EPILOGUE A good spot for Warren
EPILOGUE
A good spot for Warren
Ruby
Ryker was right on time picking me up from work, but as usual, I was the one holding us up. While walking out the doors thirty minutes after my shift ended might’ve seemed late to him, in healthcare, that was almost considered early.
Finally catching sight of me crossing the road, he sprang from his car and hurried around to the passenger side.
The SUV he drove nowadays was a bougie upgrade of the one he’d had in college. It was the kind of car you’d expect a professional athlete to drive – something I often forgot Ryker was.
To me, he would always be the same guy I’d been flinging socks at the ceiling fan with since we were kids.
Opening my door, he kissed my cheek. “You look nice.”
For the first time in a long time, I’d put effort in after my shift.
I’d showered and switched my scrubs for a knit dress and heeled boots, brushed out my curled ponytail so that my hair fell over my shoulders, and applied just enough makeup to hide the unwanted under-eye bags and add some colour to my lashes and cheeks.
I kissed him back. “So do you.”
He wasn’t dressed in anything fancy, just something other than Seattle athletic gear. Ryker always looked good to me, whether in sweats, slacks, nothing but boxers, or his pregame fits – which Tori had now been styling for the past twelve months.
After initially going with a stylist his agent recommended, Ryker ended that relationship during his rookie year and hired Tori instead.
She and Brady had been travelling back and forth after college, weighing which of their hometowns to move back to. But secretly wanting something fresh, away from their families, Ryker had suggested Seattle and offered Tori a job to sweeten the deal.
I loved having Tori and Brady around, especially when Ryker was away. I’d made friends with other partners on the team, as well as a few girls from work, but there was something comforting about having someone familiar nearby.
After shutting my door and jogging back to his side, Ryker pulled away from the curb. “How was your cab-whatever?”
“It went well. The patient will live.”
While Ryker always politely asked about my job and my day – and had even started learning the terminology – I knew it made him squeamish, so I saved the gory details for Bri. Nobody appreciated them like she did.
Each time a position opened at Tacoma Hospital that I thought she’d be great for, I’d print screen the job ad and send it to her.
I missed her, and Jaz and Daisy too.
Jaz was back in her hometown working as a middle school teacher, and last I heard from Daisy, she was sunbaking on a beach in Bali.
I’d taken for granted being able to stroll into the kitchen and find them all in the one place. While we still spoke most days, group chats weren’t the same.
In good traffic, mine and Ryker’s new place was a thirty minute drive from the hospital. It was a slightly longer commute than what I had now, but it would be worth it.
Unlike our current apartment, which we’d outgrown, this place almost felt too big. When we were first shown the plans, I’d thought it was completely over the top. But next to all the other recently built houses in the new estate, it fit right in.
“There’s grass!” I exclaimed as Ryker pulled up.
There hadn’t been any the last time he brought me here. Just a concreted drive and dirt.
While the process of building a house had been stressful at times, watching mine and Ryker’s family home come together filled me with a warm, gooey feeling. I’d never imagined this future five years ago, and I was proud of how far we’d come.
After parking in the middle of the double drive then rounding the car with rapid speed, Ryker tugged on my hand before I’d even found my footing, eagerly dragging me up the path.
Someone was excited to get inside.
If there was ever such a thing as a house having a new car smell, this place had it. Everything was fresh, from the paint and floors, through to the sparkling kitchen appliances.
“It’s so close!” I shouted, bouncing with excitement as I checked out the butler’s pantry.
That’s right – I had a butler’s pantry. Not that I ever really expected to use it, but I liked saying I had one.
“Let’s check upstairs,” Ryker said. “I had something added to our master suite and want to make sure it’s right.”
I raised an eyebrow. “A stripper pole?”
With an amused tilt of his jaw, he shook his head.
“A sex swing?” I tried.
He snickered, shaking his head once more.
“Mirrors above the bed?”
He playfully groaned. “Why didn’t you throw these ideas around during the design phase, Rubz?”
I hadn’t needed to. Ryker had the kinky spots covered, including his shower sex bench – even though he still denied that’s what he planned on using it for.
“We need to find a good spot for Warren,” I called out as I followed Ryker up the grand staircase. “He’s already survived two homes. We can’t let his life end here.”
Ryker chuckled. “We’ll find a safe spot for Warren.”
Our master suite was one of my favourite rooms in the house. The natural light was amazing, and don’t even get me started on the wardrobe. I didn’t even have enough clothes to fill up my side... not yet, anyway.
Hello, online shopping.
The part Ryker was most excited about was the wall solely dedicated to his shoes. Since joining the NFL, his sneaker collection had grown. The PR packages and freebies he was always being sent nowadays certainly helped.
“What are we meant to be looking at?” I checked, walking around the empty space.
Ryker’s gaze cast to the roof. “That.”
A large fan had been installed, its black blades a bold yet fitting contrast to the crystal-white vaulted ceiling.
When the interior designer initially walked Ryker and I through her vision, she’d mentioned she hadn’t included ceiling fans because there was temperature controlling technology built into the house – even the floors. Clearly Ryker hadn’t been satisfied with that.
“Lie down with me,” he said. “Let’s play.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Lie down where?”
He lowered himself onto the floor. “On our makeshift bed.”
“Why would–”
He patted the space beside him. “Just humour me, Rubz.”
Albeit reluctantly and confused, I sank onto the floor next to him. He was in the spot where our bed would soon be, even lying on his usual side. I couldn’t wait to move in – to have our furniture set up, our things hanging in the closet, and for the place to truly feel like ours.
Ryker reached into his pocket, pulling out a sock.
