Chapter Twenty-Two
Dash
Ruby kissed me.
Ruby just kissed me.
And as far as I know, I did nothing out of the ordinary to deserve it.
Well, nothing except tell her the truth. That she’s the one steering this ship we’re on. If she wants to drop anchor in the shallows forever, fine. But if she’s ready to head into the wind and brave deep waters, then I am too.
I just need her to tell me.
She eases away, lowering herself back to the ground. “I just, um…” She clears her throat. “You said I was in control and so I…went for it.”
The side of my mouth where our lips joined tingles from the quick kiss. “I’m glad.”
Her pretty blue eyes hold mine. “You are?”
I suppress the wide grin that wants to break free across my face. “You’re a sight to behold when you go for what you want, Ruby.” I twine one of her glittery strands around my finger and toy with it. “What you want,” I repeat. “Not what anyone else expects you to want.”
“In that case,” she whispers, throat rippling on a swallow, “I want to kiss you again.”
Giving into the urge to skate my thumb across her jaw, I drag it lightly against her skin. “What if I kissed you this time?”
”Okay, but…” Her gaze lowers to my chest. “I’ve never…made out…with anyone…before. Ever.”
Her admission rattles me, though I do my best not to show it. My default is to tease her, to say something like, “That’s a lot of pressure to put on a guy,” but I don’t want to ruin this moment or laugh in the face of her vulnerability.
So, I cup her face gently, letting my thumb skim across her lower lip and ask, “Will you let me be your first?”
She exhales with a quick nod, seemingly gone speechless.
I hold her gaze for only a second, just long enough to let her know, I hear you. I see you. And I want this too. Then I’m leaning in and capturing her lips with mine.
She’s warm and soft and everything I imagined she would be. Ruby’s impossibly perfect lips part under pressure, like the sweetest gift. I don’t sense any inexperience, only desire, her longing evident in the way she leans into me, gripping my elbows for support.
I could easily lose myself in her touch, with her warm breath melting into mine, but we’re still out in the open where anyone could see us.
I ease back and run my hands along her spine. “We’d better go,” I say, voice husky now. “Or the game might start without me.”
“Oh, gosh,” she huffs with a laugh, bringing a hand to her lips. “You’re right; we’d better get going.”
As much as I wish I didn’t have to, I release her and open the car door. I resist the urge to make a fool of myself and crow in victory like I would after a big win on the ice on my way to the driver’s side, but that’s the sort of emotion kissing Ruby brings out in me.
It’s wild. Feral. Absolutely primal.
And the very best way to hype myself up for owning the ice tonight.
***
Nothing can dim my mood—not the persistent ache in my shoulder after icing it, nor the loss we took against the East. I was able to score a goal in the third, it just wasn’t enough to earn us a win.
But man, did I win big with my girl today.
She told me on the way back to her house that she did, in fact, want to meet my family.
I did my best to calm her nerves about the situation, and by the time I dropped her off, she seemed more pumped about it than worried.
She even assured me she’d talk to her mom and make sure it was okay that Beck tagged along.
Hopefully, that’s still the case.
I told her I’d meet her and Beck outside the dressing room, and then we’d walk to the family suite together. There’s no way I’d foist my family off on her without me there to be a buffer.
Once I’m dressed, I step into the hall where Ruby and Beck are waiting, staring down at something on her phone. Both of them chuckle at the same time before Ruby’s gaze lifts.
“Oh, hey.” She pushes away from the wall and that’s when I realize…
She’s wearing my jersey, the one I sent her.
That feral energy she instilled in me before the game is back and stronger than before.
“Dash!” Beck jumps up, fist extended toward me. “You did awesome! Even though you guys lost. Again.”
I laugh and give him a fist bump. “Thanks, man. Appreciate you cheering for us anyway.” I toss him a puck, and he catches it, eyes wide. “This is for you. Thought you might like a memento. Even though we lost.”
“Whoa, no way!” Beck immediately starts inspecting the gift. “Wait, is this a real game puck, or just a random one you guys used in practice?”
“Beck.” Ruby shakes her head, holding back either a laugh or a lecture. She looks so good with her hair pulled back, wearing my jersey and a pair of jean shorts. I want to wrap her up in my arms and kiss her breathless.
Unfortunately, Beck’s presence makes that impossible.
“Ready?” I ask, giving her one last look before my family’s around to witness me shamelessly checking her out.
