Rules Of Different Games

Chapter 18- For A Change

Dru Brown

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I was at home alone, salivating over the hockey game that killed Devan's arm. I watched the clip for the hundredth time watching Mandela Carmen slam herself into Devan. Not once, but three specific times in a row. It all felt so primal, so animalistic that I wanted to beat the bitch down. If I ever saw her in person again, I planned on doing just that.

I hated Mandy more than I hated anyone in the world. And now I had another reason to add to the mix of issues with the girl who ruined things for me back in high school. I wondered how the fuck a girl like that got into a sport like hockey, but would never know because I hated her too much to ask.

Ellie walked into my apartment holding her phone. "Yes, I just fucking saw it. I've been going back and forth between Dru's all day talking about it since it was announced this morning on ENN. I'm fucking pissed if I ever see that Mandela bitch in the real I'm beating her ass." Ellie yelled into the phone. She listened and calmed down with whatever the other person was saying then rolled her eyes and handed me the phone, whispering it was Ruthie.

"Hey, Ru." I said dryly. "Can you believe this shit?"

"No I can't. I want to skin that hooker alive, but we can't. It's bad press for you two so don't be stupid. I'm gonna take care of that homewrecker myself." I rolled my eyes at her.

"Yes, mom."

"Unless that's a mommy pun in a sexual way, don't call me that. Listen, I need a favor. You guys need to go cheer up our girl. I'd go, but Miranda's birthday is tomorrow and I can't make it back in time. But you guys can come here. I already checked your schedule and you're free until Tuesday so don't say no."

Firstly she just turned me on with the whole mommy thing. Secondly she just called Devan our girl and that did shit to me too. And thirdly, since when did she check my schedule? My heart sort of bloomed listening to her talk. What to address first?

I blanched. "How'd you figure out my schedule?"

"Dumb question when Ellie is like your secret barer, babes." Oh, God she called me babes again. That did things to my insides I wasn't willing to admit.

"True. True. Okay tell me what to do. How do I cheer her up?"

"Easy. Chinese food and StarLark. And a lot of talk of nothing, just life. No sports talk." Ruthie told me like she was instructing me to coach a game or something.

I loved her for that little insight. She was brand new even though she was my oldest friend. I'd missed her. I'd missed being bossed around by her. I wondered if she felt the same.

"I'll bring Devan home tomorrow. But only if you promise to talk to us about what happened. I think there's some things you want to hear. And I know there are things I want to tell you."

"Alright, I'm in. But no talk about hockey unless Devan brings it up. She's not a crier, but she's hurt and lost right now so she's going to cry. And you know how I get with that shit."

I laughed. "Isn't it hilarious that we are the giants, but you are the cold one?"

"Shut it, devil." She scolded with a giggle. "Alright, go get the shit and head over now. And no fucking kissing without me in the room."

Well, that got me shook. "Excuse me? What?"

She sighed. "I think that's why I was mad. Not because you kissed. But because I didn't see it. Rude, much?" And just like that she hung up the phone leaving me staring at the tiny screen in shock.

She was always shocking me. Always had. But now she was shocking me with adult content and lord help me I was beyond excited about that.

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I pushed it away and focused on Chinese food, Devan and StarLark. It was a good peaceful night and at the end of it when Ellie left I ended up cuddling up to Devan as she cried herself to sleep. I held her close to me, pushing her head against my shoulder and burying my chin in her hair while I smoothed circles into her back. I cried right along with her for her pain. If this happened to me I wasn't sure I'd be this calm or beautiful in my breaking.

"I'd kiss you if I didn't promise Ru not to do it unless she was with us." I whispered to her.

She chuckled. "She wants to see us kiss?" She looked up at me with eyes full of tears. I wiped her face clean, smiling smugly.

"She was only mad because she missed it. Not because it happened I guess." I shrugged with a short laugh.

"Our girl is one special person." Devan told me, yawning.

"That she is." I kissed Devan's forehead and closed my eyes. "And so are you."

She sighed. "Not special enough to be awarded a good shoulder from God anytime soon."

"Maybe, but all that means is freedom now. Try not to dwell, ladyfish."

"Lady fish?" She smirked at me.

"You're a fish out of water. You glide on ice and spin like a ballerina in water. So, like a dork I nicknamed you Ladyfish. Ru loves fishing." I winked at her brown mischievous eyes that bore into me.

She smiled softly, her eyes finally calming down from their reprieve. "I like that. What's Ruthie's nickname?"

"Love. Or lady love. Or spitfire."

Devan giggled, digging her head into my neck. "Dru?"

"Hmmm."

"Next time don't make promises for me. Cause I'd kiss you too if I could. And now we just have to sit here doing nothing. " Her words were muffled, but oh so cute.

"Sleeping will help with that. Let's just sleep." I realized then that this was only the second person I'd ever let into my bed. And somehow I knew the same could be said for Ruthie.

I liked that.

I liked it more than I would ever admit. We fell asleep wrapped up on my warm velvet blanket and woke up to pack in a hurry and head to the airport to see our girl. Something told me this trip was going to be better and maybe more entertaining than the last trip I took home.

This time Devan was with me. And this time neither of us were coming back without Ruthie as ours. I didn't care how she wanted to do this, but I planned on convincing them both it was what was for the best.

I was going to attempt to change the rules of this game. Ruthie was just going to have to listen to me for a change.