Page 37 of What are the Risks
Ruby held my gaze for a moment, searching for any flicker of a lie beneath the surface. I’d never lied to her – not once. Sure, there were things I hadn’t told her, just like I’m sure there were things she’d kept from me, but never a straight-up lie.
“Whatever,” she grumbled.
Then she hung up.
I gripped my phone in my hand, partly expecting Evan to wrestle it from me. I might be gassed, but if it came down to him getting a glimpse of the picture, I’d be able to summon the energy to kick his ass.
Beneath my fingertips, the unopened photo seemed to vibrate with an unexplainable pull, almost like it wassummoningme to look and see what Ruby was wearing – or what shewasn’twearing.
A twisted part of me wished I’d opened her message before getting the order to delete it. She couldn’t have gotten mad if I’d innocently seen it by mistake.
I’d never considered that part of Ruby’s life, one where she sent racy photos to her boyfriend, and where she received them, likely leading to phone sex and –stop.
That was a rabbit hole I couldn’t afford to trip into.
Kyler sat up, completely deserting his workout. “Surely you’re not deleting it.”
“Oh he’s deleting it,” Brady snickered. “There’s no way he’d be able to face Ruby again if he saw it.”
To avoid temptation, I threw my phone to my cousin. Ever a receiver, he caught it with ease.
He was the only one I trusted to do the right thing. There wasn’t a chance he would open that message. Firstly, he was too smitten with Tori to be tempted. And secondly, if he did, Tori would make him regret it.
Evan groaned. “All I’ll say is this. I’ve never met Ruby’s boyfriend, but I guarantee he doesn’t deserve that picture.”
I’d met him. And for some reason foreign to me, I found myself agreeing.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Where were we?
Ruby
As I sat in the back of an Uber, staring out at the unfamiliar city, I wasn’t sure what I regretted most last night. Drinking that final glass of wine, sending a near-naked photo of myself to Ryker, or letting Jaz talk me into surprising Noah.
My stomach was in knots, a mix from being slightly hungover and nervous. I wished Noah and I weren’t in a place where I doubted whether he’d be happy to see me.
Having only visited Miami a handful times, I wasn’t very familiar with the neighbourhood, so I was caught off guard when the driver announced we’d arrived. I thought I had more time to hype myself up.
Thanking him, I collected my things then climbed from the car.
The semi-humid air was unnerving. It hadn’t been even remotely warm when I left my house this morning. It was way too hot for the sweats I was wearing.
The front yard of Noah’s frat house was littered with cars, hopefully most of them just left over from last night’s toga party.
Clutching my phone anxiously, I messaged the group chat.
Ruby: Why do I feel so nervous?
Bri: Because you love him.
Jaz: And you need to get railed.
Daisy: I’ll bet he’s so happy he fucks you against his bedroom door.
A light laugh slipped through my lips. I could always count on my friends.
Lifting my suitcase up the three steps to reach the patio, I placed it beside the door before lightly knocking. The white paint on the doorframe was peeling. I’ll bet that drove Noah mad.
