Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I Love Trouble with You

Macklin

We head inside a bar. Both girls are sophomores, but they have fake IDs.

“What’s up with you?” Hayden leans in and whispers as we wait at the entrance to be seated.

“Nothing,” I whisper back.

He gives me a look that says he isn’t buying my bullshit. What can I do? Say I’d rather be back at Mario’s house watching a movie and holding Ruby in my arms?

He raises his brows. “Bro, I’m not into her.”

Hayden’s blue eyes widen. “She’s fucking hot.”

“Not my type,” I insist.

“Do I need to take your temperature?” he jokes.

“Fuck off,” I retort.

Hayden knows me better than anyone and maybe before Periwinkle I would have been into that girl, but Periwinkle is everything I always wanted. No one else would ever match up.

Hayden shakes his head just as the hostess takes us to a table.

Hayden sits beside Vicky, which leaves me sitting beside Riley.

A waitress comes up and we order drinks. Hayden and I both get Cokes, but the girls take out their fake IDs and order some kind of margarita.

“Why aren’t you guys drinking?” Vicky asks and she slides her hand under the table and clearly onto Hayden’s thigh.

“I’m driving,” Hayden reminds her.

“I’m not in the mood,” I say.

“We can change that,” Riley flirts, and she slides her hand up my thigh. I get so startled I jump out of my seat.

“I’m going to the men’s room,” I stutter, walking away.

I text Ruby from the bathroom. I want her to know I am not into this girl. I won’t be touching her. This whole situation is messed up. I should’ve known better than to start with Ruby, but my mind and heart were at odds with each other, and clearly, my heart won.

I head back to the table at the same time the waitress brings our drinks. The girls chat us up, asking a lot of questions about playing hockey.

“I heard the frat parties are dope,” Vicky states.

“We should totally come visit one weekend,” Riley adds.

That’s a terrible idea. These girls are Mario’s granddaughters and Abuela is serious about him. We can’t mess them over in any way because it could cause conflict.

“You good?” Riley asks, which I find weird because I don’t know her all that well.

“Yeah,” I reply, not feeling like I need to give an explanation.

“Cool.” She slides a hand over my thigh again. I lift it up and put it back on her lap. “Come on, aren’t you up for a little fun this weekend?”

Hayden is watching us. He isn’t surprised by her forwardness, so it must be my reaction that has him giving me a questioning look.

“Ri, chill a little,” her cousin Vicky warns.

“I think us having fun together is a bad idea. We can hang out but our grandparents are in a serious relationship. I wouldn’t want to do anything to harm that,” I explain.

“Bro, Abuela won’t care,” Hayden says.

“We aren’t looking to fall in love,” Vicky adds. “It’s just like Ri said, we want fun. It’s always so boring when we come to visit Grandpa Mario. Now we have you guys, we might as well hang out.”

I’m pretty sure Vicky’s definition of hang out is casual sex.

We sit and chat with the girls for an hour. Riley doesn’t try to put her hands on me again, and I’m thankful for that. When the bill comes Hayden pays for it. I offer him some money but he doesn’t want it from me. He’s months away from finishing school and heading to the NHL.

“I can’t believe you’re going to be on television next year. Like I am sitting here with a famous guy,” Vicky says.

Oh boy, here we go. A puck bunny who wants to show off she’s been with a player.

“I’m just starting out. I don’t think I’ll be a big deal,” Hayden replies. “I still need to sign the contract. Hoping to get to it after the holiday,” he explains.

“That’s exciting,” Vicky says. “Which teams want you?”

“I’m not really at liberty to discuss that right now,” Hayden replies.

“Should we go somewhere quiet?” Vicky asks him, looking around.

Hayden looks my way, and I give him a frustrated look.

“How about I get this party pooper home?” he says of me. “Then we can take a drive somewhere.”

Vicky bobs her head like she likes the idea.

“What about us?” Riley asks.

“I’m not going to the NHL next year. I’m headed back to Riverside,” I inform her, hoping it will dim the stars in her eyes.

“You’re funny.” She laughs. “I don’t care about that, silly.” She waves me off.

“Sorry, I’m not into this,” I tell her. “I think we should be friends for the sake of our grandparents.”

“But they aren’t,” she responds, pointing at Hayden and Vicky.

“To each their own.” I shrug.

Hayden is watching me curiously, which isn’t a good thing, but he also knows how important this family is to me. I hope I don’t get called out. I am being a big hypocrite because it is much worse for me to be going with Ruby than Riley. Ruby is important to Hayden and Abuela.

We head back home. I walk through the door to see Ruby watching a movie with Carlos, Lucia, Ana, Camila, Mario, and Abuela.

“Hey there,” Abuela greets.

“Where are Hayden and Vicky?” she asks.

“They went for coffee,” Riley says. “They weren’t tired.” She yawns.

I feel terrible Ruby was left behind. It was really uncool of those girls, but I’ll keep my thoughts to myself because I don’t like to stir up trouble. I head to the kitchen and get a glass of water. I hear Riley tell her parents she is going to sleep.

