Page 127 of Playing to Win
“And why the hell is it like that?” His gaze slides to me, his green eyes that are so like Ruby’s turbulent with emotion. “Is this some kind of weird superstitious thing you’ve got going on? Because if that’s the case, you need to know I’m about to call you out on your bullshit.”
“Owen.” Ruby’s mom reaches over and settles her hand on her husband’s leg. “Calm down.”
“It’s kind of my fault,” Ruby says, catching her dad off guard. She goes on to explain the agreement she signed to work with the social media team, and how she can’t date an athlete. “Once the season is over, we’ll be able to go public.”
He contemplates me again, his expression not as hostile as it was a minute ago. “How do you feel about this?”
“I hate it,” I say truthfully. “All the sneaking around. Not being able to tell everyone Ruby is mi—my, uh, girlfriend.”
She literally squirms in her chair at my use of the word that feels so damn foreign on my tongue.
Girlfriend.
We’ve never officially discussed it. Never come right out and labeled ourselves in that way but how else am I going to describe it—her—to her parents? That we like spending all of our free time together and most of that free time is spent…having sex?
Yeah, that wouldn’t go over real well.
Though it’s more than that with Ruby and me. It goes beyond sex. I like her. I enjoy her company. I want to know about her.
I want to know everything about her.
“You two are serious,” her mother says, a secret smile on her face.
“Mom. Stop,” Ruby moans, sounding like an annoyed teenager. “We’re just…seeing where this takes us.”
“Did you tell him about your brother?” her father asks.
“What about him?” I glance over at Ruby, who’s smiling helplessly.
“He asked Joanna to marry him last night,” she says.
“No shit?” My brows shoot up and I realize too late I cursed. I turn to Chelsea Maguire with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Mrs. M.”
“I told you not to call me that,” she chastises, her voice soft. “Please. Call me Chelsea. And I’ve heard worse. After all, I’m married to a man who uses the f-word like it’s a sport.”
“I stand by my assertion that it’s the most versatile word ever created.” Owen sits up straighter, his eyes dancing with mischief, while his wife just shakes her head.
They’re cute together. Act like they’re still into each other too, which is nice to see. I glance over at Ruby to find she’s already watching me, a glow in her eyes I’ve never noticed before.
“They’re going to get married, huh?” I turn to the Maguires to find them watching us very closely. I push past wanting to squirm much like Ruby did only moments ago and smile at them. “Congratulations.”
“We’re not the ones getting married,” Owen points out.
“I know but it’s your son who just got engaged to the woman he loves, and that feels like a pretty big deal.” I lean back in my chair, reaching out to settle my hand on the back of Ruby’s chair. “I like Joanna. She seems nice.”
“We adore her,” Chelsea says. “She also asked Ruby to be in the wedding.”
“Oh yeah?” I can imagine her in a pretty dress, standing at the altar near Joanna. Or even better, her wearing a wedding gown, walking down the aisle on her father’s arm.
Headed straight for me.
Sitting up straighter, I swallow hard, shaking the image from my brain. What the fuck? Marriage? Now that’s pretty fucking serious. We’re only twenty-one. I’m not ready for marriage yet.
But the idea of spending forever with Ruby? That sounds…
Perfect.
“It’ll be fun,” Ruby says, smiling at me.
