Page 28 of What are the Risks
We couldn’t stay. There was stuff in the car that needed to be in the fridge and freezer and–
“Sure,” Mum said, falling onto the sofa. “Ryker, honey, can you please pop the kettle on?”
With a defeated sigh, I headed into the kitchen. While Mum somehow always remained calm and collected over the holidays, I never tested her patience by going against orders.
As I waited, I scrolled through my phone, half-listening to Mum and Cherie’s gossip sesh. I couldn’t help it. I’d slept with Melanie Smidge’s daughter in senior year so I was curious.
While our town wasn’t small enough to know every person, it was small enough that someone always knew someone else, which meant gossip travelled like wildfire. Particularly with women like the two whose tea I was currently making.
I carefully dodged the unwrapped Christmas presents on the floor as I walked Cherie’s drink to her. I was guessing they were Ruby’s gifts, based on the labels on the bags.
Cherie smiled warmly. “Thanks, hon. I need to finish wrapping those before Doug arrives back with Ruby. What did you get her for Christmas? I find her impossible to buy for.”
“Really? I’ve always found it easy picking Ruby’s presents.”
Unlike my mum, who I’d now bought pyjamas and a robe for three years running. My siblings weren’t much more creative than me. Savannah always gifted Mum a candle and a bottle of her favourite wine, and Stefan nabbed the latest romance book on the best seller list.
Cherie’s eyes narrowed. “What’s your secret?”
“I logged into her ASOS account and bought things from her wish list,” I grudgingly admitted, giving myself away. “She uses the same password for everything.”
“Remind me to steal that password off you before her next birthday,” Cherie chuckled before her face softened. “Gosh hon, you’re so thoughtful. When are you and my daughter finally going to get together?”
A question I’d been asked before, and one I was an expert at deflecting.
“Sorry to break your heart, Cherie, but Ruby’s just my friend. And in case you forgot, she does have a serious boyfriend.”
Cherie sighed. “I know. And Noah is gorgeous but...” She pinched my cheek as though I was still the five-year-old boy learning to tie his shoelaces alongside her daughter. “He’s not you.”
CHAPTER TEN
Sweet talker
Ruby
Our house was pure chaos, just like it always was before any night out. The fact it was New Year’s Eve had amped up the craziness.
I was supposed to be in Miami right now, but Noah had surprised me yesterday morning and flown to Columbus instead.
I’d been speechless when I’d opened the door and found him standing on my doorstep with a huge bouquet of flowers. It was a surprise – a good surprise – but it had thrown me. Months ago we’d agreed to spend New Year’s Eve in Miami. He’d even bought us tickets to a music festival to celebrate with his friends.
At the end of the day, it didn’t matter where we were, only that we were together. We’d stayed in last night and gorged on Indian take out while we caught each other up on anything and everything that had happened since Thanksgiving. It was just what we’d needed.
The girls had taken me staying in Columbus as a given that I’d ring in the new year with them. I’d given Noah the choice – stay in just the two of us or head out – and he’d decided he wanted to party, which is why I found myself fully made up and in a short black dress despite the fact it was barely even twenty-four degrees outside.
From where he sat on a barstool at our island, he wrapped a hand around my waist and tugged me between his legs, all the while chatting to the guy Daisy had invited tonight.
In the years I’d known Daisy, every guy she’d introduced me to had been very different. She didn’t have a type, or even a gender preference – she was open to anyone.
Tonight’s lucky candidate had longer, dark blonde hair, which was knotted on top of his head. Both his arms were entirely covered in tattoos, and there was a nose ring through his left nostril.
Though despite appearing as though he was a poster boy for a motorcycle gang, he was polite and friendly. He’d even mentioned to Noah that his brother went to college in Miami, so they’d been bonding over that for the last thirty minutes.
It was lucky they had a mutual connection, because Noah wasn’t the best at getting along with people he had nothing in common with.
“I’ll definitely be borrowing that dress, Ruby,” Bri said. “You look hot tonight.”
Noah’s hold on me tightened. “Doesn’t she?”
