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

Grace.

“This is a joke, right?”

I stared at the costume Ryan had just given me. We were face to face in the gym. Around us, people were exercising and pushing their bodies to the limits, but I was the one most floored. I levelled a glare at Ryan.

“I checked with Levi. He said it covered enough skin.”

“It is a second skin,” I snapped. “These leather pants have no stretch in them.”

I rummaged through the bag.

“Red stilettos? Really?”

Ryan shrugged his shoulders, feigning innocence. “If I had my way, you would’ve been a Dragon Queen and I would’ve had an excuse to go shirtless.”

I dropped my arm dramatically, the bag falling against my leg. Truth be told, I’d been expecting a costume of this scale. I loved this movie. That didn’t mean I was prepared to recreate it. Or even able to. This was iconic. I forced out a calming breath.

“Thank you for organising this,” I reluctantly said. “I’ll see you later at the party.”

Ryan frowned. “You’re not getting ready at our place?”

I’d slept there four out of the last five nights. I know Levi said I wasn’t overstepping, but I didn’t want to push it. It was a house for the guys.

“I’m going with Stella and Ava. I’ll meet you boys there.”

Ryan didn’t appear impressed with that answer. His forehead pinched.

“Pregame with us. Bring your friends, too.” He paused. “They’re hot, right?”

He was relentless. All these boys were. They didn’t take no for an answer, not on the ice and certainly not off it.

“They’re out of your league, Ryan.”

“No one’s out of my league, Hughesy.”

Ryan was such a confident, pretty boy. He was all windswept hair, backwards cap, and shiny white sneakers energy.

Laughing, I began to back away. “I’ve got to get to practice, but I’ll see you tonight. Thanks again.”

He saluted me before heading for the weights area. I shoved my headphones in then made my way to the locker room. Our coach had a gruelling conditioning practice scheduled. I’d seen him writing up the board when I left the pool this morning. My phone lit up just as I was setting down my bag.

Levi: You’re mistaken if you think I’m letting you walk into that party wearing your costume without being right next to you.

I guess Ryan had blabbed.

Levi: I don’t want to get suspended from school for hitting a pervy frat boy.

Me: Then you shouldn’t have let Ryan get me such a pervy outfit.

Levi: But then I wouldn’t get to perv.

Me: Exclusive, remember? You can perv whenever you want.

Levi: Don’t tease me. What are you doing now?

Me: Heading to practice. No time for perving.

Levi: Later then.

Levi: FYI you’re pregaming at mine, Hughesy. Non-negotiable. Bring Stella and Ava.

Levi: PS. I can’t wait to see you in those pants.

Levi: PPS. I also can’t wait to take them off you.

Me: Is that a promise?

Levi: You know it is.

Grinning, I dropped my bag on the bench before changing into my workout clothes. I think I was going to like Halloween.

*

I could barely look at myself in the mirror. Because I wasn’t looking at myself. I was looking at a done-up version that looked nothing like me. The high-waisted, black, leather pants were cinched at the waist with a black and gold belt. The off-the-shoulder, velvet, black top showed more cleavage than I normally would. And the red lips were practically blinding. At least the red shoes weren’t as high as I’d initially thought. They were actually kind of comfortable for heels, not that I would tell Ryan that. There hadn’t been enough time to recreate the tight blonde curls, but Stella had managed to tame my hair into large, loose waves. Ava was dressed as Lara Croft. It’d been all our joint wardrobes could pull together last minute. Like me, she’d missed the Americans and Halloween memo. Stella, of course, had planned her costume. She’d recreated Britney Spears’s Oops I Did It Again video clip. At least her outfit was as tight as mine.

“Uber’s here,” she announced. “Let’s go.”

It took Ava yanking on my arm to get me to move. She carried our alcohol to the Uber, the bottles clinking in the bag. The dorms and campus were filled with Halloween celebrations. Literally every person was dressed up. You never got this back home. There were countless parties on tonight. Ava and Stella had been deciding which we’d go to until I casually mentioned Ryker had invited us to his. There’d been no debate after that. Stella had explained the hockey and football teams alternated who threw the annual Halloween party. Supposedly they always put their drama aside for the sake of getting all the hottest girls on campus in one spot. Her words, not mine.

“What’s Levi dressing up as?” Ava asked.

“Not sure.”

I’d been too busy dwelling on my outfit to wonder about his. Hopefully something just as embarrassing. When we pulled up to Levi’s house, there were dozens of cars parked out front. If I didn’t know better, I’d have assumed the party was here.

“Can I please have a shot?” I asked.

Ava frowned. “Of?”

“I don’t care. Anything in that bag.”

I downed three of whatever she poured me. It didn’t matter to me what. All I knew was that I needed liquid courage. A chill crept over me as I stepped into the cold night. Clearly Ryan and Levi hadn’t factored the Philadelphia weather into their costume idea. The girls followed me inside. Loud music was playing. Loud music I recognised. I was rubbing off on these guys. They were playing Skeggs. I walked in the direction of competing voices. Practically the entire kitchen and living area was full of hockey players. The backdoor was open too, with half of the team flowing onto the deck. It took a moment for their costumes to sink in. Literally every single guy was wearing a fitted white shirt, tucked into cuffed black jeans, converse sneakers and leather jackets that bore the words T-Birds. Did that mean… My thoughts trailed off when Levi stepped inside off the back deck. He was dressed in a fitted black t-shirt, jeans and a red and white letterman jacket. He looked good. Like, took my breath away good. He was a reformed Danny Zuko, and I was a good-girl-turned-bad Sandy. The rest of the guys were his T-Birds. His eyes raked over me, taking in every detail of the costume. I shivered under his gaze. It seemed like he was only moments away from holding good on that promise.