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

Levi.

Grace: Can you meet me outside the Athlete’s Centre in twenty?

My fingers typed back at record speed.

Levi: I’m on my way.

I slipped on my shoes, grabbed my keys, then walked out the front door. I’d been eagerly counting down the days, minutes, seconds until I could see Grace. Now I was only moments away, my heart was in my throat. How did I act? Hug her? Kiss her? Beg her? I had no fucking clue. My mind was so warped thinking about seeing Grace that the entire car ride was a blur. Here’s hoping I hadn’t run any lights or missed a speed change. I’d deal with that later. After parking my car, I grabbed my puffer coat off the passenger seat and got out. It was freezing today. I pulled my coat over my hoodie then readjusted my beanie. I probably should’ve taken stock of what I looked like before driving here, but too late now. I walked along the rows of cars, dodging students heading to them, red-faced from a workout. Our normal training program was on hold until after New Year’s Eve, so I hadn’t been to the Athlete’s Centre since leaving for Christmas break. Tripp’s car was here. Him and Ryan had left for a gym session an hour ago. They’d asked me to come. Knowing Grace was here, I should’ve said yes. But I’d been too keyed up to do anything other than sit around and wait for her to call. I’d offered to collect her from the airport, but she’d politely turned me down. That’s the only time we’d spoken since she drunkenly answered my call. I didn’t want to push my luck, so I left it. As hard as that had been. Even though I was about to see her, I don’t think I would believe it until she was in front of me. A moment later, she was. It was kind of like seeing a celebrity. Someone you’d always been distant from, suddenly being this close, was surreal. I faltered, almost slipping on some ice. Thankfully Grace hadn’t seen that. She was busy talking to someone. After a few more steps, they came into view. Ryker. Fucking. Richardson. What the hell was he doing here? Like me, he was dressed in casual clothes. He hadn’t just wrapped up a gym session. I didn’t know what to make of that. When Grace’s gaze collided with mine, my world stopped. Her lips parted and her eyebrows lowered. Not the overjoyed reaction I’d been hoping for. But that had been a long shot. She was wearing black sweats, an oversized hoodie, an Adelaide Crows cap and a thick jacket. Her hands were stuffed in her pockets. She kept them there as I finished walking over.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

I almost melted from the one syllable. I’d missed her voice and that accent.

“When did you get in?”

“Just now.”

“Good flight?”

“Mainly.”

“Cool.”

Well, that conversation sucked. Could Ryker piss off so we could talk properly?

“Good break?” he asked me.

I nodded. “You?”

“Yeah. Fine.”

I scuffed my sneaker into the pavement. I was done with the small talk. Grace exhaled heavily, preparing the courage to say something. Her apprehension made me worry.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think. Seven flights to be exact.”

Her nose was pink. Even with as many layers as she was dressed in, she was still cold. I wish I could warm her up.

“While the bet was bloody ridiculous, and cruel, and total bullshit–” She moved her eyes between Ryker and me, scolding us in turn “– I know it was an off the cuff decision, and made before either of you got to know me.”

I shuffled from foot to foot, full of nervous energy.

“So, I’ve decided I can forgive you both.”

I let out the deepest fucking breath of my life. As much as I’d wanted to hear her say that, I hadn’t expected it. And we certainly didn’t deserve it. Grace held up her hands.

“But first, we’re going to see this bet through. Since you both like leaving things up to chance, I have one last game to play.”

The sinking feeling returned. I didn’t like the sound of that. Ryker and I shared an apprehensive glance.

“Here’s the new terms. The first one to find me by midnight wins.”

“Wins what?” I checked sceptically.

Grace shrugged, nonchalantly. “Me.”

Hell fucking no. Over my dead body. Who Grace was with shouldn’t come down to chance. And as far as I was concerned, Ryker shouldn’t even get a look in. She’d chosen me last time. If we were going to see this stupid bet through, I’d won. She’d fallen for me.

Ryker’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really?”

Grace nodded.

“But you and Holloway–”

“We’re wiping the slate clean. Starting fresh.” Grace briefly looked at me. “History doesn’t count.”

She said it simply, like what we had could be wiped away that easily. I was waiting for her to admit she was messing with us, and that Ryker could fuck right off. But she seemed quite convinced.

Ryker’s forehead knitted in question. “What if neither of us find you?”

“Then you both lose.”

I prayed she was kidding.

“Hughesy–”

“Are you in?” she interjected, looking me up and down.

Ryker studied me, eyebrows raised in challenge.

‘No,” I spat. “I’m not in.”

Grace shrugged. “Your choice.”

“I’ll bite,” Ryker said. “Would there be conditions? Like staying within a ten-mile radius.”

Grace nodded. “I’ll be somewhere we’ve all been at the same time. That limits your options.”

Not really. There was the lecture hall. The Athlete’s Centre. The study rooms. The library. The hockey arena. The gym. The coffee shop.

Ryker smiled. “I’m game.”

I threw my head back. Of course he was. That didn’t leave me much choice. No way was I going down without a fight. Fuck that. I wasn’t going down at all. Grace and I belonged together. My eyes narrowed to venomous slits.

“There’s no scenario where you end up with her, Richardson,” I seethed.

A smirk played at Ryker’s lips before he slipped his hands into his jacket pockets.

As he began to back away, he called out, “I’ll see you soon, Grace.”

Not if I could help it. The moment he was gone, I rounded on Grace. I wanted to ream her out. I was so mad at her. This game was bullshit and she knew it.

“If you’re trying to punish me, consider it done,” I snapped.

Grace jarred, as though my words had hurt her.

“I’m not doing this to punish you, Levi.”

I snickered. “Sure as hell feels like it.”

She heaved a sigh. “It sucks, huh? Having someone gamble your feelings.”

I deserved the dig. And truth be told, I deserved whatever else she decided to put me through. That didn’t mean I had to like it.

“I’m sorry,” I said, trying to soften my tone. “It’s just – I thought I came here to talk to you. To maybe sort things out. Not to race against the clock with Richardson to prove that I’m the one you should be with.”

Her blue eyes rose to meet mine. “Find me first. Then we’ll talk.”