Page 51 of What are the Risks
Once I had everything gathered and my suitcase was zipped closed, I climbed back onto Ryker’s bed to say goodbye. He felt tense when I first hugged him, but quickly relaxed, pulling me close as his hand roamed across my back.
“Thank you for last night, Wheels,” I whispered, squeezing him back. “You have no idea how much I needed it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Officially a wreck
Ruby
The instant I saw Noah, everything hit me. Stopping a few feet away, I buried my face in my hands as my body shook with sobs.
In a blink, Noah had pushed away from his car and had me in his arms. They were so achingly familiar. So was the scent of him as I buried my face against his chest.
“Ruby.” His voice sounded shaky. “I’m so sorry. So fucking sorry.”
I wished I could accept his apology and wipe away the past twenty-four hours... but I couldn’t. Even as he held me, I already knew how this conversation would end.
Conscious we were standing out the front of a busy hotel, I pulled back, using the sleeves of Ryker’s hoodie to wipe away my tears. PDA wasn’t my thing, and neither was crying in public.
Noah’s arms loosely fell to his sides, like he wasn’t sure what to do with them. “Are you hungry? I can take you to breakfast... or back to my place.” He cleared his throat, seeming uncertain. “Or we can just drive around. Whatever you want.”
“How far is it to the airport from here?”
“In this traffic, probably thirty minutes.”
“Then you’ve got thirty minutes.”
*
Noah ended up parking in a lookout close to the airport. My flight didn’t take off for another three hours, so I had time to spare.
The silence on the way here had been painstakingly noticeable. Each time he’d glanced my way, I’d had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from crying.
Last night’s anger had given way to heartache and I was officially a wreck. While I knew dealing with the pain was healthier than numbing it with vodka, now it wasn’t just our relationship that I was mourning, but the future I’d always imagined.
Everything was about to change, starting with my plans for next year. They’d no longer need to revolve around moving home for Noah’s dental job. Even though I’d secretly wanted that, I’d never actually pictured my life without him – I had no idea what it looked like, and the idea of figuring it out was terrifying.
Noah parted his lips as he inhaled slowly. He’d done that a few times now, like he was about to say something but kept chickening out.
“Where were you last night?” he eventually said.
“You don’t get to ask that, Noah.”
“Do I get to ask whose hoodie that is?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“If you were with another guy–”
“You’d what?”
“I’d forgive it.”
I scoffed. “I’m sure you would.”
I focused on the runway, my attention following the planes as they taxied away from the terminal. I couldn’t wait for my turn, to board and leave this place behind. I never wanted to set foot in this city again. Noah had well and truly ruined it.
“If that’s where you’re hoping this conversation will go, then you’re wasting your time,” I said.
