Page 7 of Body Checked By the Defenseman

“Why would you say that?” I ask because I don’t have something better, other than begging forgiveness and telling her how much I am attracted to her.

She gives me a look that says, “Who are you fooling Macklin?” And she has a point.

“Between school and hockey, my life has been busy.” I shrug as if the whole situation isn’t eating my insides.

“Add in all the puck bunnies and you don’t have time to even say hi to an old friend,” she snaps, calling me out in true Ruby fashion.

“I didn’t mean to shut you out. I’ve had a lot going on,” I rebut.

“Whatever.” She rolls her eyes in frustration. Can’t say I blame her.

“So are things getting serious with the guy?” I ask. I don’t know why I am pushing for information after she shut me down, other than I don’t want this guy to be important to her.

“Why do you care?”

“Just making conversation. What was that, like the fourth date?” My tone is a little high and I don’t know what is happening to me. I’m not a guy who turns to mush over a girl, except when that girl is Ruby Foxx.

“Keeping tabs on me, Macklin?” she bites back, a hint of a smile appearing. She never used to call me Macklin, only Mack. Her cold shoulder hurts but I made the bed I’m sleeping in.

“I still care about you, Periwinkle,” I respond and that seems to fracture a little of the ice she has built around her.

She sighs. “He’s a nice guy. We’re getting to know each other. He’s willing to take things slow, which I like,” she confesses and the information puts me at ease too.

I swallow. “Good that he isn’t being a pushy bastard. If he is, let me know.”

“What are you going to do? Beat him up?” She raises her brows. I may have warned a few guys away from her our senior year of high school. Hayden wasn’t there to watch out for her because he left for Riverside. I felt like it was my responsibility to look out for her. That, and I couldn’t fathom any of those horny teenagers touching her. Not that I was any different.

“If you want me to,” I offer with a crooked grin.

She laughs and shakes her head. “You’re crazy. I don’t know what I think of Knox, but I want to see him again and see where it leads.”

I grit my jaw at those words.

“How about you? I was expecting you to have a revolving door of women coming through.”

I tilt my head to the side. That was the case before she ruined me. “I haven’t found anyone who caught my eye lately,” I lie.

“Well, I’m sure that will change soon.”

“I feel bad for shutting you out, Rubes. I need to make it up to you,” I tell her.

“What do you propose?” she asks.

“Hayden said you’ll be here all semester. I should maybe make you a bookshelf to keep in Shane’s old room,” I offer.

“That’s completely unnecessary.” She laughs. Maybe it was, but I still remember the look on her face when I made her that first bookshelf. Her smile radiated pure joy, and it warmed my heart in a way I’d never felt before. It was a feeling I longed for but would never admit.

“My schedule is busy, but I’ll get around to it,” I assure her.

She yawns. “I should go to bed. Do you know if Charlie came back from the library?” she asks.

“Not sure,” I reply, scratching at the scruff on my jaw.

“Okay, well, have a good night, Macklin.”

“You too, Rubes.”

It would be a few weeks before we would speak again, and she was still casually dating The Guy.

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