Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
I’m going to enjoy this
Ryker
I was barely paying attention to the conversation happening around me... something about a party tonight. I vaguely noted mention of the hockey team being there, but I wasn’t about to let that drama distract me from a night with Ruby – a date night at that.
I’ll admit, I was kind of anxious. The only restaurants I knew in town were those that served steaks, burgers or pizzas. I needed to step up my game so that tonight stood apart from all the dinners we’d shared in the past.
I nudged my cousin. “Where’s good to eat around here? You know, somewhere nice.”
With just the five of us guys crowded around the table, Brady was the safest bet for suggestions. Tori had stayed back at our house to finish off an assignment, otherwise I would have asked her.
Brady shook his head. “I’m not giving you date night advice until you fess up. Out with it, man. Are you dating Ruby?”
“We’re not dating.”
“You tapping that?” Pat smirked.
I glared at him. “No.”
Not yet at least. I couldn’t speak for later. Though honestly, I had no expectations. As ready as I was, I wasn’t going to rush anything. This was Ruby we were talking about.
“But you’ve been praying to ever since that pic,” Kyler snickered.
“His entire life,” Evan chimed in. “That photo just unlocked a new level of horniness for our oblivious QB.”
As much as I hated to admit it, Evan was right. That picture had certainly alerted me to how attractive I found my best friend. Add in the timing of her breaking up with Noah, it felt a bit like fate.
“What happens afterwards?” Brady pressed, seeming to be the only one taking this seriously. “Can you and Ruby go back to being friends after whatever this is?”
“Sure we can,” I dismissively answered. “Now, restaurants?”
*
I kept the guys distracted for most of the afternoon so that Ruby could rest. By the time we returned home, it had almost been five hours.
We’d detoured past the mall, where Evan proceeded to try on several versions of a plain white tee before buying two which looked identical to me... but apparently they weren’t.
As I eagerly headed straight for the stairs, the guys snickered.
“Where are you running to?” Pat teased.
“Going to wake up your girl?” Kyler snorted.
“With your penis?” Evan chided.
Refusing to give them the reaction they were looking for, I casually flipped them off over my shoulder and kept climbing. If there was ever an I-told-you-so expression, they were all wearing it right now.
All those years of insisting I didn’t see Ruby like that... ruined. Whenever we returned to just being friends, they’d never take me seriously again.
I paused outside my door, listening for signs that Ruby was still asleep, but instead, soft music drifted through the other side.
Nudging it open, I found her and Tori sitting in front of the full-length mirror – Ruby’s eyes shut while Tori carefully applied her makeup.
At least I think that’s what was happening. Beauty wasn’t my area of expertise.
As I set down my keys, Ruby’s eyes blinked open. She’d switched her glasses for contacts, which always made the green in her irises stand out.
“Hey,” I said. “What’s going on in here?”
“Ruby asked if I had anything she could borrow for a date tonight,” Tori answered with a devilish grin. “I insisted on a full glam makeover.”
Ruby shrugged, catching my gaze as if to say what can you do? I’d spent enough time around my cousin’s girlfriend to understand how Tori operated. Once she had her stylish mind set on something, there was no point trying to change it.
The first time I’d met her in freshman year, she’d told me my jeans were as dated as Belly and Jeremiah – whatever the fuck that meant – and she’d been choosing my outfits ever since.
“What do you think?” Tori asked me, her lip eagerly wedged between her teeth.
Getting to her feet, Ruby spun in a slow circle, her arms fanning out. She was dressed in patterned black tights and high boots, paired with a tan blazer worn as a dress, and a white turtleneck beneath it.
“Is that my blazer?” I checked.
Tori nodded. “How good does it look on her?”
“Pretty fucking good,” I agreed, fighting the urge to drool.
A shy blush settled in Ruby’s cheeks. Seeing her in my things always stirred something inside of me, but this felt different to all my tees and hoodies she’d stolen over the years.
“Got enough left in you to pick out something for me too, Tor?”
Tori willingly nodded. “Always.”
*
Brady had come through with the recommendation. The restaurant was nice, but not overly fancy. Too fancy wasn’t Ruby and me.
Instead of sitting across the table from each other, I’d taken the seat beside Ruby. Close enough that our arms brushed as we read from the same menu.
“Definitely the mushroom arancini,” she said.
“And garlic bread.”
“And the mushroom gnocchi.”
“Double mushrooms? Fine. But we need some protein.” I bypassed the vegetarian section. “And the ragu.”
