Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Fake lashes
Ryker
Thank fuck that was over. I’d barely paid attention in the team meeting – something about end of year athletic awards.
My Uber app had gone off just as it started, notifying me it had dropped Ruby at my place.
The hour had dragged after that. I’d spent most of it watching the clock above Coach’s head, like it was counting down to summer break.
I was looking forward to seeing Ruby, to talk and hopefully clear the air. Not specifically about it, just in the way we used to, before I put my foot – well in this case, tongue – in it.
As everyone was filing from the room, Coach called out my name. “Have you got a second?”
No.
“Of course. What’s up?”
He stepped to the side, out the way of foot traffic. “I’d like your thoughts on who should be captain next year. I’ve got someone in mind, but you see a side of the guys I don’t get to. I want to make sure we’re on the same page.”
I’d sensed this conversation was coming. I’d been paying close attention the second half of the season in preparation, giving the guys subtle tests to see who stepped up.
“McDonald seems like the obvious choice.”
He’d been my backup QB the past two years, shadowing me closely. With another two years left of college, it gave him plenty of time to make his mark.
“But he can be selfish. He doesn’t always put the team’s needs first,” I added, feeling a tinge of guilt, but not enough to keep me from being honest with Coach. I respected him too much. “Personally? I’d go Johanson.”
A sophomore running back who never lost faith in the game, even when we were trailing by what felt like impossible scores.
Coach nodded his agreement. I’d passed that test.
“I’ll make the announcement next week.” He inched closer, lowering his voice. “Have you been paying attention to the standings?”
The standings at the end of the NFL home and away season were what determined the Draft order. The team with the worst record picked first, and the team with the best picked last, excluding things like trades.
“No,” I admitted, shaking my head faintly. “A lot can change in three months.”
Teams also didn’t always make selections based on the predicted draft order. It depended on what they needed and the gaps in their roster. I could get picked up sooner than expected, or I could get picked up later... or not at all a seed of doubt whispered.
I wasn’t going to shake the feeling of imposter syndrome until I heard my name on Draft day.
“Make the most of life before then, kid,” Coach said, gripping my shoulder. “Once your name is called out, nothing will be the same.”
That thought was equally exhilarating and terrifying. I’d spent my entire life working to reach this moment. While it was so close, it still felt like a lifetime away. I wasn’t in a rush to get to it either.
“Yo, Ryker,” Brady called out from down the hall. “We’ve got to go, man. Tori’s got a schedule and we’re cutting it fine.”
Not wanting to get in the way of Tori and her plans, I bid farewell to Coach then caught up with my cousin and the guys.
“Shotgun,” Evan shouted the moment Pat shoved open the door to head outside.
“You can’t call shotgun ‘til you see the car,” Kyler argued.
“I can see the parking lot. That counts.”
“Shouldn’t the birthday boy get the front?” Brady challenged.
“Tomorrow’s his birthday. He can’t play that card all weekend.”
“The fuck I can’t,” I said, shoving Evan out the way. “Enjoy the backseat, Malibu Ken.”
Grumbling under his breath, he let out an over the top sigh before giving in and climbing into the back with Kyler and Pat.
Checking the time when Brady started the car, it had just passed five-thirty. I wasn’t sure how this constituted cutting it fine for an eight p.m. dinner, but arguing with Brady about Tori’s orders was a losing battle.
A nervous energy hit me as Brady turned out of the parking lot. Knowing I was so close to seeing Ruby again had me low-key hyped.
She would’ve seen the flowers by now. I’d purposely left them on the dresser so she couldn’t miss them.
I had no clue what she’d make of them. Truth be told, I wasn’t sure what to make of them either.
All I knew was that when I passed them earlier today, they’d reminded me of her and I found myself walking them to the counter without a second thought.
“How many people are coming tonight?” Evan checked, resting his elbows on his cramped thighs.
He’d somehow got stuck in the middle seat. Sucker.
“For dinner there’s us five,” Brady answered.
“Duh,” Evan muttered.
“Then Tori and Ruby.”
Kyler grimaced. “Sounds intimate.”
“That’s just dinner,” Brady explained. “More people are invited later for a drink.”
“Including Joey Nazaar?” Pat checked. “Tori asked me for his number this week. She said she wanted it for Ruby.”
“If I get to Ruby first, fair is fair,” Evan growled, before pinching the back of my neck through the headrest, like an annoying little brother. “Unless you think I’ll have competition before Nazaar arrives, Richardson?”
“Go for gold, man,” I snorted. “Watching Ruby shoot you down will make great entertainment.”
Had I considered him a threat, I would have told him to go and fuck himself. But Evan could hit on Ruby all he liked. There’s no way she’d go for it. She was too pure for a guy like him. I’m sure his threesome in Miami had been enough to freak her out for good.
“Did you invite Lindsay for me?” Pat checked.
