Page 59 of What are the Risks
Before she could escape, I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her off her feet. She let out a soft chuckle, her lips brushing my ear and sending a pathetic shudder down my spine. Thankfully the cold air was a good cover up.
Setting her back on the ground, I held her at arm’s length. “You cut your hair.”
She shrugged beneath her huge coat. “It was time for a change.”
“It looks good.”
The comment felt innocent enough, like something I would have said in the past. But given my clusterfuck brain when it came to her nowadays, I quickly steered the conversation to safer territory.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“So am I. I needed a break. Even if it’s barely for twenty-four hours.”
I opened the passenger door and motioned for her to get in. She raised her eyebrows in surprise, before climbing in slowly.
Was I being weird already and laying it on too thick? Overthinking was the fucking worst. That picture was messing with my head more than it ought to.
As she reached over to buckle her seat belt, she glanced up at me, frowning in confusion. “What? Have I got something on my face?”
Shit. I was staring.
“No. I–”
I needed to get a hold of myself. I’d seen Ruby in a bikini before. Underwear was basically the same thing.
Time to get the fuck over it.
“It’s just really good to see you, Rubz.”
She winked. “Well, duh.”
*
On the way back to my place, Ruby had complained that she was hungry. Knowing the guys would flip if I came home without Taco Bell for them, I’d ordered extra.
The instant we walked inside, the greedy fucks ambushed us, snatching the food right out of my hands like they’d never eaten before. While they sorted it out, I ran Ruby’s bag upstairs.
I’d been sure to clean my room this morning. A perk of her staying so often was that it was a good excuse to tidy up. It wasn’t as immaculate as a hotel, but it sure beat Pat and Kyler’s bedrooms. I wouldn’t step in either of those without a can of Lysol.
When I returned downstairs, all the food was scattered across the island in a free-for-all feast. I saddled up beside Ruby, reaching forward to snag a quesadilla before the guys scoffed them all.
“What’s the plan tonight?” she asked.
If she was hungry, she’d better quit chatting and start eating. She was sharing with a group of football players, not her girls.
My gaze cut to Pat’s. “Yeah. Whatisthe plan?”
I’d left him in charge of the guest list, which, in hindsight, was a flat-out stupid decision on my part. The original agreement had been for a low-key night with just players and their girlfriends. Knowing him, it had spiralled.
“It’ll be fun,” he said, in lieu of an actual answer.
Ruby clapped. “Good. I need fun. Last night while we were operating a patient’s cyst ruptured and blood literally–”
Pat dropped his taco. “And there goes my appetite.”
Ruby snickered. “Maybe I should tell you more so you’ll all slow down and save me some nachos.”
She popped open the can of Coke in front of her. I’d purposely stocked up the other day – the good stuff with sugar – tucking it behind Tori’s vegan milk so the guys wouldn’t find it.
