Chapter 51
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
I. Could. Not. Wait.
Ruby
I waited in the airport for what felt like the hundredth time this year, my boarding pass to Philadelphia resting on my lap. Knowing this would be my last weekend visiting Ryker at Phil-U hit me harder than I expected.
He was officially done with college, apart from a sports awards gala we were attending tonight, which the football team were then backing up with a party and send off at their house tomorrow. It was going to be a big weekend.
Ryker had all but begged me to take time off and fly in for the two events before making the long drive with him back home – eight hours to my place in Ohio, and an extra three the following morning to Detroit.
Strangely, I found myself looking forward to it.
Being stuck in a car with Ryker sounded perfect.
After that, we’d barely have a chance to rest before we were due in Las Vegas for the Draft. Everyone was making the trip – Nancy and Charles, Mum and Dad, Stefan, Savannah with her husband and the twins, Tori, Brady, and his parents. I couldn’t wait.
I selfishly hoped Ryker was drafted to somewhere on the west coast, or at least a central team. I’d officially applied for the graduate program in Tacoma, and now that I had, I wanted it so badly I hadn’t thought about a backup plan.
The distance between us would get much bigger if Ryker was drafted to South Carolina, which was starting to look more and more likely. It was a forty-five hour drive or six hour flight between those two places – in other words, way too long.
Knowing how busy each of our schedules would be next year, we wouldn’t get many opportunities to see one another. Ryker would get one bye, but apart from that, unless I scored time off and met him somewhere, he wouldn’t be able to visit me until the post-season.
Unlocking my phone, I reread my latest message from him.
Instant mistake in the busy airport.
It was an explicit and vividly detailed account of what he planned on doing to me tonight.
I. Could. Not. Wait.
It had been four weeks – four whole weeks – since he’d visited me. It wasn’t fair for my vagina to be introduced to his dick, only to be told they couldn’t see each other for the foreseeable future.
This relentless desire for him was unlike anything I’d felt before. The thrill I experienced whenever he messaged late at night, sent Snapchats of his insane body, or FaceTimed before work wasn’t dying down.
To help bridge the gap, he regularly hit me up for phone sex, which I liked to think I was getting better at. I was much more confident than the first time. I’d even bought a mini tripod to make things easier. I could do way more with both hands free.
Last weekend, I’d just pulled up to work when he FaceTimed me from a party. I’d had him jerking off in a bathroom while people queued outside the door, and he had me sliding my hands beneath my scrubs in the parking lot. Nothing like a pre-night-shift orgasm.
As fun as the phone sex had been, I was ready for the real thing again. I missed him... a lot.
Just as I began typing out a message to tell him that, a notification from Noah caught my eye. His name wasn’t one I’d seen on my phone for a while, not since the night Ryker had run into him.
I’d been meaning to reach out to him, to diffuse the situation. But when there’d been no further talks of Ryker getting into trouble, I’d let it drop.
Noah: I’m home. Are you? We need to talk.
Ruby: About?
Noah: The fact your new boyfriend broke my nose. I could press charges.
I ignored the label assumption. He was fishing, and I wasn’t biting.
Ruby: You won’t.
Noah: Why wouldn’t I?
Ruby: Because I’m asking you not to.
Before he replied, the attendant came over the intercom to say my flight was boarding in ten minutes. Here’s hoping he responded by then. Otherwise I’d obsess over this my entire flight.
While I waited, I scrolled through the outfit choices Tori had sent. Tonight’s theme was black tie, like a proper ball. She’d given me a ‘shortlist’ of possibilities – and by shortlist, I meant twelve options.
While each of the dresses were gorgeous, some just weren’t me. Like the strapless, floor-length red gown that practically screamed look at me, or the emerald green one with a stunning bodice but a way-too-puffy skirt that looked like it belonged on a Disney princess.
There was also a bright pink dress with a band of fur around the chest. It reminded me of the ridiculous pink suit Ryker had been sent by the stylist candidates. Naturally, it fell into the hell no category without debate.
Scrolling through the pictures again, I was confident I’d settled on the right option. I loved how much it resembled the yellow gown worn by Kate Hudson in How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days.
To this day, one of the greatest rom-coms of all time.
The dress was simple yet gorgeous, with a flattering amount of cleavage, and a low dipping back – low enough that I likely wouldn’t be able to wear underwear.
It was a soft yellow, which complimented the spray tan Bri had talked me into getting last night. What had started as a simple question about earrings had turned into an excuse for her to get me completely glammed up.
Rather than vegging on the couch with Jaz and her dating shows, Bri insisted on a full glow up – an eyebrow wax, tint and lamination, followed by a mani, pedi, blowout and spray tan. We’d finished off our last-minute mall trip with some shoe shopping.
Keeping the glam train going, Tori was collecting me from the airport so we could head straight to get our hair and makeup done.
I’ll admit, after spending most of my time recently dressed in unflattering scrubs and Crocs, I was excited to get dressed up.
While I was bummed I’d have to wait a little while longer to see Ryker, it had worked out for the best. He had to be there early to film some pre-show entertainment with the hockey captain.
I couldn’t wait to see Ryker in a tuxedo, nearly as much as I couldn’t wait to undress him later – something he’d already promised on doing to me.
Just as my row was called to board, Noah replied.
Noah: Meet up with me and we’ll talk.
Ruby: I’ll be home in a few days. I’ll message you then.