Ruby nodded her agreement before handing back the menu. “Sounds delicious.”
While the waitress repeated our order, I placed my hand on Ruby’s thigh. I held my breath, bracing for any flicker of awkwardness – if I’d done this a month ago, it would have been fucking weird – but there was nothing. If anything, it was more unnerving how natural it felt.
“I need to tell you something,” Ruby anxiously whispered the moment the waitress walked away.
“Okay. Go on.”
“I can’t have sex with you tonight.”
My eyes shot open. “That’s fine. I didn’t actually expect–”
“I, ugh, kind of got my period. I wasn’t paying attention to the dates because this week has been crazy.” She rushed out the words, as though she’d been reciting them to herself the entire drive over. “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have come if I’d realised.”
I tightened my palm over her leg. “Rubz, I don’t want you ever thinking I’d only want you here so that we can fool around. It’s a huge perk, don’t get me wrong, but don’t forget that before this started, you were already my favourite person to be around.”
With a relieved exhale, she picked up her wine and brought it to her lips. “You’re a smooth talker, Wheels.”
Nothing smooth about it. Just facts.
“Tell me about your week,” I said. “How was the chole-oh-whatever?”
“The cholecystectomy was fine.”
“It’s such a fucking turn on when you talk medical to me.”
Ruby barked out a laugh, almost spitting out her mouthful of wine in the process. “That’s a lie and we both know it.”
She had me there. The mere thought of blood made me squeamish. If I had to do her job for a day, I’d spend most of it passed out on the floor.
“How did all the filming end up?” she checked.
“Fine, I assume. I never watched it back.”
Hearing your own voice on camera? No fucking thank you.
“How are you feeling about the Draft? I can’t believe it’s next month. Dad texts me every day about it.”
“Hearing stuff like that makes me nervous,” I admitted.
Ruby shifted to face me. “Why?”
“So many people are counting on my name being called out. My family, your parents, Coach, the guys, my teammates... you.”
“Because we’re excited for you.”
“But what if I don’t get drafted?”
I’d never voiced that fear out loud. My entire life had revolved around football, starting with a good high school career so I got picked up by a decent college, then playing well enough that it put me on the NFL’s radar.
There was no plan b. If this didn’t work out, I had no fucking clue what would come next.
“That’s crazy talk, Wheels. The latest reports have you estimated for pick seven.”
Which was already one off my initial estimate of pick six. No doubt thanks to our catastrophic season end.
“Not that you need to consider this for a second, but you know all those people would still love you even if you didn’t get drafted, right?” Ruby lifted her lips in a slight smile. “Me included.”
Of course I knew that. Though hearing Ruby say it was reassuring.
I reached forward with my spare hand to pick up my beer. I had no intention on removing my other from Ruby’s thigh anytime soon... or ever.
“Assuming everything works out, my agent said that April and May will be pure madness after the Draft, and then most teams report for training camp in mid-July.”
“Maybe you should try getting away in June,” Ruby suggested. “One final chance to relax before the world knows who you are.”
That gave me an idea.
“Could you take time off as well? We could escape for a few weeks to Mexico, or the Bahamas, or Hawaii. Wherever you want.”
She playfully wrinkled her nose. “Pre-kiss, the idea of going on vacation just the two of us wouldn’t have felt like such a big deal.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
She shrugged. “It’s a that’s-two-months-away thing. What if we’re not still doing whatever this is then?”
“Either way, we’ll still be friends, Rubz.”
She visibly relaxed. “You’re right. Bahamas it is.”
*
After dinner, I settled the bill while Ruby was in the bathroom.
As far as first dates went, I’d say tonight had been a success.
Not that I had much to compare it to. This was the first real date I’d ever been on.
I’d caught up with girls in the past for a bite to eat or a drink, but nothing overly thought out.
I should’ve bought Ruby flowers – again – but actually given them to her this time. Or at the very least shaved. I was sporting four-day-old stubble. Had I known Ruby would be surprising me, I would’ve made more of an effort.
As we headed for the car, I reached for her hand. If it was too much affection, she was polite enough not to pull away for my sake. I’d never thought of myself as a touchy-feely guy – until I touched her. Now, I couldn’t get enough.
When we came to a stop beside my car, I tugged up the collar of Ruby’s coat to shield her from the cold.
“What now?” she asked.
“Whatever you want. We can go for ice cream, or maybe hot chocolate would be better tonight.”
“I’m stuffed,” she admitted. “I doubt I could eat another thing.”