Chapter 25what?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Or what?
Ryker
The guys were in the kitchen, taking stock of the alcohol when I returned downstairs. I snatched a bottle of vodka off the counter, ignoring their concerned expressions as I took a long swig. If I didn’t do something to dim the anger within me, I was going to explode.
I’d have to find a loophole around the promise I’d made Ruby, because Noah didn’t get to hurt her like that and fucking get away with it.
I wanted to wring his fucking neck. I wanted to break his fucking jaw.
I wanted to smash up his girly fucking car.
I’d never hated another person more. Not a rival quarterback.
Not a cheap defender. Not even a hockey player.
“You good?” Evan checked when I eventually set the bottle down.
I shook my head. Then nodded. Then shrugged. “I will be.”
“And Ruby?” Brady pressed.
Honestly? I wasn’t sure. She’d never gone through something like this before, so I had nothing to compare it to. It was clear she wanted to move past it though, so if she needed me to act like it hadn’t happened, I would. At least for tonight.
“She’ll be fine, but don’t bring it up when she comes down. Let’s just have fun tonight.”
Pat saluted. “Easy. Talking about exes is a mood killer, and there will be no fun sponges at tonight’s party.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Party?”
The front door slammed shut a moment before Tori appeared in the kitchen. Brady immediately discarded the keg he was helping to lift, leaving it to Kyler to manage the weight.
Tori was already dressed for the night, wearing baggy jeans and a structured top that showed off the skin above her hip bones. She was the reason I knew anything about women’s style. She had a habit of taking over the TV with fashion shows whenever she came round, and I’d get hooked every time.
After an awkwardly long and drawn-out make out session with my cousin, she looked my way. “Is Ruby here?”
I nodded. “She’s upstairs.”
She picked four hard seltzers up off the counter. “I’m going to finish getting ready with her. See you boys once we’re serving.”
“Serving?”
“Slayin’. Killing it. Looking hot,” she explained. “Come on, Ryker. We’re the same age!”
With a defeated sigh, I reached for the vodka and took another sip. It didn’t feel that way sometimes.
*
After setting up the coolers and ice, and then arguing over the playlist, we were finally ready to go. Pat poured us all a drink, which was very heavy on the vodka. Not that I was complaining. I was still full of angry adrenaline.
Though as much as I needed something to take the edge off, I had to pace myself. Ruby had an early flight tomorrow. I needed to be sober enough to drive her first thing.
Most of the team turned up just before seven p.m., followed by the rest of the guests not long after. The numbers had blown out well beyond a small gathering. No surprises there.
I made the rounds, exchanging small talk and chatting with the guys until Tori came downstairs. I’d been subtly watching for the past hour, waiting on her – well, Ruby – to come down.
Excusing myself from the conversation I’d landed myself in, I headed straight for Tori. She didn’t seem at all surprised when I took her arm and guided her to the kitchen.
“I need another drink before you chew my ear off, Richardson.”
I gaped at her. “Huh?”
“Yes, Ruby told me. Yes, we spoke about it. Yes, you and I can talk about it now. But I want something strong while we do that.”
Very impatiently, I waited while she rummaged through the fridge, doing my best not to just pick something for her. After what felt like a full four quarters, she finally settled on a hard lemonade before slamming the door closed.
“So,” I eagerly prompted. “Was it a one-time thing?”
Her gaze slipping, Tori shook her head. “Or the one person.”
It was no secret that I’d never warmed to Noah, but Ruby had, and he’d pissed all over her trust. Now, I planned on pissing on his corpse, then stomping on it, then setting it alight just for good measure.
“Whatever you do next, think it through,” Tori said, her voice low with warning. “Don’t let your hate for Noah cloud how much you care about Ruby.”
I mechanically nodded, but in truth, her advice went in one ear and straight out the other. While Ruby might be willing to move on, I couldn’t forget what Noah had done. Just thinking about how much he’d disrespected her sparked a fire in me unlike anything I’d ever felt. Not even on the field.
