your next game?” I asked Levi, making small talk while we waited.
“Tonight. We’re hosting Allentown.”
“Your rivals, right?”
He nodded. “Always fucking gruelling against them. The win will be hard-earned, but we should get it.”
A commotion had us both looking up. Some camera equipment had just toppled over. As everyone frantically rushed to fix it, I pulled my phone from my pocket to check the time. I was due to pick Ruby up from the airport in just over an hour and I didn’t want to be late.
“Got somewhere to be?” Holloway asked.
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
“Same. I promised Hughesy I’d meet her after her last class of the day,” he grumbled, checking his watch. “Which is soon.”
“How is Grace?”
I didn’t have any classes with her this semester, and whenever I passed her in the Athletes’ Centre, we were both always too busy to stop and catch up.
The way Levi stiffened made me chuckle. Protective didn’t even come close to describing him when it came to Grace Hughes.
“Jesus, man,” I breathed. “Will you ever learn to let people ask about your girlfriend without going all caveman?”
“People, yes. You, no.”
I opened my mouth to tell him for the thousandth time that I wasn’t trying to steal his girl, but decided to let it drop. I didn’t have the energy.
“One day, you’ll know this feeling,” he growled. “When you do, I’ll be waiting for an apology.”
“Yeah? What feeling is that?”
He merely shrugged. “You’ll know.”
Thanks a bunch Mr. Cryptic.
After a few more minutes of clattering and banging, everything was set and ready to go. Before we got started, the social media manager ran through the structure of the video, explaining how the quiz would work.
“Okay. First question. What sport is played at Pebble Beach?” she asked.
I tapped my buzzer. “Golf.”
She nodded. “Correct. First point to Ryker Richardson.”
I winked at Levi. Game on, Holloway.
*
Less than a minute after I pulled into the pick-up zone, Ruby was walking out of the airport. She grinned the moment she spotted me, then hurriedly jogged to my car before I could even unbuckle my seat belt.
I’ll admit, I had to do a double take as she got closer. There was something different about her...
She’d cut her hair.
In all the years I’d known her, it had always been long, falling partway down her back. This shorter style suited her. She looked more grown-up – in a good way.
“Hold on, Rubz,” I called out through my open window. “Let me grab your bag.”
I flung open the door and rounded the car, just as she was about to lift the small suitcase into my open trunk.
With a playful smile, she handed it over to me. “How chivalrous.”
Nudging the trunk closed, I returned her smile. “I may have had an ulterior motive.”
Before she could escape, I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her off her feet. She let out a soft chuckle, her lips brushing my ear and sending a pathetic shudder down my spine. Thankfully the cold air was a good cover up.
Setting her back on the ground, I held her at arm’s length. “You cut your hair.”
She shrugged beneath her huge coat. “It was time for a change.”
“It looks good.”
The comment felt innocent enough, like something I would have said in the past. But given my clusterfuck brain when it came to her nowadays, I quickly steered the conversation to safer territory.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“So am I. I needed a break. Even if it’s barely for twenty-four hours.”
I opened the passenger door and motioned for her to get in. She raised her eyebrows in surprise, before climbing in slowly.
Was I being weird already and laying it on too thick? Overthinking was the fucking worst. That picture was messing with my head more than it ought to.
As she reached over to buckle her seat belt, she glanced up at me, frowning in confusion. “What? Have I got something on my face?”
Shit. I was staring.
“No. I–”
I needed to get a hold of myself. I’d seen Ruby in a bikini before. Underwear was basically the same thing.
Time to get the fuck over it.
“It’s just really good to see you, Rubz.”
She winked. “Well, duh.”
*
On the way back to my place, Ruby had complained that she was hungry. Knowing the guys would flip if I came home without Taco Bell for them, I’d ordered extra.
The instant we walked inside, the greedy fucks ambushed us, snatching the food right out of my hands like they’d never eaten before. While they sorted it out, I ran Ruby’s bag upstairs.
I’d been sure to clean my room this morning. A perk of her staying so often was that it was a good excuse to tidy up. It wasn’t as immaculate as a hotel, but it sure beat Pat and Kyler’s bedrooms. I wouldn’t step in either of those without a can of Lysol.
