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

Levi.

Ryker: Grace knows.

Those two words had caused my stomach to fucking drop. I didn’t know the details. Who. How. Why. All that mattered was Grace knew what an absolute fuck up I was. I had to find her, had to make this right. I couldn’t lose her over this. I barely paid attention to the speed I was going, making it to campus in record time. I did a shitty parking job but didn’t waste time straightening up. My heart was in my throat as I rushed to her dorm. I didn’t know what to say to make this right. I didn’t know if anything would make this right. But I had to try. I halted to an abrupt stop when Grace stepped out of the building. She was wheeling a suitcase behind her. Fuck. That wasn’t promising. Ava and Stella were two steps ahead of her. Another suitcase in tow.

“Grace,” I called out.

Grace flinched at my voice, which hurt like hell. I approached slowly, partly worried she would turn and run. If she did, I was prepared to run after her. Stella and Ava had stopped too. I’m sure Grace had filled them in. They probably hated me. I hated myself. Ava gently placed her fingers on Grace’s forearm before sliding the suitcase from Grace’s grasp.

“We’ll meet you by the car, Grace. Take your time.”

Grace’s lips turned up in an appreciative smile. She didn’t say anything as she watched her friends walk off. A sick feeling had settled in the pit of my stomach. There was no one else around. No one to witness Grace tearing my heart out my chest. I’m sure that’s what was about to happen. Grace was looking at me coldly, like I was nothing to her anymore.

“Grace. I–”

“Everything was different with me because it was for the bet, right?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “What were the rules? First one to hook up with me? Sleep with me? Get me to fall for them?”

My words had lodged in my throat. Where did I even fucking start?

“I’m sorry,” was all I managed to get out.

She inhaled deeply, her shoulder rising before dropping heavily.

“Well, you won,” she deadpanned. “Congrats, Levi. The gym is yours.”

When she turned to leave, my brain finally kicked into action.

“Grace, wait.”

She did. I took that as a promising sign.

“The bet might’ve been the reason I first sought you out. But it hasn’t been about that for a long time.”

She dropped her gaze to the ground, refusing to look at me. I wanted to reach out to her so badly. To hug her. Kiss her. Anything other than stand feet apart, like we were strangers.

“You know these past few months have been real. Even if the bet hadn’t existed, everything would’ve happened the same way. Because you and me, we’re meant to be, Hughesy.”

When I ducked to catch Grace’s eyesight, I glimpsed a tear falling down her cheek. It fucking broke me. Hurting her was like having someone skate over my bare chest. Hell, I think that would hurt less. Shaking her head, Grace looked away. At the building. At the footpath. Anywhere but me.

“Why didn’t you tell me when things started getting serious?” she quietly asked. “Before we slept together. Before I met your family.”

“Because I was terrified of losing you.”

I took a tentative step closer. I couldn’t handle the space between us anymore.

“What can I do to make this right, Hughesy?”

If she wanted me to beg, I would. I’d get down on the floor. I’d run naked across campus. I’d do anything to stop her from looking at me like she was. Like it hurt to be near me. I needed to remind Grace how good we were. How when we were together, the world was right. So I pulled her against me and kissed her. I kissed her until she knew what she meant to me. And that the bet was a dumb decision made by two dumb people. And that she wasn’t a wager. She was my whole world. And I fucking loved her. She kissed me back, but it was different. I could feel the shift and the way she held back. Grace had already made up her mind. This kiss was final. She was savouring us one last time. Easing back, Grace rested her palms and forehead on my chest. A bubble lodged in my throat, making it hard to breathe.

“I need to go,” Grace said softly.

“Where are you going?”

Don’t say it. Please don’t say it.

“Home.”

When she stepped back, my hands slipped off her, falling at my sides.

“Grace–”

“Goodbye, Levi.”