Hurting Ruby was as good as hurting me, and I held grudges – especially where she was concerned.
Tori rested her canned drink against her lips, which were painted a dark shade of grey. I might not be up to speed with the latest makeup craze, but something told me not many girls would rock a lipstick colour like that. Though weirdly, it looked normal on her.
“Now be honest with me. Is there a part of you that’s happy about this?”
“What?” I balked. “Of course not!”
Tori rolled her eyes. “Come on. You’re not going to admit you’re secretly relieved that Ruby is finally single for the first time in your post-virginity lives?”
“No.”
“Or that Noah is out of her life?”
Well, kind of. But not like this.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “What are you implying, Victoria?”
“Victoria?” Tori burst out laughing. “Whatever. Stay in denial. I’ll be here once you’re not.”
Brady ambled into the kitchen, searching the crowd for his girlfriend. When he spotted her, he weaved through the people, sliding his arms around Tori’s waist and pressing a kiss to her cheek.
“Your girlfriend is a pest, Brady,” I seethed.
Brady beamed proudly. “Life wouldn’t be interesting if she wasn’t.”
Before I got stuck awkwardly watching another one of their make out sessions, I skipped out of the kitchen and back into the living room. It was reduced to standing room only, except the stretch between the couch and TV, where a group of guys were locked into an Xbox game.
As I cast my gaze around, my attention snagged on Gretchen.
Her long blonde hair was secured in a high ponytail, the ends slipping over her narrow shoulders.
She was dressed in a strapless red dress, which was tight and short enough to salivate over.
It left little to the imagination – not that I had to imagine.
She caught my eye and waved, though as she rose from her group of friends to come over, I turned for the stairs instead. I was worried about Ruby. She never usually took this long getting ready.
Once I reached my bedroom, I typed the passcode into my digital lock. Whenever there was an event happening in our house – which sometimes felt like every other night – I made sure to lock up my room. The last thing I needed was strangers using it as a place to hook up.
Stepping inside, the first thing I noticed were the four empty White Claw cans on my dresser. Here’s hoping Ruby had shared them with Tori, otherwise there may be a repeat of Miami happening later.
Knowing now what she’d been going through that night, I felt like an ass for not being more sensitive. I’d figured something was up, but I never would have guessed this.
The missed calls from Noah, her evasiveness, her drunkenness, her flirting... it all made sense. I wished she’d told me straight away so I could’ve been there for her, rather than wasting half the night entertaining Miranda.
Ruby startled as she emerged from the bathroom, her gaze widening at the sight of me sitting on the foot of the bed. My eyes widened too, but that was because I couldn’t disassociate Ruby and my bathroom anymore.
“I thought you’d be downstairs, Wheels.”
“I came to check on you.”
She smiled softly. “I’m good, I promise. Bri called and I lost track of time. That’s all.”
As she moved to the dresser and reached for the perfume of hers she always left here, I subtly watched her – well, more like checked her out.
She looked – for lack of a better word – hot. She’d styled her shoulder-length hair into smooth waves, and she’d changed her airport outfit for a fitted white dress, the sleeves purposely slipping off her shoulders, exposing her collarbone.
I couldn’t understand how Noah thought any other girl measured up to Ruby. She was the full package – gorgeous, kind and smart. Ruby had always been settling with him. The fact that he was the one who’d cheated was almost unbelievable.
He was never going to find someone better than her. Hell, the guy could’ve married her one day if he’d kept his dick in his pants. At least now I didn’t have to fudge my way through that wedding toast.
“In case I lose you down there, don’t forget I’m leaving early tomorrow,” Ruby said, while slipping in a pair of earrings.
“What time again?”
“I’ve prebooked an Uber for six-thirty.”
“Don’t be silly. I’ll drive you.”
“You don’t have to do that. It’s way too early.”
I levelled her with an impatient glare. “I’m not arguing with you on this. Cancel the Uber, Rubz.”
She let her hands fall to her sides, darting out her tongue mischievously. “Or what?”