When I returned downstairs, all the food was scattered across the island in a free-for-all feast. I saddled up beside Ruby, reaching forward to snag a quesadilla before the guys scoffed them all.
“What’s the plan tonight?” she asked.
If she was hungry, she’d better quit chatting and start eating. She was sharing with a group of football players, not her girls.
My gaze cut to Pat’s. “Yeah. What is the plan?”
I’d left him in charge of the guest list, which, in hindsight, was a flat-out stupid decision on my part. The original agreement had been for a low-key night with just players and their girlfriends. Knowing him, it had spiralled.
“It’ll be fun,” he said, in lieu of an actual answer.
Ruby clapped. “Good. I need fun. Last night while we were operating a patient’s cyst ruptured and blood literally–”
Pat dropped his taco. “And there goes my appetite.”
Ruby snickered. “Maybe I should tell you more so you’ll all slow down and save me some nachos.”
She popped open the can of Coke in front of her. I’d purposely stocked up the other day – the good stuff with sugar – tucking it behind Tori’s vegan milk so the guys wouldn’t find it.
As she was setting it down, I snatched it from her hand and took a sip. I usually avoided soda, but now that I was in the off-season, I figured I could treat myself.
“Do you torture your boyfriend with stories like that?” Pat groaned, his skin turning ashen.
Ruby’s face drained of colour just as quickly as his. She carefully set her food down, then grabbed the countertop for balance.
Something wasn’t right. She’d reacted similarly in Miami, seconds before she threw up on my feet.
“Actually...” She slowly raised her gaze to meet mine, something I couldn’t read pulling at her expression. “Ex-boyfriend.”
My jaw went slack. Did I hear her correctly? Did she say ex? Or was I manifesting some fucked up dream? The same one I’d used when jerking off to–
Get a grip, Ryker. G-rated thoughts only.
My brain started running a million plays at once.
Why? When? Was this a real breakup? Or just a break?
Was this the type of situation where I had to keep my opinions reined in because they’d get back together?
Or had something gone wrong? Had Ruby ended it?
Or Noah? Had he fucked up? Did I need to murder the guy?
Not only was Ruby waiting for my reaction, but I could feel the guys looking at me too. I cleared my throat, willing my thoughts to straighten out. The room had become so quiet I could hear Evan chewing from across the counter. At least he hadn’t lost his appetite.
Brady snapped into gear first. “I’m sorry to hear that, Ruby.”
So was I.
“His loss,” Kyler said.
Agreed.
“You can have my taco if it’ll make you feel better,” Pat offered.
I’d give anything to make her feel better.
“I’ve got something way more satisfying than a taco to cheer you up,” Evan drawled.
Watch it.
With a forced chuckle, Ruby’s gaze returned to me, patient yet uncertain.
I needed to say something, but I was struggling to settle on what. She’d never been through a breakup before, and the unknown ground left me at a complete loss for words.
She and Noah had never even had a fight big enough for her to come to me for a shoulder to cry on. The only time I’d brought up their relationship... we all knew how that had ended.
When the silence stretched on uncomfortably long, she pushed off from the counter with a resigned sigh. “I’ll... um, be right back.”
Turning for the stairs, she took them two at a time, as though she couldn’t get out of here quick enough.
Every part of me felt compelled to follow her, but I couldn’t. Not until I pulled myself together. I’d only make things more awkward.
Hearing that Ruby and Noah had broken up was like my parents sitting me down to tell me they were getting divorced.
I was blindsided.
Ruby and Noah had been dating for so long that I could barely remember a time before they were a couple. I’d always assumed they’d be together forever, which is why whenever I pictured Ruby in my future, I had no choice but to imagine Noah beside her.
What the fuck had happened? I could only assume Ruby had ended it, because she was undoubtedly the one settling. But if he had...
I shoved my clenched fists into my pockets.
When we all heard the unmistakable sound of my bedroom door slamming closed, Evan let out a heavy sigh. “Dude, you handled that like a male virgin working a bra strap.”
I gaped at him. “Which means?”
“You fumbled it.”