Page 112 of What are the Risks
“Ruby asked if I had anything she could borrow for adatetonight,” Tori answered with a devilish grin. “I insisted on a full glam makeover.”
Ruby shrugged, catching my gaze as if to saywhat can you do?I’d spent enough time around my cousin’s girlfriend to understand how Tori operated. Once she had her stylish mind set on something, there was no point trying to change it.
The first time I’d met her in freshman year, she’d told me my jeans were as dated asBelly and Jeremiah– whatever the fuck that meant – and she’d been choosing my outfits ever since.
“What do you think?” Tori asked me, her lip eagerly wedged between her teeth.
Getting to her feet, Ruby spun in a slow circle, her arms fanning out. She was dressed in patterned black tights and high boots, paired with a tan blazer worn as a dress, and a white turtleneck beneath it.
“Is that my blazer?” I checked.
Tori nodded. “How good does it look on her?”
“Pretty fucking good,” I agreed, fighting the urge to drool.
A shy blush settled in Ruby’s cheeks. Seeing her in my things always stirred something inside of me, but this felt different to all my tees and hoodies she’d stolen over the years.
“Got enough left in you to pick out something for me too, Tor?”
Tori willingly nodded. “Always.”
*
Brady had come through with the recommendation. The restaurant was nice, but not overly fancy. Too fancy wasn’t Ruby and me.
Instead of sitting across the table from each other, I’d taken the seat beside Ruby. Close enough that our arms brushed as we read from the same menu.
“Definitely the mushroom arancini,” she said.
“And garlic bread.”
“And the mushroom gnocchi.”
“Double mushrooms? Fine. But we need some protein.” I bypassed the vegetarian section. “And the ragu.”
Ruby nodded her agreement before handing back the menu. “Sounds delicious.”
While the waitress repeated our order, I placed my hand on Ruby’s thigh. I held my breath, bracing for any flicker of awkwardness – if I’d done this a month ago, it would have been fucking weird – but there was nothing. If anything, it was more unnerving how natural it felt.
“I need to tell you something,” Ruby anxiously whispered the moment the waitress walked away.
“Okay. Go on.”
“I can’t have sex with you tonight.”
My eyes shot open. “That’s fine. I didn’t actually expect–”
“I, ugh, kind of got my period. I wasn’t paying attention to the dates because this week has been crazy.” She rushed out the words, as though she’d been reciting them to herself the entire drive over. “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have come if I’d realised.”
I tightened my palm over her leg. “Rubz, I don’t want you ever thinking I’d only want you here so that we can fool around. It’s a huge perk, don’t get me wrong, but don’t forget that before this started, you were already my favourite person to be around.”
With a relieved exhale, she picked up her wine and brought it to her lips. “You’re a smooth talker, Wheels.”
Nothing smooth about it. Just facts.
“Tell me about your week,” I said. “How was the chole-oh-whatever?”
“The cholecystectomy was fine.”