When I walk back to the family room with my cup of water, the movie is over. Everyone is standing and stretching.

Abuela gives Ruby a hug. “Let me grab you some pillows and a blanket.”

“Thanks,” Ruby replies. “I have my things upstairs. I will go take a quick shower.”

“Go ahead,” Abuela tells her.

Everyone walks off in different directions. I walk around the room and look at some of the pictures on the wall of Mario’s kids when they were little. I didn’t have that kind of childhood. Although I did up until my parents died. I have two full shoeboxes of pictures, which seems kind of sad.

“They’re a nice family,” Abuela says into the dark room, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Yeah, you and Mario seem happy and the family is really nice,” I tell her.

“You don’t need to lie to me, Mack. I know his granddaughters are a handful.” She laughs.

I laugh too.

“You didn’t like Riley?” she says, scrunching her nose.

“No, sorry,” I admit to her.

“Why are you sorry, mijo?” she asks curiously.

“I don’t want to mess anything up for you,” I reply.

“Dear boy, you aren’t messing anything up. Mario and me, we fit. We’re happy in our life here. His kids don’t live close by but they’re important to him, and I understand that,” she explains. “They’re all nice people and having everyone around brings me joy. I never really had much family around.”

“Same,” I say with a crooked grin.

“I know.” She rubs my back. “But you’re young. You can find a nice girl and make yourself a family.”

“I want like five kids. I don’t think many women would be up for that.” I chuckle, although a part of me is serious. I want a big family.

“Well, you should shoot for the stars, Macklin, you’re an amazing man. Any woman would be lucky to have you,” she praises.

Only there is something inside me that doesn’t buy her words. I still feel like I am not good enough. I hate feeling this way, but it’s how I am wired.

“Thanks, Abuela,” I return.

“Have a good night.” She winks.

She turns to walk upstairs. “I’ll be up soon,” I assure since Ruby is sleeping down here.

“Take your time,” she mumbles, throwing me off.

My brows crunch together as I wonder what she means by that, but then I realize I am probably reading too deeply into nothing.

“Hi.” Ruby’s soft voice pulls me from staring at the photos. I turn around and take her in. Her hair is wet and she’s wearing a T-shirt and a pair of short shorts that have little pink dogs on them.

“I’m so sorry, Periwinkle,” I reply, taking a step toward her.

“I didn’t like it but I know you were in an impossible position,” she answers.

Something eases inside me, and I sigh. “Thanks for understanding. It was quite a night.”

“How so?” she asks.

I scrunch my face. “Do you really want the details?”

She nods.

I tell her how pushy Riley was being.

“I don’t like either of them,” Ruby states.

“Well, your brother knows Vicky is with him because he’s going to the NHL. I don’t think his expectations are too high.”

“I wish he could find a more meaningful relationship,” she shares.

“Like ours?” I ask, pulling her into me and pressing my nose to hers.

“Macklin,” she gasps. I pull back and look in her eyes. She’s confused at first but then her confusion morphs into understanding. “There is more here.”

I nod. “There is more here,” I repeat. We stay quiet for a few seconds.

“I really want to kiss you,” she says.

“I want to kiss you too, Periwinkle, but anyone could walk in here,” I warn.

“What if I don’t care?” she replies.

“I’d say you’re horny as hell and it’s your hormones talking, but we need to think with our heads,” I reply. We are so close our lips are almost touching and it feels painful to withhold the kiss.

“He won’t be back too soon,” she says of her brother.

“Probably not,” I agree. I begin to nibble on her lips.

We start kissing and that familiar fire ignites inside me like gasoline with a match. With her arms wrapped around my neck, I lift her and guide her legs around my waist, and then I walk us over to the couch. I take a seat and Ruby spreads her thighs over me as we continue to kiss. When she begins to rub herself against me, all rational thought flies out the window and I slip my hand into her shorts.

“You aren’t wearing panties,” I blurt, feeling her wetness.

“I know.” She smirks.

She unbuttons my jeans and the zipper and wraps her hand around my cock.

“This is trouble,” I warn her.

“I love trouble with you,” she responds as she begins to pump my cock. “Touch me, Mack.”

The sweet begging in her voice has me undone. I rub her clit and slide a finger inside her. She moans into my mouth as she rides my finger. She pumps my cock with her hand and we are both completely unhinged. If Hayden walked through the door right now, I would get my ass kicked but I don’t care because right now we are chasing ecstasy. When she falls over the edge, I have to use my other hand to cover her mouth, and she bites me as she comes. I don’t care because it is so hot. I’m going to blow my load all over myself, but I’ve lost control. I’m lost in Ruby. I come hard and cum squirts on my T-shirt and all over her hand. She continues to pump me, drawing out every drop of ecstasy.

I hold her against me.

“I’m ready, Mack,” she declares, and I know what she is talking about. She wants us to have sex. There is no turning back from what we’ve done but if I have sex with Ruby, I know I will never walk away, and this thing between us was never meant to be permanent.