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

Levi.

I was eager to wrap up training. Each time a guy stuffed up and we were required to start again, my frustration festered. After what felt like one-hundred failed attempts, we nailed the drill and Coach called it for the day. I was usually one of the last off the ice. Today, I headed for the locker room first. I had my skates off in record time. By the time Tripp stepped through the door, I was scooping up my towel and heading for the showers.

“What are you in a rush for?”

I didn’t answer. I took a quick shower. Much quicker than normal. Just enough to wet my hair and wash away the sweat from practice. When I returned to the locker room, the guys were still taking off their gear.

“Got somewhere to be, Cap?” Ryan questioned.

“Grace has a meet.”

Tripp glanced up. “Can I come?”

I stopped with my hoodie halfway over my head. “Why?”

“Grace is my friend too.”

Will snickered. “Grace isn’t Levi’s friend.”

“Don’t I know it,” Tripp returned. “I share a bedroom wall with the guy.”

I whipped him with my towel. But part of me was smug. A happy Grace meant a happy Levi. And each time – sans the first – I’d had her in my bed, it had ended with Grace being very very happy. Heck, even though we hadn’t done much, each time it’d ended very happily for me too. I was doing my best to take things slow. I was trying to build trust, to get her feeling comfortable with me. Though each time it was becoming harder and harder. Literally. Blue balls were an understatement for me nowadays. My dick had never wanted someone more than it wanted Grace Hughes.

“I have no plans either,” Ryan said. “I’ll stop by.”

Will looked perplexed. “Well I drove with you assholes, so I guess I’m in too.”

I hadn’t expected the guys to be like this. Particularly Ryan and Tripp who, like me, had never had a girlfriend. I’d assumed whoever started showing signs of becoming whipped first would get a good heckling. Yet here my mates were, asking to come and watch Grace’s sport. I liked that they loved Grace. But, fuck. If only they knew. I was starting to worry Tripp would have more to say about the stupid bet than Grace did. I finished slipping on my black hoodie, then matched it with black sweats and a grey beanie. Sitting on the bench in front of my locker, I pulled on socks then laced my white sneakers as though my life was on the line.

“Whatever,” I conceded. “But I’m heading there now. I’ll meet you at the pool.”

I mumbled a farewell to the rest of the team and then I was out of there. Luckily the barn and pool were on the same part of campus. Within a minute I was walking into the meet. The smell of chlorine hit me like a two-hundred-pound defenceman. At least I wasn’t hungover today. My dick twitched, remembering the last time I was in this pool with Grace. I’d be lying if I said seeing her in a swimsuit wasn’t top of the pros column to coming to this meet. I stiffened at the sight of Ryker on the bleachers. Fucking Richardson. What was he doing here? Had Grace asked him? I made my way over. If Grace spotted him in the crowd, I wanted to know she saw me too.

“Holloway,” he clipped when I sat down.

Right next to him.

“Richardson.”

“Thought you had practice.”

“We wrapped up early.”

Ryker was dressed in his casual football uniform. They had a game tonight.

I cleared my throat. “Just so you know, Grace and I had a talk last night.”

“About the weather?” he jested.

“We’re exclusive.”

I studied him for a reaction, a flicker of anger or surprise, but I got nothing other than a mumbled, “If you say so.”

I did my best to keep my temper in check. I didn’t see Ryker as competition, I really didn’t. I trusted that Grace wouldn’t do anything with him. At least not without talking to me first. She’d taken the exclusive chat well last night. Thank God. If she’d refused, I would’ve begged her. That didn’t mean I trusted Ryker to keep his distance though. He owed me nothing. And if roles were reversed, an exclusive agreement wouldn’t stop me from going after Grace unless she told me herself to stay away. As much as I wished I could ask her to do that, I wouldn’t. I had no right. Our school team was huddled by the locker rooms. I found Grace’s fair hair. She was dressed in her swimsuit. The one piece wasn’t anywhere near as exciting as the lingerie she’d swum in last time, but it still left little to the imagination. I could see the clear curve of her perfect tits, the outline of her narrow waist and the lines of her ass cheeks. Several heads snapped to the door when my friends walked in. Dressed in their casual hockey sportswear, they stood out. Rather than head straight to me, they sought out Grace. She looked surprised to see them, but glad. I think. Tripp lifted her off the ground to squeeze her. Damn. I should’ve gone to her as well. Had Ryker? She asked Will something. He replied, before pointing in my direction. Grace followed the line, a smile crossing her face when she saw me. I waved. So did Ryker. The fucker. The guys climbed the bleachers. Tripp was dressed in socks and Crocs. I was mad at him for getting on the bandwagon the freshmen on the team had coerced him into. And I was even madder that he somehow didn’t look like a total douche wearing them. He sat beside me.

“Hughesy is up first,” he said.

“Do they have any snacks here?” Ryan grumbled. “I’m starving.”