“Yep.” Her tight smile doesn’t instill a lot of confidence, but she moves forward anyway.
I want to grab her hand, if only to offer her a reassuring squeeze, but I don’t. Not with Beck around. Not that I care about PDA in front of her brother, but it’s a subject we haven’t yet discussed, and I don’t want to do something that might make her uncomfortable.
“You know it’s not too late to back out,” I joke. Of course I’m secretly hoping she won’t leave before meeting them, but I absolutely mean what I said. If she’s not ready for this step in our relationship, I’ll understand.
“I don’t want to back out.” Her gaze connects with mine. “I’m excited to meet your family.” Ruby’s eyes spark with the courage I sensed in her right before we kissed.
Beck’s still occupied with the puck I scored him, so I take the opportunity to lean closer to her. “I’m excited for you to meet them too. Though I’ll admit I am a little nervous.”
Her big doe eyes blink up at me. “You are?”
I intentionally let my gaze roam down her body. “Do you realize how hard it’s going to be for me to keep my hands to myself with you wearing my jersey?”
“Dash,” she hisses playfully, bumping my arm. “You can’t say things like that to me before I meet your mom.”
I chuckle. “Why not? You look beautiful when you blush.”
She leans into me again, reaching up to whisper into my ear. “Because now every time you look at me, I’m going to be thinking about what you just said. And the blush will be permanent.”
“Fine with me.”
She giggles when I reach around and give her waist a squeeze. It takes everything in me to release her.
By the time we make it to the family suite, Ruby’s gone quiet. My hand finds her lower back, where I rub small, reassuring circles; an intentional gesture to show that I’m right here, that I think she’s brave for wanting to do this.
It doesn’t take long for me to spot my family—the small but loud group of women, all with varying shades of dark hair, and dressed head to toe in red, white, and blue paraphernalia.
“That’s them,” I murmur to Ruby.
As soon as her attention locks on my family, her mouth forms a small o. “Oh. Wow. They’re all…gorgeous.”
“So are you,” I say, knowing she could use a boost of confidence. “Come on. They can’t wait to meet you.”
Her small intake of breath reaches my ears as we move toward the group. Mom spots us first.
“There he is,” she croons, arms outstretched. “You played your heart out tonight, honey.”
“Thanks. I try.”
Mom wraps her arms around my neck, and I hug her back. “And who’s this?” she asks, pulling away to give Beck and Ruby her full attention.
“This is Ruby and Beckett Pinkerington.” I step to Ruby’s side. “Some new friends I’ve made since coming to DC.”
Beck smiles wide and offers Mom a little wave while Ruby dips her chin. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. DiFranco.”
“The pleasure is mine, Ruby.” Mom shakes Ruby’s hand, enveloping it with both of hers. “You are just lovely, aren’t you?”
Ruby squirms a bit under Mom’s intense stare. “Oh. Um. Thank you?”
“And this is your little brother?” Mom moves to take Beck’s hand. “You’re quite the charmer too, aren’t you, sir?”
Beck merely grins, white teeth winking at us.
My sisters gather round, their impatience practically vibrating off of them. I meet Danessa’s knowing stare, doing my best to ignore her smug expression. Once Mom’s done making a fuss over Ruby and Beckett, I introduce them to my sisters—one at a time.
“Oh, wow,” Ruby breathes. “All D names.”
“It’s a curse,” Danae mutters.
“Any time we were called, Mom would run through each of our names before she finally got to the right one.” Danica shakes her head, smiling at Mom.
“Unless it was Dash.” Davina sticks her tongue out.
“It’s no secret I’m the favorite.” I tug at my T-shirt, easily falling into arrogant baby brother mode.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Ruby,” Danessa says with a polite smile. “And you too, Beckett. But Dash.” She turns to me. “We have a surprise for you. Hopefully it won’t interfere with your plans for the evening.” Her eyes not-so-discreetly flick to Ruby.
She doesn’t say anything, but Ruby’s lips flatten into a tight smile. We didn’t have any plans for later, but still, I don’t like my oldest sister’s bossy attitude. Unfortunately, that’s just her.
“What’s the surprise?” I ask curtly.
Danessa turns and presses two fingers into her mouth, letting out the ungodly “mom whistle” I accuse her of using to her advantage whenever she feels like it. At that, a guy across the room turns and—is that—
“Max?”