Page 33 of What are the Risks
Ryker had just reshared a post from the Phil-U football account. He was in the gym, his bare chest glistening with sweat as he squatted with a bar on his back. I couldn’t tell how heavy he was lifting, but there were at least four plates on each end.
It was a thirst trap if ever I’d seen one.
Snickering, I responded to his story.
Ruby: How many DMs did this get you?
He didn’t post often, and whenever he did, it was generally a repost or collaboration with the football team’s socials. That didn’t stop the followers though. He was closing in on forty thousand, and he even had the verified blue tick.
When I thought of Ryker, all I saw was my best friend, not the rising sports star the thirty-nine-thousand-nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine other people were following. He would become a household name soon, which I would nevernotfind insane. As much as he deserved the attention he was about to receive, he’d always just be Wheels to me.
Jaz nudged me. “I’ll order dinner. Are you having the usual? Massaman curry?”
“Yes please,” I answered, not lifting my attention from my phone.
Searching Noah’s account, I rewatched his story. His fraternity was throwing a toga party tonight. He’d posted a photo with some of his frat brothers earlier, their skin seeming extra tanned against the white costumes.
Bri sighed directly into my ear, startling me. Too caught up in my own pity party, I hadn’t noticed her peering over my shoulder.
“Just call him.”
I threw my phone face down on the couch. “He messaged before saying people were already arriving.”
“Then call Ryker.”
I frowned. “Why would I call Ryker?”
“Because you’re always in a better mood after you talk to him. I even heard you laughing whenhe FaceTimed you last night.”
He’d called to tell me all about the latest deals his agent and publicist were negotiating. He’d been working with them for a while now, ever since it became clear he was one of the biggest college quarterbacks.
Ryker was big on talking things through. Every. Little. Detail. Because he didn’t have a girlfriend to lean on, the luxury always fell to me. Even though I was forever teasing him about it, I secretly loved it. His updates these days were all so wild and exciting.
He’d mentioned his publicist had suggested hiring a stylist to manage his image, so she’d emailed Ryker a portfolio of potential candidates. Naturally that meant we’d gone over every option for two hours, laughing hysterically at some of the outfits.
My best friend was a hoodie and jeans kind of guy. I’d pay a small fortune to see him in a satin pink suit with a matching pink cowboy hat – just like one of the stylists had put forward.
From where Daisy sat cross-legged on the floor, she topped up each of our wine glasses. For the first time in a while, we all had the same night free. We were celebrating with wine, take out and reality TV.
“I can’t believe Noah is still mad,” she said. “New Year’s Eve was three weeks ago.”
“We’re not arguing, we’re just not in sync,” I countered. “If we could only spend some time together, I know things would go back to normal.”
“So do that,” Bri simply suggested. “You have the next four days off.”
I’d mentioned to Noah I had a break in shifts, hoping he would suggest we make the most of it. But when he hadn’t, it had added to my funk. Four days together would be like a mini vacation.
I’d bet money that if I told Ryker I could be at Phil-U for four days straight, he’d have booked my flight before our call even ended. Noah, on the other hand, had casually asked what I had planned. Even after I told him I had nothing on – really emphasising thenothingpart – he still didn’t take the hint.
“You should surprise him,” Jaz suggested. “You still have a credit for your flight to Miami that you cancelled, right?”
“Yeah. I do.”
Because I’d used points, I hadn’t been able to get a full refund when Noah surprised me over New Year’s Eve, so I had credited the flights for another Miami trip. With just over three months left of college for him, the clock was ticking to use it up.
“Do it,” Daisy encouraged. “Maybe you’re both in need of a good fucking.”
Bri chuckled. “Daisy might be on to something. When was the last time you had sex?”
