Chapter 52 Fairytale Finish
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Fairytale finish
Ryker
I leaned against the bar, slowly sipping my whiskey. I watched the door eagerly as the crowd started to arrive, waiting for Ruby and my teammates.
Levi Holloway and I had already been here for two hours, filming promo content for tonight’s presentation.
Like me, he was dressed in a black tuxedo, and seeing him out of his usual Phil-U athletic gear was strange. I’m sure he felt the same when he looked at me.
“Can you believe that was the last time we’ll ever have to do Phil-U marketing together?” he asked.
The corner of my mouth turned up. “Is that you implying you’re going to miss me, Holloway?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely not,” he bit, though his lip did quirk back a little. “Are you sticking around until graduation?”
“No. I have to be in Vegas soon for the Draft.” I clutched my cup, impatiently swishing the liquid around. “The guys have already started packing up our place.”
“The football team are giving up the house?”
“Nah. We’re just clearing out enough for the next group of guys to move in over the summer.”
Levi nodded. “It’s the same for us. Getting it ready for the next generation and all that.”
I grimaced. “The next generation? That makes me feel old.”
“Oh yeah. Twenty-two. We’re ancient.”
A loud thunder of voices had me glancing at the door. The hockey team had just turned up as a pack. Damn. Why couldn’t my team have arrived first?
“Are you waiting on someone?” Levi checked, studying me.
“I am actually.”
Levi’s eyebrows rose in question.
“Girlfriend,” I supplied.
While that wasn’t technically what Ruby was, referring to her as my friend didn’t sit well anymore, and calling her my situationship or fuck buddy didn’t feel right either.
“You have a girlfriend?” Levi exhaled deeply. “Man, I fucking love hearing that.”
I playfully rolled my eyes. Six months ago, I probably would have rolled them in seriousness before arguing with this guy.
“Relax, Holloway. I was never going to steal your girl. Though if Grace sees the error of her ways and comes after me, there’s nothing I can do about that.”
I couldn’t help but snicker at his scowl. After all these years of dealing with his arrogance, he’d finally shown a weakness at the very end.
“Man,” I breathed with a grin. “Even after all this time, it still brings me so much joy to piss you off.”
Maybe I would miss that part next year.
Levi picked up his drink, his expression thoughtful. “Have you forgotten our conversation?”
“Must’ve,” I answered, because I had no clue where he was going with this.
“One day you’ll understand the feeling I have when it comes to Grace, and whenever that happens, I’ll be waiting on your apology.”
Tripp O’Connor, one of Levi’s closest friends and teammates, spotted his captain across the room and made his way towards us.
His cocky confidence set me on edge as he drew near.
The hockey group were a smug crowd – pot-kettle, I know – but it was more tolerable when the arrogance was coming from my teammates.
Speaking of, I spotted Evan and his self-assured strut as he entered the function room. That meant Ruby wouldn’t be far behind. They’d all come together.
“Richardson. Looking dapper,” Tripp said as he casually leant against the bar, signalling for the bartender. “I passed our trophy on the way in. Can’t say I saw yours.”
Levi’s head fell back as he quietly chuckled. Just like the football team, the hockey team had won their conference. But unlike us, they’d also gone on to become Frozen Four champs, which was the football equivalent of national champions.
They got their fairytale finish.
Before I could answer, Tripp’s attention snagged on something.
“Whoa.”
As I followed his gaze, my breath caught in my throat – Ruby had arrived.
She’d switched her glasses for contacts, exposing her stunning face. Her hair was styled in a complicated looking twist at the nape of her neck. And the dress...
Tori had refused to show it to me, like we were following wedding dress traditions or something. It was exactly what I had pictured though. Simple and elegant, and not stealing away from how naturally gorgeous Ruby was.
Even across the expansive ballroom, she looked un-fucking-believable.
“I have no idea who she is, but I know I’m taking her home tonight,” Tripp all but drooled.
An indiscernible growl rose from within me. I had no clue where it had come from, only that it was consuming, and if I had to throw down with Tripp right now to assert my ownership like a caveman, I’d do it.
