Page 119 of What are the Risks
As Ruby left the airport, navigating the streets with ease, a sense of guilt hit me. While Ohio wasn’t familiar to me at all, I’ll bet she could navigate from the Philadelphia airport to my place without Google Maps.
Over the past four years, she’d dropped her plans more times than I could think to visit me. I’d barely spent any time here. Whenever I had, it had only been to pass through – picking her up or dropping her back.
Even though we had less than forty-eight hours together, I wanted to make the most of it and see all the places that were a part of Ruby’s world. Then when she talked about work, I could picture the hospital. And when she mentioned grabbing coffee, I’d know exactly how it tasted.
I reached over the centre console, gently squeezing her leg. “Thank you for picking me up. It feels good to be here.”
She smiled softly. “I’m really happy you’re here too.”
*
After each devouring a burger and sharing more sides than we could handle, we arrived at Ruby’s house. I’d been out the front before and in the entryway once, but I’d never gone all the way in.
The house had an older feel, with high ceilings, archways, and dark hardwood floors, but the white walls and fittings made it feel bright and modern.
As Ruby led me down the hall towards the stairs, I could hear voices floating from the adjacent room. Ruby quickened her pace, as if hoping to slip past, but just as she placed her foot on the bottom step, someone called out to us.
“Ruby? Hotshot? Are you trying to sneak past?”
With an apologetic grimace, Ruby steered us into the kitchen instead. This room had been completely remodelled, with timber cabinets, marble countertops and a massive island, which took up most of the space. Bri, Jaz, and Daisy were comfortably seated around it, an open bottle of wine between them.
“Hotshot,” Bri beamed, winking at me.
I playfully groaned. “Hello to you too, Bri.”
She slipped from her chair to hug me. “How was your flight? Do your legs even fit in a standard seat? I swear you’re taller each time I see you.”
“It was fine. I got an upgrade to the exit row.”
I may have flashed my dimple at the flight attendant to make it happen. Sue me. Planes weren’t designed for guys my height.
“Would you like a drink, Ryker?” Daisy offered. “We’ve got beer, spirits, hard seltzers.”
“I’m good for now.”
Ruby had given me the head’s up that the girls were celebrating Jaz submitting her final assignment. I was jealous she’d finished up with college. I still had two assignments and three finals to go.
I really should’ve been home, working on them, but when I’d managed to clear my football schedule, I hadn’t given a second thought to my course work. Ruby became my number one priority.
“Here’s one for you,” Bri said, pushing a pre-poured glass towards Ruby. “I heard Dr. Spring brought up the job again.”
Ruby nodded. “She did.”
“Job?” I pressed, curious.
Ruby picked up her wine and took a long sip. “I’ll tell you later. What time are we leaving tonight?”
“Seven,” Jaz answered. “So we’ll need to start getting ready in approximately–” She tapped her phone to check the time, “–sixty-four minutes. That means you two have an hour of privacy upstairs before our house turns into a getting-ready-warzone.”
A-getting-ready-what? I lived with four guys. I wasn’t used to all this female energy in the one place. While Tori had her own shelf in our main bathroom, we outnumbered her five-to-one. So dude energy still won out.
Ruby nudged me, discreetly gesturing to the door. “We’re just going upstairs to put Ryker’s things down.”
Daisy’s lips curled. “Sure you are. We’ll turn up the music.”
I didn’t miss the heat climbing Ruby’s neck as she walked out of the kitchen. Her friends were as relentless as mine. Maybe a tad less subtle too.
I could do plenty with an hour though if Ruby was up for it. It’d been too long since she’d taken me in her mouth. My list of things I wanted to do with her – andto her– had been growing ever since.