Usually our post-training routine resulted in us getting food. It’d have to wait today. When Grace walked up to the stand, I couldn’t focus on anything else. Even with her swimming cap on, I knew it was her. I could spot those legs in a crowded frat party. Especially given they’d been hooked over my shoulders this morning. She jumped on the spot a few times before swinging her arms back and forth. After a long whistle, she climbed onto the podium. She shook out her body before getting into position.

A voice came over the speaker. “Take your mark.”

I was nervous, which was new to me. Nerves had been something I cancelled out a long time ago. Another noise sounded, then Grace dove in. For a few seconds all contestants were beneath the surface. When they emerged, the crowd started cheering. I focussed on Grace. She was nothing but elegance in the pool. I’d got a glimpse the other day. But now, I watched in awe as her arms sliced through the water like it was ice and she was a skate. She reached the other end of the pool quicker than I could probably run. After turning, her name was cast on the scoreboard as leading place. She was 0.27 seconds ahead. That was good. I think. I knew fuck all about swimming. I needed to learn. Stat.

“Let’s go, Hughesy,” Tripp murmured beside me.

He was on the edge of his seat. Literally. As Grace neared the end, it was hard to tell who was in front. I held my breath as she reached out in front of her and touched the wall. Gripping the edge of the pool with one hand, she slid her goggles off with the other, resting them on her head.

“In first place we have Grace Hughes from Phil-U. In second place we have–”

I didn’t hear the rest.

Tripp jumped to his feet. “Fuck yeah, Hughesy.”

His loud voice echoed, causing every person to look our way. Even Grace heard from the pool. She craned her head in our direction. Out the corner of his eye, Ryker was studying Tripp. He clearly didn’t know what to make of my friends being here. Particularly Tripp being this invested. A few more events happened, none of which I paid attention to. My eyes kept wandering from the pool to Grace, who was sitting among her team, eating a granola bar. She only had one other event today. The 4x 100m freestyle relay. When it was time, she gathered her things, tucking her hair back into the swimming cap and slipping off her jacket. I was excited to watch her again. Stella was up first. She stepped onto the podium while Ava, Grace and one other girl hovered behind.

The voice came over the speaker again. “Take your mark.”

The swimmers dove in.

“Remind me again why we’ve never watched swimming,” Ryan thoughtfully said.

Will punched his arm. “Stop being a creep.”

I’m sure Stella was a good swimmer. But watching her was like watching anyone else on TV. I was only captivated when it was Grace in that pool. When it was her legs kicking. When it was her arms moving. As Stella approached the end, Ava got into position. Both Ava and the team in the lane beside Phil-U dove into the pool at the same time. It was close. Too close. And by the time Grace was stepping onto the podium to wait her turn, our third swimmer had slipped into fourth place. The moment Grace dove into the pool, she began making up lost distance. I slid forward, resting my elbows on my thighs. It’s the same way I sat during overtimes. When everything was on the line. By the time Grace reached the turn, she’d already swum back to second place.

“She’s coming after her,” Will said.

“Come on, Hughesy,” Ryan cheered.

Tripp pounded his feet anxiously. I held my breath. When Grace’s hand hit the end first, we all jumped from our seats. Even Ryker. An involuntary grin stretched across my face. Figures Grace was unstoppable in the water too.

*

Ryker and I waited together for Grace to come out. The guys had just left. Supposedly Ryan’s stomach had been seconds away from eating itself. I’d worked up an appetite at training. I expect Grace had too. I hope that translated to getting food together after this. She walked out with Stella and Ava. She was freshly showered, dressed in her swimming tracksuit and slippers. Her wet hair was draped over one shoulder. I liked seeing her fresh-faced like this. Grace never hid behind a wall of makeup or fancy outfit. She was always just her. It was refreshing. She looked up from her phone, her eyes finding mine. After muttering something to Stella and Ava, she headed our way.

“You came.” Her eyes widened. “Both of you.”

I fought the impulse to crash my lips against hers. I wasn’t that big of an ass to flaunt her in front of Ryker.

“Of course,” Ryker said. “You were bad ass in that pool, Grace.”

She chuckled. “I was having a good day.”

He reached forward, nudging her shoulder playfully. “I’m sure they’re always good.”

Okay Ryker. Continue flirting with her in front of me and see what happens.

“Hey,” she said, her gaze moving to me.

“Hey,” I smiled.

Fuck it. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her against my chest and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

“You were fucking amazing.”

She pulled back, eyes smiling as she looked at me. Though through the smile, I could tell how tired she was. I’d woken her late last night. Well, early this morning. Just as it felt like we’d fallen asleep, her alarm had gone off. She’d had a morning practice, a full day of classes then ended with the meet. And apparently I knew her schedule. That was a new revelation.

“Don’t you have a game tonight?” she asked Ryker.

I tried not to let it bother me that she knew that.

He nodded. “I can get you guys good seats if you want to come by.”

