What Are The Odds?: A college hockey romance. (Phil-U Book 1)

Grace.

“No way,” Ryan shouted, shaking his head vigorously. “Bad sex every day for the rest of your life is better than mind-blowing sex one day a year.”

“I’m going to have to back Ryan here,” Will chimed in. “Coming’s coming, right? 365 average orgasms are better than one mind blowing one.”

“You both have rocks in your head,” Tripp argued. “Mind blowing is mind blowing. Wanna chime in, Cap?”

I shrugged. “As someone who’s never had average sex, I can’t comment.”

“Oh here we go,” Will groaned, rolling his eyes.

My head bounced between the guys. My jaw had been on the floor the whole night. I was stuck in the middle of boy’s talk. These guys didn’t hold back. They’d had me gasping, shaking my head in disbelief and uncontrollably laughing to the point I snorted.

“Would you rather never be able to masturbate again, or never get a blow job?” Ryan asked.

“Never get a blow job,” they answered in unison.

“Have someone only use their hand or mouth during foreplay?” Tripp posed next.

“Surely all guys would say mouth,” Ryan said.

Neither Levi nor Will objected.

“Same for girls, right?”

“I don’t know,” Tripp said. “Fingers can work wonders.”

I’d always assumed girl talk was invasive. We spoke about things guys couldn’t even imagine. But as it turned out, boys were just as in depth as we were.

“Clearly not using your tongue properly,” Will mused.

“I don’t think we’re the right ones to settle this debate,” Levi said. “What would your answer be, Grace?”

The alcohol pumping through my veins gave me the courage to answer without wavering.

“Tongue. Definitely.”

“I knew it,” Ryan quipped. “If you’re up for it, I could–”

“You don’t want to finish that sentence,” Levi cut in.

I chuckled. It was going to take more than that to shake me. But on that note, I ought to call it a night. It was getting late. I’d never meant to stay this long. When I’d bumped into Tripp on my way out of the library and he’d suggested we hang out, I hadn’t expected it to turn into this. I opened the Uber app. Even though it was only a short drive to my dorm, the wait times were upwards of an hour. I tried a few other car apps, including the college car service, but the times weren’t any better.

“All good?” Levi asked.

“All car services are backed up.”

He checked his phone. There were a lot of notifications, messages and missed calls. Probably another Tonight? from Veronica no doubt.

“Football game just ended,” he said.

“Oh.”

I Google-mapped how quick the walk was to my dorm.

“No way,” Levi said, eyes on my screen. “You’re not walking.”

Ava and Stella had text earlier to say they were going out, so I couldn’t get them to pick me up either. As if sensing I was ready for bed, my whole body yawned. I don’t think I was going to be able to stay awake for another hour.

“Stay here,” Levi said.

I frowned. “Pardon?”

“None of us can drive you. And I really can’t be bothered with the hour round trip to walk you home.”

I glanced down at the couch I was sitting on. I guess we were about to get a lot more familiar.

As if reading my mind, Levi said, “I am not letting you sleep unsupervised with these idiots.”

The guys were still bouncing off would you rather questions to each other. The bar was getting lower and lower too.

“You can stay in my room.”

At my involuntarily widening eyes, Levi chuckled.

“Don’t worry, Hughesy. Just as friends.”

“Have you ever had a girl sleep in your bed platonically?”

“No,” he admitted truthfully. “But I can be a gentleman for one night.”

He stood up and gestured for me to do the same. The question Tripp was about to ask died off in his throat.

“And where are you two going?”

“To bed,” Levi said simply. “And you should all think about doing the same. We have a game tomorrow.”

He grabbed my hand and tugged me away before any of the guys could say anything. We climbed one set of stairs, which had another living space complete with a pool table. This house was open and spacious, a stark comparison to my dorm room.

“Will and Ryan’s rooms are on this floor,” Levi explained.

