Page 58 of What are the Risks
“Your rivals, right?”
He nodded. “Always fucking gruelling against them. The win will be hard-earned, but we should get it.”
A commotion had us both looking up. Some camera equipment had just toppled over. As everyone frantically rushed to fix it, I pulled my phone from my pocket to check the time. I was due topick Ruby up from the airport in just over an hour and I didn’t want to be late.
“Got somewhere to be?” Holloway asked.
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
“Same. I promised Hughesy I’d meet her after her last class of the day,” he grumbled, checking his watch. “Which is soon.”
“How is Grace?”
I didn’t have any classes with her this semester, and whenever I passed her in the Athletes’ Centre, we were both always too busy to stop and catch up.
The way Levi stiffened made me chuckle. Protective didn’t even come close to describing him when it came to Grace Hughes.
“Jesus, man,” I breathed. “Will you ever learn to let people ask about your girlfriend without going all caveman?”
“People, yes. You, no.”
I opened my mouth to tell him for the thousandth time that I wasn’t trying to steal his girl, but decided to let it drop. I didn’t have the energy.
“One day, you’ll know this feeling,” he growled. “When you do, I’ll be waiting for an apology.”
“Yeah? What feeling is that?”
He merely shrugged. “You’ll know.”
Thanks a bunch Mr. Cryptic.
After a few more minutes of clattering and banging, everything was set and ready to go. Before we got started, the social media manager ran through the structure of the video, explaining how the quiz would work.
“Okay. First question. What sport is played at Pebble Beach?” she asked.
I tapped my buzzer. “Golf.”
She nodded. “Correct. First point to Ryker Richardson.”
I winked at Levi. Game on, Holloway.
*
Less than a minute after I pulled into the pick-up zone, Ruby was walking out of the airport. She grinned the moment she spotted me, then hurriedly jogged to my car before I could even unbuckle my seat belt.
I’ll admit, I had to do a double take as she got closer. There was something different about her...
She’d cut her hair.
In all the years I’d known her, it had always been long, falling partway down her back. This shorter style suited her. She looked more grown-up – in a good way.
“Hold on, Rubz,” I called out through my open window. “Let me grab your bag.”
I flung open the door and rounded the car, just as she was about to lift the small suitcase into my open trunk.
With a playful smile, she handed it over to me. “How chivalrous.”
Nudging the trunk closed, I returned her smile. “I may have had an ulterior motive.”