“Don’t fucking think about it, O’Connor. She’s with me.”
Hell, turns out I’d gotten my fairytale finish too.
Levi barked out a throaty laugh as his eyes danced with amusement. “That,” he said, snickering. “That’s the feeling.”
*
I got intercepted by alumni three times on my way to Ruby. It was infuriating. After exchanging the worst small talk in history, I jumped at the first excuse to escape.
When I finally broke into the football crowd, she caught my eye straight away. She looked even better up close, her makeup still natural and her skin golden. And even in the busy room, I could smell her signature scent.
Blowing off my teammates trying to talk to me, I rapidly closed the distance and kissed her. With her in heels, I didn’t need to bend as far, and I took advantage, not caring who was watching.
Ignoring the catcalls and whistles from the guys, I slipped my hands down her back, surprised by the amount of bare skin.
Since starting college, Phil-U had always felt like my second home. After four years here, it was the longest I’d spent in any place other than Detroit. But now that Ruby was here, I realised it hadn’t really felt like home until this moment.
Wherever she went was bound to feel like the place I belonged. What was that saying again – something about home being a person?
I’d never had much desire to visit Seattle, but knowing Ruby would likely be living there soon, it had suddenly shot to the top of my bucket list – even higher than white sands and turquoise oceans.
After what was probably an inappropriately long amount of time – Brady-and-Tori-level inappropriate – I finally pulled back.
“You look beautiful, Rubz,” I told her, my thumb tracing the line of her mouth, being careful not to smear the gloss – a gloss I’m sure I now had traces of on my own lips.
“So do you, Wheels. You’re a walking James Bond fantasy in that tux.”
Reaching for her hand, I guided her towards the bar, purposely choosing the opposite side to where the hockey team was congregating. I didn’t want Tripp within ten feet of Ruby.
Grace had found Levi, and his arm was already possessively wrapped around her shoulders, holding her like a prize. She looked nice in her blue gown, but the spark I once felt when I looked at her was gone.
Gretchen and her cheerleading posse were all dressed up to the nines as well, but to me, they may as well have been wearing burlap sacks. I’d never truly understood what it meant to only have eyes for one person, but I sure as hell did now.
As I placed my palm on the curve of Ruby’s bare back, Holloway caught my attention.
With Grace distracted by Will Caufield’s girlfriend – another hockey player, but one slightly more tolerable than Tripp and Ryan – Levi subtly toasted his glass and gave me an understanding nod, as if to say, I get it, you’re not into my girl anymore.
I’d only been telling him that all year, but I was glad he was finally believing it. I wasn’t even slightly interested in Grace Hughes anymore. How could I be when I was completely in love with the girl at my side?
When the bartender left to pour Ruby a glass of champagne, I lowered my lips to her ear. “The back of this dress is so low. One more inch and your ass would be on display.”
She laughed. “That’s the idea, Wheels.”
“I don’t envy girls. How do you even find a pair of underwear to work with that?”
After thanking the bartender, Ruby faced me, her dainty fingers wrapping around the stem of her glass. “You don’t.”
I choked on my whiskey. “Rubz?”
She blinked sweetly. “Yes, Wheels?”
“Are you seriously telling me there’s nothing between that silky dress and your silky pussy?”
“Noth-ing,” she hummed, her tongue flicking as she enunciated each syllable.
This time when I rested my hand against her lower back, I allowed one finger to slip beneath the fabric, shuddering when I brushed her bare ass.
“Fuck, Rubz. Are you trying to kill me?”
“No. I’m working you up, just like you’ve been doing to me the past four weeks.” She knitted her brows, pretending to think. “Remind me again how you were planning on fucking me later?”
“That plan is out the window,” I told her.
She coyly smiled. “Yeah? What’s the new one?”
I didn’t miss a beat. “Hoisting up this dress and fucking you with it bunched around your waist.”
Rising onto her toes, she brushed her lips against my ear. “Patience, Wheels. The night has only just begun.”