I really didn’t want to go to a football game tonight. But if Grace accepted the tickets, which she likely would because of how damn nice she was, I was definitely going too.

“I’m pretty beat,” she admitted, smiling sheepishly. “But I promise to get to a game soon.”

Ryker was disappointed. I could see it in his eyes. And while I ought to feel smug, I kind of felt bad for the guy. I loved the idea of showing off in front of Grace. And with a stadium of fans shouting his name, Grace would undoubtably be impressed. College football was huge. Some of the college stadiums were just as big as the football games she watched back home.

“No problem,” Ryker said. “I should get going. Nice work today, Grace.”

“Thanks, Ryker.”

“Goodluck, man,” I said.

He likely wouldn’t need it. The team they were playing were on the brink of being dropped a division. He’d pants them. Once he was gone, I finally kissed Grace. I took my time, savouring every second of her warm lips on mine. When we broke apart, I held her at arm’s length, studying her.

“Are you too beat for dinner?”

“I’m starving.” She glanced down at her outfit. Her fuzzy slippers were fucking adorable. “But can we get takeaway? I don’t have the energy to get ready to eat in public.”

Grace looked perfect the way she was. But I didn’t mind her suggestion. The idea of eating with her on the couch was better than being on opposite sides of a sticky restaurant table.

“I can cook something.”

“The dorms don’t have a kitchen.”

I took her gym bag, slipping it over my shoulder. “Luckily my house does.”

She hesitated, her gaze falling to the floor. “Are you sure? I’ve been there a lot lately. I don’t want to overstep with your friends.”

“Please, Grace,” I said dismissively. “You’re not overstepping with the guys. Tripp practically begged me to come today. And besides, I fucking love you being at my place.”

Relief overtook her apprehension.

“You swear too much, Holloway.”

She was probably right.

“So, dinner at my house?” I confirmed.

She grinned. “Bloody oath.”

*

“Good. We’re all here,” Ryan said, stalking into the kitchen.

At the first scent of food cooking, Will and Tripp had emerged. Despite having eaten on their way home, they were ready for round two. Luckily I’d anticipated this and brought extra ingredients when Grace and I stopped at the supermarket on the way back.

“Not another TikTok,” Will groaned.

“No. Let’s talk Halloween. I’ve got some ideas.”

I smiled, amused. “Here we go.”

Last year he’d somehow convinced the whole hockey team to dress as Where’s Wally. The year before that it was Spiderman. Twenty guys in what were practically morph suits – very revealing morph suits – was comical, but also very hot. I’d been a sweaty mess all night. I was vetoing any ideas that covered me from head to toe again.

“The Dothraki.”

“Dothraki?” Tripp asked, eyebrows raised.

“From Game of Thrones.”

Will shook his head in disagreement. “Not everyone would get it. And I’m not going to wear a costume again where we have to explain what it is.”

That had been the case when we dressed as the army men from Toy Story. The main problem was the suits Ryan ordered were orange, not green. People had mistakenly called us Ompa Loompas all night.

“We need a Khaleesi, then they’d know,” Tripp said.

“Hughesy could be our Dragon Queen,” I suggested.

Grace looked up.

Ryan regarded her for a moment. “She does have the hair for it.”

Tripp smirked. “And we do get to see her tits a lot.”

The warning glare I shot his way had the smirk falling quickly. Laughing, Grace leant against the bench beside me, wiping her hands on her pants. They were covered in garlic bread crumbs.

“What about dalmatians?” Ryan said. ‘Grace can be Cruella.”

“How did I get dragged into this?” Grace asked.

I placed my hand on her shoulder, squeezing softly. “Just go with it.”

“Or The lost boys,” Ryan went on. “Grace can be Wendy. Or Average Joes? There was a blonde girl on the team.”

Tripp winked at Grace. “Pretty sure she makes out with another chick at the end if you’d like to recreate that, Hughesy.”

Grace merely rolled her eyes.

Ryan clapped. “I’ve got it.”

I grimaced. “You do?”

“Leave it with me. Everyone text me your sizes. That includes you, Hughesy.”

Grace looked worried. I’ll admit, I kind of was too. I’d need to check with Ryan what he had in mind. He favoured female costumes with minimal clothing. I doubt Grace would be excited to dress as a skimpy nurse or maid. And while I liked the idea of seeing that, I wasn’t keen on the rest of the party getting a glimpse. Particularly Ryker. The music cut off when Grace’s phone began to ring. The Bluetooth speaker was linked to her phone nowadays.

“It’s my brothers,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”

I turned back to the stove, forking a piece of pasta from the boiling water. It needed five more minutes.

“Hey, Cap. Can I borrow your girlfriend for a TikTok after dinner?” Ryan asked, leaning against the bench and stealing a shrimp.

I knocked his hand away with the tongs.

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Cooking dinner for her and wearing matching Halloween costumes,” Will listed. “Sure as shit sounds like a girlfriend to me.”