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

Levi

That lecture had been a waste of time. The professor hadn’t even shown up. I’d considered skipping it this morning. If I knew Will wouldn’t bang on my door to get me up, I would have. It was the only class we shared. I climbed into his car, rubbing my hands together. The mornings were getting icier and icier. Something I was used to. Grace on the other hand was going to struggle. If she thought it was cold now, she’d get a shock once Christmas and New Year’s Eve rolled around. Will pulled out of the parking lot and headed in the direction of Starbucks without question. It was something we always did after this lecture. We were sticklers for routine. Our pregame prep never varied, and we always sat in the same bus row to away games. Fine, maybe we were kind of superstitious too.

“I invited Grace to Thanksgiving,” I said.

Will’s eyes widened at that. “Have you spoken to your parents yet?”

I shook my head.

“Lana will love Grace,” Will said, encouragingly.

I knew she would. It wasn’t my sister I was worried about. Or my mum. And I wasn’t worried about dad not liking Grace. I’d never brought a girl home. Heck, I’d never introduced one to my family. I’d been one-track about hockey my entire life. It’s what dad and I bonded over, what we’d always worked towards together. Which is why I was worried he’d see Grace as a distraction to that. And my dad could be a dick when he wanted to be. Particularly when something came between me and hockey.

“How do you think your dad will act?”

“No fucking clue,” I admitted.

“Maybe talk to Grace before we go. Give her a head’s up.”

I barked out a laugh. “And say what?”

Will was silent while he thought. He came up with nothing.

“Have you spoken to Grace about what happens after graduation?” he asked instead.

I shook my head. “We’ve only just officially stared dating. It’s too early to have that chat.”

Grace and I hadn’t once talked about what came after graduation. I was scared to hear her answer. Even though that was months away, I already knew I wouldn’t be ready to say goodbye to her. It was a crazy realisation, but also the truth. How did I go back to a life where she lived in Australia, and I played hockey in Colorado? One where we’d become people we used to know, and in a few years complete strangers. It wasn’t right. Once we reached the drive-thru I ordered extra food and a hot chocolate for Grace, just in case she was feeling better. Will pulled into the waiting bay.

“In your ideal world, what happens?” he asked.

I hadn’t allowed myself to think about it. But now Will had asked, I saw it clearly.

“Grace comes to Colorado with me.”

It was nuts, I knew that. But the only other alternative was she went home. Then what? I followed her on Instagram? Checked in with her each year on her birthday? Kept myself in check when she posted about her new Australian boyfriend? Fuck that. Already I couldn’t envision a world without her. Imagine what that would become in six months’ time. This wasn’t a honeymoon stage. This was the stars aligning. Hughesy and I could be the real thing. And that thought didn’t even scare me, which was reaffirmation I was on the right track. We needed time, not nine-thousand miles. Maybe I could talk her into extending her travel year. She graduated at the same time as me. Rather than fly home as planned, I could convince her to stay an extra three months in Colorado. Then another few after that. And on and on and on.

*

“What the hell?”

I looked up from my phone. Will was glaring at the front porch, where Grace was sitting. She was dressed in a baggy sweater and jeans. She was bouncing her legs up and down, likely freezing. No shit. She didn’t even have shoes on. She stood up when Will cut the ignition.

“What are you doing?” I asked, climbing from the car and slamming the door.

“Um.” She glanced at the front door then back to me. “I went downstairs because Tripp was, ugh, entertaining. Then I caught Ryan with a girl on the couch. I panicked and ran out here.”

I set down the tray of drinks so I could unzip my jacket and wrap it over her shoulders. She smiled appreciatively.

“How long have you been out here?”

“Maybe ten minutes.”

Will snorted. “That’s plenty of time for Ryan.”

He walked inside, his gaze immediately checking the couch.

“It’s safe.”

Grace followed me inside, hurrying past the lounge. The cushions were in disarray. The horny prick had barely made it six feet into the house before dropping his pants. Grace settled in a stool at the kitchen island, smiling appreciatively when Will passed her the hot chocolate and muffin. She looked better. The puffiness in her cheeks had gone down, and while her voice was still husky, she sounded much clearer. I’d been ready to fight her if she tried going to practice this morning. Luckily she’d been too spaced-out last night to set an alarm. And for once, her body clock hadn’t woken her.

“Feeling better, Hughesy?” Will asked.

She smiled. “Heaps.”

Her smile fell when Tripp wandered into the kitchen. As per usual, he was without a shirt. I’d never paid much attention to how often he sauntered around the house barely dressed. Until Grace came into the picture. Thankfully she averted her gaze from him, feigning interest in her chocolate muffin.

“You and Ryan have a big one?” Will questioned.

He nodded. “We only rolled in an hour or so ago.”

I grimaced. A few months ago, I would have been with them, probably in the process of filling up a glass of water for the girl in my bed too. The thought of an all-nighter and partying until the sun came up held no appeal anymore. Tripp picked up one of the two remaining coffees and a bacon and egg bagel.

“Your nose is still pink, Hughesy.”

“Because she was sitting outside,” I bit. “Next time you and Ryan bring home company, make sure you both make it to your rooms.”

Tripp chuckled, amused. Speak of the devil. Ryan strutted into the room. Unlike Grace whose cheeks blushed, Ryan was totally unfazed. He went straight for the coffee. After taking a long sip, he looked at Grace.

“Enjoy the show, Hughesy?”

Grace looked like she wanted to combust. I moved behind her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders in a show of solidarity. She relaxed against me. Did I care Ryan had fucked a girl on the couch? Not really. Did I care Grace had seen one of my friends going at it? Kinda. I didn’t want her to become too scared coming round here.

“The couch?” she accused. “Really Ryan? People sit on that couch.”

Ryan shrugged. “I wasn’t the first guy to get my rocks off on that couch, Hughesy. And I’m sure I won’t be the last.”

He winked at me. Fucking asshole. Grace’s accusatory gaze snapped to me.

“It was one time,” I said in a rush.

“More like you only got caught one time,” Tripp mumbled under his breath.

“Pot kettle,” I bit through ground teeth.

His smile fell. I’d come home from class once to find him lounging on the couch with a girl on her knees in front of him. He hadn’t bothered to relocate. I’d ended up hiding in my bedroom until receiving a text that it was safe to come down. Leaning back against the bench, Will chuckled.

“New Year’s Eve last year,” Tripp was quick to add. “I came downstairs to get a drink and overheard–”

“Shit. Okay,” Will interjected.

Ryan smirked. “Told ya, Hughesy. It’s a sex couch.”

I pressed my lips to her ear and whispered, “And you wondered why I wouldn’t sleep on it.”

A car pulled into the driveway then tooted. An Uber by the looks. On cue, two girls strolled into the kitchen, looking slightly sheepish. One was blonde and the other brunette. That’s all I noticed. I tightened my arms around Grace’s body. Tripp and Ryan set down their food to walk the girls outside. I didn’t miss that. The awkward goodbye, exchange of numbers and weak promise that you’d call knowing full well you wouldn’t. Though maybe that was better than what I’d got myself into. I’d take an awkward goodbye over a hard one any day.