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

Levi.

I stared up at the ceiling, watching the fan smoothly glide in unbroken circles. Since arriving home three days ago, I’d been so fucking lazy. Sleeping in until noon. Spending days on the couch. I’d pulled my head in, or more or less Will had, to get me through the last week of school, including two games, before we broke up for Christmas break. They’d been some of my best games. Turns out channelling my emotions into the ice paid off. The Assistant GM from the Eagles had called after my second game, praising my performance. If I couldn’t have Grace, at least I had hockey. Yesterday she’d uploaded a photo with her brothers. Home was the caption. She was still managing to crush my heart from the other side of the world. When it had popped up on my feed, I’d been lounged on the couch, dressed in a hoodie and sweats with a blanket over my lap and the fire on. Seeing her dressed in a bikini top and wetsuit rolled around her waist was another reminder how far apart we were. How far apart we would be, for the rest of our lives. Fuck. My. Life. My bedroom door was thrown open. Lana sauntered in, still dressed in her silk pyjamas.

“Wake up, Levi. I want to do presents.”

She stilled upon seeing I was awake. And angry. After a pause she jumped onto the bed, kneeing me in the leg as she did.

“Merry Christmas, big brother.”

“Yeah,” I ground out. “You too.”

She rocked back, rolling her eyes.

“Come on. Perk up. I know you’re heartbroken, but there’s presents to be unwrapped. And food to be eaten. And alcohol to be drunk.”

I grimaced at the latter. My hangover from the night Ryker and I drowned our sorrows was still too fresh.

“Has Grace text you back yet?”

“Nope.”

I’d filled Lana in on the whole scenario. I hadn’t had much of a choice. She’d persistently asked where Grace was until I cracked and told her the truth. Dad and mum didn’t know as much. Only that Grace was home for Christmas. And indefinitely I reminded myself. I pulled the covers over my head, sliding until I couldn’t see any light. Lana wasn’t having it. She snapped the covers back, staring down at me with annoyance.

“Moping isn’t going to do anything. Come open presents. It’ll take your mind off things.”

“Doubt it.”

“I don’t care.”

She jumped off the bed and opened my curtains. It didn’t cause much light to come in. It was gloomy as hell out there. Even more reason to stay here.

“There’s a teal box with my name on it and dad and mum won’t let me have it until we’re all downstairs.”

Groaning, I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. If I was getting between Lana and a Tiffany’s box, there was no chance in hell she was going to let me lie in any longer.

*

Christmas morning was the same as always. Exchanging gifts. Drinking hot chocolate. Spending time with the family. I hated to admit it, but Lana was right. This was a nice distraction. For a few hours I found myself slipping back into past habits. Talking about hockey with dad. Helping mum make breakfast. Annoying Lana. But when I stepped onto the back deck to have my morning coffee, I couldn’t draw my eyes away from the hot tub. I hadn’t even attempted to visit the inside pool. Reminders of Grace were everywhere. I unlocked my phone and pulled up Messenger. A green dot told me she was online now. That was a first. Each time I’d gone in the red dot had taunted me. Fuck it. The chances were low, but I had to try. I hit the video call. What did I have to lose? Every message and call had gone unanswered over the past few weeks. I doubt today was going to be any different. But she was, kind of, right there. Here’s hoping for a Christmas miracle. When the call connected, I completely froze. And when her face filled the screen, my heart literally stopped beating. Her blonde hair fell softly over her bare shoulders, and she was wearing a red bikini top that instantly woke up the rest of my body. She was somewhere loud. Background music filtered through the speakers.

“Hey,” I said, surprise in my voice.

“Sup.”

I frowned. Sup? Behind her someone jumped into a pool, which was filled with people. And there was a large crowd playing beer pong beside it, either clad in swimsuits or bare chested. Grace lifted a drink to her lips and took a long sip. So that’s why she’d answered. She was drunk. I did the calculations. It was midday here, which meant it was nighttime where she was. The day after Christmas.

“Are you drunk, Hughesy?” I asked.

Grace squinted her eyes, squeezing her fingers close together.

“A lil bit.”

That wasn’t ideal, but I’d take it. A drunk Grace was better than no Grace. It’d been over two weeks since she’d left me outside her dorm. Talking to her now was both like no time had passed and like it had been an eternity. I set my coffee down on the outdoor table, which was covered in a layer of ice.

“How are you?” I cautiously questioned.

“Fine.”

“Good to be home?”

“The best.”

That stung, but I shook it off. I couldn’t believe I was actually talking to her. There was so much I wanted to say.

“Grace–”

I stopped midsentence when a guy moved into the shot beside her. It wasn’t one of her brothers. This guy had brown hair. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. He was shirtless and tanned, and if we weren’t in different countries, he’d also be dead.

“Who are you talking to?” he asked.

“Levi,” Grace answered.

He nodded as though he knew exactly who I was. That wasn’t reciprocated and I hated not having the upper hand. He looked at the phone, smiling.

“Hey man. I’m Luke.”

Luke? The fucking high school boyfriend?

“Mind if I steal Grace? You get her back in a few days.”

I did? Screw saving face. If Grace wasn’t going to talk, I’d get the dirt from the ex.

“She’s coming back to Philadelphia?”

“Yeah,” Luke answered, not picking up on my surprise. “She only came home for Christmas.”

That one sentence caused everything to change. She was coming back. To me? To school? To swimming? I didn’t care. I’d see her again. That’s all that fucking mattered. When I beamed, Grace seemed to sober. She sat up straighter.

“I’ll be there in a minute, Luke.”

Luke took the hint and left. I’m not sure where there was or what he wanted to steal her to do. Either way, she’d be back soon. That was more than I’d hoped for. I’d literally thought I would never see Grace Hughes again.

“Stop smiling,” Grace said seriously. “I’m not coming back for you.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Levi.”

“Grace.”

She sighed, which was brutal. Her chest rose and fell. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the bikini top. From her tits. I missed her, and them, so fucking much.

“I’m sorry I’ve ignored your calls and messages,” she said.

I stopped her right there.

“You have nothing to apologise for, Hughesy.”

I walked to the edge of the deck. I couldn’t stop pacing. Fresh blood pumped through my body. It was the best I’d felt in weeks.

“When will you be back?” I asked.

“The morning of New Year’s Eve.”

“Can we talk then?”

I held my breath. After a pause, Grace nodded. I had to stop myself from fist pumping with excitement. Six days. I could do six days. Movement inside caught my eye. Will was standing at the glass door, waving.

“Will’s family just got here,” I told Grace.

Her forehead pinched, then understanding took over.

“It’s Christmas there,” she realised.

She was ahead. Christmas had come and gone in Australia. I’d tried to call her yesterday. Of course I had. But when she didn’t pick up, I’d settled for a message.

“Merry Christmas, Levi.”

“Merry Christmas, Grace.”

It was definitely better now. As much as I wanted to keep talking to Grace, to dive into the conversation we needed to have, it wasn’t the right time. Talking in person would be better. But I was glad to have spoken to her just now. So fucking glad.

“I should let you go,” I said.

I may have been optimistic, but it looked like she was disappointed by that.

“I’ll see you in a few days. Call me when you’re back?”

She nodded.

“And Hughesy?”

“Yeah?”

“I like that bikini.”

She rolled her eyes, the faintest smile tugging at her lips.

“Goodbye, perv.”