Page 62 of What are the Risks
It hurt to say that out loud, because Noah had once been wortheverything.
I may as well have been speaking into a void, because Ryker continued to blankly stare over my shoulder, as if he was mentally planning on how to get away with murder.
Is this how the opposition felt when they played against him? He was distant, cold and threatening. I missed the soft and kind guy I knew.
“Ryker, please.”
Hearing his real name finally snapped Ryker from his simmering rage. He blinked, slowly, as if waking from a bad dream.
I breathed a sigh of relief as a trace of warmth crept back into his eyes. I hadn’t enjoyed seeing him like that. Not one bit.
“I’m sorry. I...” He trailed off, as if fighting to keep himself reined in. “What happened, Rubz? Tell me everything.”
I shrugged weakly. “I flew to Miami to surprise him. He was in another... I meanwithanother girl.”
“When?”
“Um.” I wrung my hands, my gaze falling to the bedspread. “Last month. When you were in Miami too.”
Ryker’s chest heaved. “You caught him cheating that day?”
At my confirming nod, Ryker’s anger rolled straight back through him. “Why the fuck didn’t you say something, Ruby?”
“I was in shock.”
And I hadn’t wanted you to kill him.
“Why didn’t you tell me after? We’ve spoken plenty of times since.”
“You had your big game to focus on,” I rushed out. “Then after you lost, I didn’t want to add more to your plate.” I picked at a loose thread on his quilt, still unable to meet his eyes. “And I guess I was embarrassed.”
“What do you have to be embarrassed about?”
I lifted my shoulders in a helpless gesture. “You tried warning me atThanksgiving.”
Ryker’s temper thawed a little. “About something Stefan could have easily misinterpreted. I didn’t think that asshole was actually–”
He caught himself, exhaling slowly as he fought for control. Sniffling, I wiped at my face with the sleeve of my knitted sweater.
I’d never seen Ryker this fired up about anything. I loved how deeply he cared for me, but it terrified me how much he now hated Noah.
Ryker’s hand gently stilled mine, before cupping my cheek and shifting my eyes to his. I was extremely aware of how close we were, perhaps closer than we’d ever been. If someone were to walk in right now, we’d definitely raise eyebrows.
“How have you really been, Rubz? Be honest with me.”
“There’s been okay days and bad days, but I’m ready to put it behind me. It’s time to move on.”
While the thought of being with someone new was terrifying, perhaps facing it sooner would help me heal quicker. I was willing to try. I didn’t want to feel this way anymore.
Sliding off Ryker, I made my way to the mirror, needing to smooth out my puffy face before heading back downstairs. But when I caught sight of my reflection, I realised makeup wasn’t going to cut it.
I was a mess.
“I need to take a shower,” I said, gathering my things. “How many people are coming tonight?”
Ryker shrugged, going with the conversation shift without complaint, which I loved him for. “Honestly, with Pat organising the guest list, I have absolutely no idea.”
I didn’t mind the idea of a big party for a change. It gave me plenty of people to hide among.
