Page 55 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

Ruby leaves her room looking like she’s ready to go out.

“I’m going to meet the girls at Black Jack’s,” she tells Macklin. She walks up to him and kisses him. Whoa. This is going to take some getting used to. We all looked at Ruby as off-limits because Hayden is super protective of her.

Macklin smacks her ass. “You look hot.”

“Uh, bro, you’re lucky Hayden isn’t around,” Luc says. “You already stirred the pot, you don’t want to be setting it on fire, if you know what I mean.”

“Right,” Macklin replies. “Are you getting a ride there?” he asks Ruby.

“Briar is coming to pick me up. Annie’s coming along too,” she mentions, looking at me.

“What?” I ask her.

“We saw you’re posts,” she announces. “I’m going to find out the goods.” She waggles her brows.

She gets a text.

“Briar is here,” Ruby says and slips on her coat. “Bye, have a good night,”

“So how was Punta Cana, bro?” Luc asks Aaron.

“It was fire. Hooked up with this gymnast,” he says. “Bro, the things she could do with her body.” He bites on his knuckle.

I chill out with the guys for the rest of the night but, in reality, I want to see Annie and hear how the rest of her holiday went. I spent the rest of mine thinking about her and all the good times we had together. I also missed talking to her, but that doesn’t mean I want us to be together. I don’t. Okay, that’s a lie. I want Annie. I just don’t know how to convince her to take a chance on us.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Annie

“Briar, you are so tanned,” I note as I get into the back seat of her SUV.

“Right, I told her the same thing,” Ruby says.

“It’s so good to see you guys.” I sigh. “It feels good to be back.”

“Is everything okay?” Ruby asks, looking concerned.

I update my friends on the problems with my family’s farm and my family in general.

“I think my parents want a divorce. The only reason they stayed together was because of me, and now I’m all grown-up. I just hope we don’t end up losing the farm too,” I say, staring out the window into the dark night.

“I’m sorry, that’s tough,” Briar replies. “I remember when my parents divorced. I was only ten years old, but it’s something that always stuck with me. From that point on, I didn’t have a family. Although, I have to say, I don’t feel like I ever did. If it wasn’t for gymnastics and the friends I made here, I don’t know where I would be now.”

“I don’t remember my parents splitting up,” Ruby adds. “When my father left us Hayden and I were sad, but when Carmen left it felt like our whole world fell apart.”

“Okay, no focusing on the past. Annie, your dad loves you. I don’t see your mom fully walking out on you. I know it’s hard, but it’s probably for the best. I can’t count how many times you told me they have a loveless marriage. This is a chance for them to be happy. So look at it as one door closing and another opening,” Briar urges.

I don’t know how she can be this optimistic after everything she’s been through, but I salute her. I also don’t want to get myself into a funk because I spent the last week of break sulking.

I take a deep cleansing breath. “No more depressing talk. I want to hear all about your breaks,” I say to the girls.

“I think we need a few drinks before I tell you about my holiday,” Ruby counters, and she’s definitely made me curious.

We head into Black Jack’s, a bar a few minutes away from campus. It’s a repurposed brick warehouse and is a very cool and modern place, where a lot of Riverside U students hang out. The place is impressive with industrial-style lanterns lighting the entrance, and the walls are a mix of exposed brick and reclaimed wood planks. Edison bulbs hang from the high, vaulted ceiling, which showcases exposed wooden beams and black steel trusses. The place has a warm fun vibe. They also have an out-of-this-world menu with so much variety, and nothing you choose is bad. Even their mixed drinks are top-notch. Briar likes working here because she makes good tips and the other staff is cool. We get seated at one of the high-top bar tables, which is a polished wood slab. I was hoping for one of the tables with the leather armchairs or a booth with plush leather seats, but they all seem to be taken.

We get situated and order drinks, except for Briar since she’s driving.

“Okay, Rubes, spill, what happened over break?” Briar urges.

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