We ascended another flight of stairs. At the top was an empty living area and three doors. Levi reached into his pocket and produced a key to unlock one. It opened on a large bedroom, the master if I was to guess. A large, terribly made but made nonetheless, bed faced a big TV that was mounted on the wall. There was a desk with a neat stack of textbooks, as well as a door which led to a wardrobe and another that opened on the bathroom. Everything was masculine, from the grey bed spread through to the feature brick wall and basketball hoop on the back of the door Levi was now locking closed.

“Feel free to snoop while I find you something to sleep in,” he said.

Grinning, I headed straight for the chest-of-drawers that was covered with framed photos. There was a picture of a younger Levi and Will wearing oversized hockey-jerseys, as well as a photo of them dressed in a cap and gown. One of Levi and Ryan in opposing hockey uniforms. And another of the four of them wearing their current uniform, grinning ecstatically as they held a glistening cup between them. It must’ve been from last year’s season.

“This should do.” Levi returned with a black t-shirt and held it out to me. “There’s spare toothbrushes in the cabinet under the sink.”

There was an opportunity to make a dig at the insinuation, but I let it drop. He was coming to my aid here. There was no point reminding him, or myself, of the stream of girls that had been in this bedroom before me. The game played tonight had told me a lot about Levi. He had a reputation that was enough to make anyone blush. I’d already heard some of the stories. Girls pined over him. Guys envied him. And here I was, about to share a bed with him. After changing into the t-shirt he’d given me, I brushed my teeth then splashed water on my face. When I came out of the bathroom, Levi wasn’t there. He’d turned the main light off and flicked on a lamp. I pulled back the covers and got into the bed, praying he’d had time to wash the sheets since his last conquest. Groaning in appreciation, I stretched my legs out. His bed was comfortable. Like, incredibly so. And it felt huge after being in my dorm-room single. Levi returned, holding two glasses of cold water. Water was a great idea. Each of the drinks tonight had been sweet. If the alcohol didn’t give me a hangover tomorrow, the sugar would. While Levi went into the bathroom to get ready for bed, I took a long sip, making sure to leave a bit in the bottom in case I woke up thirsty throughout the night. Lying back down, I rolled from side to side, literally moaning in appreciation.

“You right?” Levi asked, his toothbrush half-hanging out his amused mouth as he leant in the bathroom doorway.

“I think I’m in heaven right now.”

He smirked. “You’re not the first girl to say that in that bed, Hughesy.”

I reached behind my head and threw a pillow at him. Chuckling, he ducked back into the bathroom. I tugged the blankets up to my chin. The weight of them submerged me deeper into the fluffy mattress. On his way back, Levi scooped up the pillow. When he reached for the hem of his hoodie, I averted my gaze and rolled onto my back to stare at the ceiling. The bed dipped as he climbed in. Now he was in here too, it didn’t seem so big anymore. I suppose when you were six-foot-three a king bed wasn’t all that large.

“Do you plan on sleeping in the middle?” he checked.

“I’m too comfy to move,” I told him.

“Suit yourself.”

Levi reached up to turn off the lamp, plunging us into darkness.

“Am I sleeping on your side?” I asked.

“I don’t have a side.”

“Everybody has a side.”

“Not when you usually have the bed to yourself.”

I snickered. “I was there tonight, Levi. Are you really going to pretend you spend most nights alone?”

He was silent for a moment.

“I–”

Footsteps and hushed voices on the other side of the door distracted us. Tripp, Ryan and Will were whispering to each other. I couldn’t make out exactly what they were saying, but I could imagine.

“Do you think they think we’re–”

“Big time,” Levi answered.

I blushed.

“Let them think whatever,” he said. “They’re idiots anyway.”

I held my breath as I waited for the footsteps to retreat. It took a while, but eventually they conceded after realising they weren’t about to hear one of Levi’s screamers.

“Hey, Levi,” I whispered.

“Yes, Grace?” he whispered back.

“Thank you for letting me stay.”

He was silent for a moment.

“Hey, Grace?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for trusting me to stay.”