Page 14 of Playing to Win
“Cam hated that pretty boy talk too.” Derek smirks.
“I don’t blame him.” I shove the rest of my cheeseburger in my mouth, regretting I didn’t get two.
My gaze snags on a woman in the distance, her back to me, long blonde hair spilling down her back. She moves in a way that feels familiar and I sit up straighter, hoping it might be—
The woman turns, her profile visible and I slunk back in my seat, disappointment filling me.
She’s not Ruby Maguire. Not even close.
Maybe that’s a good thing, that I haven’t run into her yet. I know she’s on campus. I remember Blair mentioning her sister was going to start here this fall and…this is where I admit something that feels almost shameful but…
I stalk her social media.
Yeah, I know. I’m cringe, but I was curious.
She’s already shared photos of her being here at school. Moving in with Natalie of all people. Joanna Sutton’s best friend and now former roommate. It makes sense that they know each other, that they’re all friends. I vaguely remember them hanging out at that New Year’s party. I’ve stalked Joanna’s social media too, and Blair’s. Natalie’s.
Shitty, right? Like who the hell am I? I don’t stalkanywoman’s social media because, quite frankly, I don’t have to. Women make themselves readily available to me at all times. I don’t need to go in search of anyone.
Except for her.
Ruby feels like the one who got away. The one I blew it with. That tantalizing moment with her in the bathroom on New Year’s Eve still lives rent free in my head and I can’t shake it. I didn’t even kiss her.
It’s one of my biggest regrets—that I don’t know the taste of Ruby Maguire’s lips. I should’ve tried to explain myself better after she caught me at midnight with someone else. I should’ve never let that girl drag me into the bathroom in the first place.
Talk about a colossal mistake.
I’ve been with other women since then. Not a lot of women—my number is always exaggerated, I was warned of this a long time ago by my fellow football players, specifically Cam—but enough that normally, I should’ve forgotten all about her by now.
But it’s like I can’t.
“That blonde is hot,” Derek says, and I realize he’s looking in the same direction I am.
“She’s all right.” I shrug, hating that I got caught staring, too caught up in memories of another woman. Fleeting memories that were really nothing but a quick moment in time.
Yet somehow, I’m still hung up on her.
It makes no damn sense.
SIX
RUBY
It was way tooeasy getting the social media manager position. I guess Jim did put in a good word for me, because the next thing I know, after I chat for a few minutes with Marilee, the head of the Athletic Department’s social media, I’m being introduced to the rest of the football social media team. There’s a very intimidating looking woman with sharp features and dark, wildly curly hair named Gwyneth and a totally dorky looking guy named Eric. He wears thick glasses and is long and lanky and knows more about the Colorado Golden Eagles football team than any person should.
He's currently rattling off stats and facts as he escorts me around the office where our headquarters is—his words, not mine—and I just nod and smile, ignoring the way Gwyneth stares as I wander around the tiny room.
Because our headquarters is exactly that: a single, cramped office with two desks, each topped with a massive computer that has seen way better days.
“We don’t use these.” Eric slaps the top of one of the monitors, dust rising and making my nose itch. “We bring our own laptops into the office sometimes, but mostly, I do my best work on my camera or my phone.”
“That makes sense,” I say.
“You have a laptop?” Gwyneth asks me from where she sits at the other desk.
I nod. “Yeah.”
“And a phone?” She raises her brows.