Brady nodded. “Tori said she’ll be at the drinks, along with the girl Kyler hooked up with last week. They’re coming with Gretchen.”
My gaze snapped from the road to my cousin. “Tori invited Gretchen?”
“Is that a problem? She assumed you’d want her there considering she’s slept over every night this week.”
“She’s come over every night this week,” I clarified.
She hadn’t stayed once. She was a platonic distraction, nothing more. Last night we’d played video games for so long my thumbs cramped. She had three older brothers and was surprisingly killer at Fortnite.
When we’d left Lastlings together after Pat’s birthday, I’d fully intended on hooking up with her, but nothing ended up happening. I hadn’t wanted it to. It felt... wrong.
Evan thrust his head between Brady and me, leaning on the centre console. “Sounds like a five-way date. Ryker and Gretchen. Brady and Tori. Pat and Lindsay. Kyler and whatever-the-hell-her-name-is.”
“Kyah,” Kyler supplied.
“Kyler and Kyah? That’ll never work man.” Evan bumped me, a haughty grin spreading across his pretty-boy face. “I guess that leaves Ruby to me.”
I had to resist the urge to accidentally elbow that face – just in case Ruby had a soft spot for pretty boys.
*
I followed Ruby’s voice when I walked inside. She was in the kitchen with Tori... and Gretchen? What was she doing here?
There was an open bottle of wine between them, which was concerningly close to empty.
A smile lit up Ruby’s face when she spotted me in the doorway, her eyes creasing behind her glasses. “Hey, Wheels.”
I smiled back. “Hi, Rubz.”
As I moved in for a hug, doubt crept in, causing me to hesitate. We always hugged before we kissed, but was it too intimate now? Would she freak out, thinking I was making another move?
Unsure, I settled for lightly tapping her shoulder, which was fucking lame. She seemed to think so too, based on the subtle crease of her eyebrows.
Gretchen, on the other hand, hugged me without hesitation. She didn’t stop there either, rising onto her toes and pressing a kiss to my lips.
“Um, hi,” I muttered. “What are you–”
“I stopped by because I thought I left my gym tag in your bedroom last night.” She rested her palms against my chest, like the intimacy was totally normal. “No luck finding it, but I did see the flowers. You’re so sweet, babe.”
I shifted my gaze between Gretchen and Ruby. “Actually–”
“Finally, Brady!” Tori exclaimed, springing from her seat when my cousin ambled into the kitchen. “You’re behind schedule. I assume you at least tried on the outfit I laid out on your bed this morning?”
Brady cowered. “I didn’t have a chance.”
Tori exhaled dramatically. “You’d want to hope it works, because now we’re out of time for options.”
She grabbed Brady’s hand and dragged him from the room. There was no doubt who called the shots in their relationship. Tori had Brady’s balls tucked away in her eccentric purse, but we all knew that’s exactly how he liked it.
“Ruby and Tori invited me to stay for dinner before tonight’s party,” Gretchen said. “Is that cool with you? I already have my things in the car, so I could get ready here.” She peered up at me, blinking her unmistakably fake lashes. “I messaged Lindsay and Kyah, and they’re down too.”
I was a college quarterback. I prided myself on reacting quickly and on my feet, but I had no idea what I was supposed to say to that. Gretchen was acting like there was something going on between us. Was this some kind of role play? If so, I had no fucking clue what my role was supposed to be.
“I’m sure Tori has over catered,” I settled with.
Taking that as a yes, Gretchen did a little happy dance, squealing happily before sitting back down beside Ruby. “Ruby and I can get ready together after we finish our drinks.”
“You two have met then?”
“Mmhm. We were just getting to know each other.”
Part of me wanted to make an excuse and bail, but the thought of Gretchen and Ruby talking without me was even more terrifying. So I forced myself to stay put.
“I was telling Ruby about my latest modelling gig,” Gretchen said.
Ruby’s face lit up with what I knew was fake enthusiasm. “She’s a model, Wheels!”
I stiffened, knowing exactly what she was hinting at.
Kitty Banks. Giselle Sterling. Sienna Davis.
And now Gretchen Huntington.
“I started doing the whole influencer thing in high school, and it took off from there,” Gretchen went on, pointedly blinking her long eyelashes. “My current partnership is with a beauty company. These are the latest work perk.”
Ruby’s lips curved with ironic amusement. “They’re fake lashes? No way!”
“Bet you couldn’t tell. I have a discount code if you need any new products. This company’s contour is to die for.”
“You know, I’ve never known the difference between contour and bronzer,” Ruby admitted. “I always assumed they did the same thing.”
Gretchen gasped. “They so do not do the same thing! Girl, I’m giving you a makeup lesson tonight.”
Ruby sipped her wine, the glass working overtime to hide her mocking smile. “Can’t wait.”