Page 16 of Almost Ours

“Yeah.”

“What does that mean?”

“Don’t worry about it.” She shakes her head, corners of her mouth tipped up. “Just know that he will like you.”

"You don't even know if I can play well."

Her eyes trail down me, and I swear my spine straightens. "You can play. You’re a good player.”

"Do you have a talent for knowing if someone can play football by looking at them?"

Ruby lifts one shoulder in a small, confident shrug. "Pretty much, yeah."

“Right.” I'm totally disarmed by her. Never has a girl spoken to me like this or treated me like this, and it’s sexy whilst being deeply endearing.

Brooke jumps in like she’s been waiting for the perfect moment to stir the pot. “Well, you’ll have to text her now, won’t you? Give her your number.”

Ewan snorts. “Subtle, babe.”

“Who has the time for subtle in this day and age?” Brooke says, without a hint of shame.

I swivel towards them in shock. This meddlesome pair are going to be the death of me one day.

“Yeah, Josh.” Ruby’s voice is taunting slightly. “Let me give you my number.” She holds her hand out, palm up, expectant. "Give me your phone and I'll put it in. You can spend a few days deliberating over whether to text me or not."

I laugh under my breath as I slide my phone out of my pocket, discreetly turning it back on and hoping all the notifications from Bonnie don’t jump on the screen. "What if you decide you don't want to text me back?"

"You'll have to text me first to find out," she says, taking the phone from my hand with no hesitation. "But I'm counting on you not leaving me high and dry for quidditch." With a small smile she punches her number into my phone before handing it back to me. "If you ditch me, Josh, I'll freeze my own pee and post it through your letterbox, and when you get home, you'll be forced to stand in my urine."

Brooke’s mouth drops open. “Ruby! Oh my God, that is disgusting. What the hell?”

Ruby shrugs. "I'm being so dead serious."

Words find me slowly. "That...what?”

She gets to her feet, slinging her bag over one shoulder. "Actions have consequences and I'm trusting you'll do the right thing. Five days from now, I'll be standing at Quidditch Soc thinking, I hope Josh isn't going to let me down." Ruby tucks her curls behind one ear and winks at me "Text me later, Grumpy."

My eyes glide down the full length of her. Beautiful. "I, uh... yeah. I will?"

"You will." She beams. Then she turns to Brooke. "Thanks for inviting me. See you at halls later?"

Brooke lights up. "Yeah—yeah, of course."

She walks off, and I watch her go. I feel starstruck and a little bit in awe.

Ewan waits until she's out of earshot before leaning forward, smirking like the worst kind of devil. "I think she asked you on a date, mate."

My head snaps towards him. "No, she asked us to go as a group."

"Notice how she didn't ask for my number?"

I snort. "Because you have a girlfriend. Who is sat right here.”

He waggles his eyebrows. "Exactly."

Chapter Five

Friday