“Do you always walk around with a sock in your pocket?” I snorted.
“No, I–”
I jerked upright at a loud noise coming from below. “What was that?”
“It’s probably just a tradesperson collecting something they left,” Ryker dismissively said, before handing me the sock. “Here. You go first.”
“I struggle at the best of times in this game, Wheels. Let alone when I’m all the way on the floor and... hold on. There’s something wrapped in here.”
His lip quirked. “Is there?”
“Yeah. Something solid.”
I unravelled the sock, finding a small box, no larger than the palm of my hand. It was covered by a soft felt with the name of a jeweller embossed in gold and–
Oh. My. God.
I dropped the box like it was a contaminated syringe. Luckily Ryker’s reflexes were lightening quick. He caught it effortlessly and then tugged us both to our feet, only to drop down onto one knee.
“Wheels!”
That was the only word my brain could draw upon. I was shocked, to say the least. Had I known or even had an inkling that this was happening, I would’ve gotten a manicure. At least I could thank my past self for getting ready after work for a change.
Then again, I knew Ryker wouldn’t have cared if I was in a nice outfit or wearing scrubs and Crocs. Or whether I had makeup on. Or if I was wearing my glasses instead of contacts. Or if my hair was up or down. With my nails painted or chipped.
He loved me – exactly as I was. From the first time he told me that, sitting in his car in my Ohio driveway, he’d made sure I’d never forgotten it.
Ryker smiled so hard his dimple appeared, and his expression filled with so much love and affection, I could already feel myself welling up.
Pull yourself together, Ruby.
We’d never really spoken about marriage. I guess I hadn’t felt the need to. I’d known for a long time now that Ryker was my future. Whether there was a ring on my finger or not, he was it for me. This was an endgame type of love.
“Ruby – Rubz – you know what you mean to me. I’ll forever be thankful that you – well, Bri – accidentally sent me that photo. It was the wake up call I needed.”
Chuckling, I sniffed as I wiped away the sole tear travelling down my cheek.
I owed so much to that photo – and even more to Bri for being the one who actually hit send.
I guess I owed Kyler too, for asking to see the pink suit, otherwise Ryker might never have stumbled across it.
And if I kept tracing it back, I suppose Noah weirdly deserved some credit too.
.. even though he never actually ended up seeing the picture intended for him.
“You’ve been my person for my entire life, Rubz. Now be it for the rest. Marry me?”
As Ryker popped the box open, my eyes narrowed in on the ring. It was a beautiful yet simple rose-gold band, with a large pear-shaped diamond that caught the light and nearly blinded me.
“Holy shit, that’s a rock and a half.” I shook my head in wonder, marvelling at how our lives had unfolded. “I wonder what childhood Ruby and Ryker would have to say about this.”
Ryker’s brow furrowed slightly. “Is that a yes?”
“Abso-freaking-lutely. There’s no chance I’m saying no to that ring.”
With a snicker, Ryker slowly got back to his feet. “Is it a yes to me too?”
I stretched onto my toes, looping my arms around his neck. “I assumed that was implied.”
He smiled against my lips. “Then say it.”
“Yes, Ryker. Yes, I will marry you!”
His smile turned into a full grin as he lifted me into his arms, spinning me around and kissing me like our lives depended on it – like we were each other’s lifelines. In a way, we always had been. And now, we always would be.
Forever.
I wound my fingers through his hair, anchoring him as close to me as possible. Just when I thought I had it all – the guy, the job and the house – he found a way to raise the bar.
Carefully lowering me to my feet, he took the ring from the box and reached for my hand.
“Let’s check it fits. It should. Tori helped me with your measurements.”
“Finger measurements?”
“Don’t ask. I swear that girl knows more about us than we do.”
Sliding it on, it fit perfectly, as if it had always belonged there – well done, Tori.
My mouth gaped as I studied the beautiful design, so elegant and shiny it almost felt too fancy for my hand. But now that it was on, I never wanted to take it off.
It was a shame I’d have to for work. I doubted Ryker would be thrilled if I accidentally dropped it inside an open patient on the operating table.
“It’s a perfect fit,” I gushed, beaming up at him. “Oh my God... we’re engaged!”
“Fuck yeah we are.” He threaded his fingers through mine. “Let’s go downstairs. I hid some champagne in the fridge earlier today.”
I blindly followed Ryker down the stairs, unable to take my eyes off the ring. I couldn’t wait to show it to our mums and the girls. They were going to flip when we told them the news.
“Whose mum should we call first?” I asked, a hint of amusement in my voice, though deep down it was a serious question. “You know they’ll never let the other live it down.”
Ryker grimaced. “Yeah, about that...”
“SURPRISE!”
Startled, I stumbled down the final few steps. Luckily Ryker was there to catch me.
Our families were gathered in the large kitchen – Dad and Charles, Stefan, Savannah with her husband and the twins, Brady and Tori, and even Evan, Pat and Kyler. Bri and Jaz were here too, with Daisy smiling through the screen of an iPad, propped up on the island against a slab of beer.
Mum and Nancy were front and centre, each holding a bubbling glass of champagne. That explained the bang.
They’d managed to hang engagement balloons from the ceiling and strewn confetti around the room. It was our first memory in our new home.
“Congratulations!” Nancy shouted, taking a swig of her wine.
“Wait,” Evan called out. “We should make sure Ruby said yes before we start drinking.”
Bri jabbed him in the ribs, but everyone did seem to be waiting on me.
“Well, honey,” Mum said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “Did you?”
As Ryker raised our clasped hands, I felt every set of eyes in the room lock on the glimmering ring.
As if it was even a question.
“I said yes!”