Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
Not a delivery driver
Ruby
I waited at my gate, my legs propped on top of my suitcase. My flight had been delayed by an hour. Then two. Now three. I was worried it was a sign, like the universe was telling me that visiting Ryker was a mistake.
I’d tried to keep myself distracted during the delays by reading.
When I found myself at the end of one page without remembering a single word, I’d loaded the latest Netflix rom-com to drop, hoping mindless entertainment might do the trick.
But even still, my thoughts circled back to the kiss.
So in a final and desperate move, I’d jammed in my headphones and prayed Taylor Swift could keep me from spiralling.
The last two weeks had been too busy to dwell on either my breakup with Noah, or the kiss with Ryker. But now that I had nothing to do but wait, all of the overthinking was catching up with me.
Back home, mine and Noah’s breakup was very much public knowledge, with gossip having spread through our hometown. I’d inadvertently confirmed the rumours by deleting every Instagram post of us too, even the group pictures.
A few people from school had sent me messages, some genuinely checking in while others were just looking for the tea.
Noah’s mum had reached out too, expressing how saddened she was by the way things had turned out. When she mentioned she hoped we sorted through it, I concluded Noah had clearly left out a few key details – mainly the list of girls who’d played starring roles in our breakup.
I hadn’t bothered filling her in, due to the part of me that instinctively protected him. Even though he’d caused this, I doubt things had been easy for him the past few months either. Stirring drama or hurting more people wouldn’t achieve anything.
He still texted occasionally, but I never responded. Finishing an overnight shift or waking up to his drunken voicemails was the worst – when he’d apologise over and over, like a broken record. It was hard listening to the strain in his voice. I could hear his heartache.
Ryker: Any updates?
Ruby: Still waiting.
I briefly removed my headphones as another announcement came over the intercom. The flight had just been delayed by another thirty minutes.
Ruby: It’s not looking good, Wheels. I don’t think I’m going to make it.
These past few weeks I’d gone back and forth – then side to side, then spun in circles and zig-zags – before officially concluding that the kiss was a mistake. At least that’s how I was figuring Ryker felt about it.
He hadn’t followed me when I ran, he’d stayed out all night with someone else, he hadn’t come back in the morning to drive me to the airport, and he hadn’t acknowledged it once since – all straight out of the male denial playbook.
If that’s what he wanted, I was willing to forget it as well. I’d already lost one of the most important people to me. I wasn’t willing to risk losing Ryker over a kiss.
It was just a kiss, Ruby. Time to let it go and move on.
As the intercom went off again, I paused my music. The attendant seated behind the desk didn’t look like she was about to deliver good news.
“An announcement for those travelling on fight AA439 to Philadelphia. Unfortunately it has been cancelled and–”
I didn’t bother listening to the rest.
A collective groan swept through the crowd as travellers swarmed the desk, like the poor attendant could summon a plane and put us all on it.
Ruby: My flight is cancelled. I’m sorry! It’s my fault for booking the cheapest airline. :(
Ryker: There’s a Delta flight taking off in 25 mins.
Ruby: They’re on the other side of the airport. I doubt I’d make it in time.
Not to mention a last-minute ticket would be super expensive. I was in a graduate nursing year. While I wasn’t scraping the bottom of the barrel, I wasn’t exactly rolling around in large pay checks either.
As I was typing out a lengthy text apologising for missing his birthday, an image came through of a boarding pass with my name on it.
Ryker: Start moving. Boarding closes in 8 minutes.
He’d rebooked my flight? It was such a Ryker thing to do.
I’ll bet he’d been researching airlines ever since the first delay over three hours ago. That was a productive use of time, unlike the Taylor Swift pity party I’d wasted mine on.
Ryker: Sorry for the back row. It’s all that was left.
I couldn’t help but wonder if he would have done this before the kiss. I’d already forgotten how our friendship worked up until that moment.
Ryker: You better be running, Rubz.
Knowing time wasn’t on my side, I hauled myself to my feet, wrapped my fingers around the handle of my suitcase, and started running for the first time since high school.
Ryker was the only person I’d willingly break my no cardio rule for.
*
Because I’d landed much later than planned, Ryker hadn’t been able to collect me from the airport. He’d sent an Uber in his place, which was waiting for me right by the doors when I walked outside.
He was being awfully thoughtful. Before the kiss, would he have–
Stop! You’re moving on, Ruby. Remember?
Even though the football season had ended, the guys were still expected to attend all athletic requirements for the remainder of the school year. They were stuck in a team meeting, which meant the house was dead quiet when I used the spare key left beneath the doormat to let myself in.
This was the first time I’d been entirely alone in the football house. Sometimes the guys would be out, but Tori was usually around. The stillness was kind of eerie, so I headed straight for Ryker’s bedroom.
After entering the security code on his lock – my birthday – I pushed open the door. Just like always, he’d cleaned up before I arrived. Vacuum lines streaked the carpet, and the bedspread looked crisp, as if it had come straight from the dryer.
Setting down my bag, I noticed a large bouquet on his dresser. It was beautiful, with every colour of the rainbow and countless types of flowers. A bunch like this wouldn’t have come cheap.
Walking towards them, I tried to nosily snoop, but there was no accompanying card or note. I didn’t want to assume they were for me, but why else would they be here? I doubt someone would have sent him birthday flowers. It wasn’t exactly a manly gift.
Before I could obsess over it, the doorbell sounded. I ignored it at first – given it wasn’t my house and answering the door felt strange – until it went off another two times.
It was probably just a delivery driver. Knowing how frustrating it was when they took the parcel with them, I reluctantly headed back downstairs. Whoever this package belonged to owed me.
As I swung open the door, it was immediately clear this wasn’t a delivery driver – unless this was some kind of ‘please-sign-here’ role play.
A beautiful blonde dressed in tight leggings and a fleecy coat was waiting.
Her eyes widened upon seeing me. I guess she was expecting one of the guys. I could safely rule out Brady. As for Ryker, Evan, Kyler and Pat, it was a one-in-four chance.
If there was ever a poster girl for hot, this girl was it. She was a head-turning kind of gorgeous. I’ll bet she could turn sexual preferences too. Even though I was very much team guy, I couldn’t deny how attractive she was.
“Hey,” I smiled. “Can I help you?”
“Hi. I left something in Ryker’s room last night. Is he home?”
That answered that question.