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

Grace.

I stared up at the bar, my wet chest heaving up and down. I was gassed and my lungs felt sharp. Sharper than normal. Coach had us completing pool laps, followed by burpees, hanging crunches then pull ups. We’d just clocked over the hour mark of practice, and I was spent. Droplets dripped down my back. It was hard to tell whether that was from my wet hair or sweat. I’d had to change my normal one-piece for a knee suit. The marks from Levi’s grip were still prominent enough on my ass to raise questions. I jumped for the bar, but my clammy hands gave way. I fell down, barely finding my footing before hitting the padded mat.

“Hughes.” Coach stalked towards me, his arms crossed over his chest. “You good?”

Nodding, I got back to my feet. Maybe I’d park the pull-ups for now. I only managed four burpees before I needed another break. Hunching over, I rested my hands on my thighs. I was nauseous. People always told me how humid it got in the pool. I never really noticed because I was used to it. Not today. I needed fresh air.

“Are you okay, Grace?” Ava asked as I passed her on my way outside.

“Yeah. I–”

I stumbled into her. She caught my arm.

“Not okay,” she concluded. “Go shower.”

“Coach hasn’t–”

“Screw practice, Grace. You’re sick. Go. Rest.”

*

The slicing of skates was loud in the empty arena. The air was cool in here, but for once, I didn’t mind. My gym bag bumped against my leg as I walked down the steps. The team were partway through a drill. I barely knew the sport, so it was hard to understand what was happening. The pace each skater picked up, all while passing the puck from one stick to another, didn’t cease to amaze me. As some guys changed directions, it briefly looked as though they were running before they’d transition back to smooth skating. It was hard to tell which one Levi was. They were all wearing matching training gear and helmets, and moving too quickly to catch sight of the numbers or names on their backs. I took a seat, setting my bag by my feet. Sticky sweat still coated my chest. I’d planned to go straight to my dorm to shower and sleep, but Levi had messaged asking me to meet him here. To talk about something. I had no idea what. I turned up my headphones. This morning I’d woken to a missed call from my brothers. We’d been playing phone tag all weekend. There was no point calling them now, they’d be asleep. While I was enjoying my life here, particularly the captain skating around, I still missed home. Sometimes FaceTiming my brothers bridged the gap, other times it made it worse. If they called from a café I loved, or friends I recognised were in the background, I’d end the call with a sinking feeling in my stomach. A figure skating towards me caught my attention. Levi pulled off his helmet. His hair was a sweaty mess, and his cheeks were flushed. Post-training Levi and post-sex Levi looked very similar. And they both did things to me. Even with a headache forming behind my eyes, my body roused at the sight of him. I took out my headphones and stood up. It looked as though training had wrapped up. Some of the team was skating off the ice, while others were taking shots at an empty net. Someone sent a puck in Levi’s direction.

“See if you can make that shot, Cap.”

I recognised Tripp’s voice. Smugly, Levi turned. He reared his arm back before swiping it through and flicking the puck with force. It moved so fast I could barely follow it with my eyes. Though I did make out the back of the netting as it was thrown back.

Tripp skated the puck back over. “Now try with a bit of pressure.”

After sending an apologetic look in my direction, Levi took Tripp on. For a while Tripp kept up with Levi, skating from one side to the next, until Levi changed directions quickly and rounded the puck behind Tripp. Tripp stopped, his stick resting on the ice as he gaped at the net.

“I let you do that so you could impress Hughesy.”

As Levi skated away backwards, he flipped Tripp off.

“Keep telling yourself that. Now hit the showers. You stink.”

Levi skated better than I could walk. He made it look so easy, like he was walking on solid ground and not balancing on a slippery surface on two blades. He picked up pace as he glided towards me. Just as I thought he was going to crash through the boards – not a wall like I’d been corrected by Tripp – he broke to an abrupt stop.

“If you’re trying to impress me it’s working.”

Smirking, he raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

“You make it look so easy.”

“Wiping the ice with Tripp?”

I laughed. “Skating.”

“Wanna skate with me? You don’t have class for over an hour, right?”

I shook my head too quickly, giving myself away.

“Hughesy.” Levi’s eyebrows pinched together as he studied me. “You can skate, right?”

I grimaced. “Will you think less of me if I say no?”

He dropped his jaw dramatically. “I can’t believe my girlfriend can’t skate!”

“I’m Australian,” I reminded him. “I grew up with sand not ice.”

“We’re going to have to change that. That’s a non-negotiable, Hughesy.”

He leant over the boards, going to kiss me. When I pulled back, he frowned.

“You better have a good reason for that.”

“I think I’m getting crook,” I told him.

“Huh?”

“Sick.”

He had a game in two days. I didn’t want to take him down with me. Apparently Levi wasn’t bothered. He tucked a hand behind my neck and pulled me in anyway. Levi didn’t do hello kisses. His were all consuming. He temporarily made me forget how terrible I was feeling, and that I hadn’t spoken to my brothers in days, and that we were one day closer to him fulfilling his dream and me going home. Slowly, I fluttered my eyes open, only to find him studying me.

“You do look pale. I can ask the team doctor to check you over.”

“I’m sure it’s just a cold,” I said dismissively. “What did you want to talk about?”

“We can talk later,” he said. “You should rest.”

The fact he was delaying the conversation made me nervous.

“It’s fine. I’m here now. What’s up?”

He was silent for a moment. “I wanted to see what you were doing for Thanksgiving?”

“Oh, um. Nothing. I was just going to hang around campus.”

“I thought as much.” He leant on the boards. “I know it’s not something you celebrate, but you can’t be alone on Thanksgiving, Hughesy.”

I chuckled. “I can’t?”

He was such a softy. Honestly though, I didn’t mind. I was looking forward to having four days without a five-am alarm. That alone was enough for me to get excited about.

“No. I’ll feel sad thinking about you alone on campus. Which is why I want you to spend it with me.”

I didn’t know much about Thanksgiving, but I knew enough to know it was a day you spent with important people. Like your family.

‘Will and I are flying to Colorado. Our families celebrate the holiday together.”

My heartrate surged. “You want me to meet your family?”

“I want to spend time with you.” Reaching forward, Levi tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “My family just so happens to be there.’

I pressed my lips together, thinking. This seemed like a bigger deal than he was pretending.

“Colorado is amazing. I can show you where I grew up. Where I played hockey.” His lips turned into an amused smile. “And I can teach you how to skate.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?”

“Come on, Hughesy. Say yes.”

It wasn’t possible to say no to this guy.

“Okay.”