Page 65 of Body Checked By the Defenseman

“Probably because you know I did,” I reply.

“But Mack came downstairs with wet hair. If you go downstairs, I think it’ll look suspicious,” she points out.

“What am I supposed to do? Hide up here all day?” I joke.

“Maybe,” she says, tilting her head to the side.

“I was kidding,” I say wide-eyed.

“It’s not a bad idea.” She shrugs. “It’s not like you can climb out a window.”

“You’ve seen too many movies,” I chide her playfully.

We hear voices and they are coming upstairs. I run into Macklin’s closet, leaving Charlie in his room by herself.

Luckily, Macklin’s closet is neat and not too full. The voices grow closer. I hear Cade. Then I hear Luc. They must be going to their rooms, which are a few steps up since the house has four floors.

I hear the door to the room open and I am practically holding my breath.

“Charlie?” Macklin sounds surprised. “Where is she?” he whispers.

I don’t hear what’s happening next but when Macklin pulls his closet door open, I’ve adjusted to the darkness in the closet so I squint.

“What are you doing in there?” he whispers.

“I heard Cade and Luc.”

Finn is at the door next. “Is everything okay?”

“Perfect,” I say.

“Now would be a good time to get downstairs,” he mouths, pointing that the guys are in their rooms. He’s talking a lot with his hands.

“Okay.” I tiptoe out of the room and down the hall. Cade leaves his room and he can see down the stairs into the hall because it’s only five steps up to his floor.

“Ruby?” he asks like he’s surprised.

“Yeah,” I reply. “Welcome back.”

“What are you doing up here? I didn’t realize you were home,” he says.

“The faucet in my shower wasn’t working properly so I took a bath up here,” I explain. “How was Tampa?”

“It was the shit. Hayden is one lucky bastard to end up there,” he says excitedly.

“I guess so. I wish he could’ve found something closer to Riverside, but I’m super happy for him,” I say.

“The team is super cool. He’s happy,” Cade shares, and that’s all I want for my brother. He’s worked so damn hard to get to where he is.

“That’s amazing,” I tell him. “You look tired. You probably need sleep.”

I don’t have something better.

He yawns. “It was a sick weekend.”

“I’m sure, I’ll catch you later.”

I head downstairs to my room and close the door. I sag against the door as my heart rate slows down. That was close. I wonder if Cade caught on to how nervous I was.

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