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

Levi.

I nursed my empty drink as I tried to ignore the destruction happening inside. Tonight’s win was huge. It was inevitable the celebration was going to get out of hand. Phil-U hadn’t beaten Jersey State in almost six years. They were our bogey team. I’d stayed back after the guys left the locker room to receive the inevitable spray coach directed my way for the fight. While roughing was part of the game, fights weren’t really allowed in the college league. It was lucky I hadn’t been ejected. Being up 3-0, I shouldn’t have bit when the opposing captain made a dig at my missed shot. His call was fair. I shouldn’t have missed that. I also shouldn’t have glanced up at the kiss-cam. It’d thrown my game. I was mad at myself for letting something so stupid get to my head, and I was madder that I was still hung up on that rather than celebrating the win. Will fell into the seat beside me. He held out a fresh beer. Rather than be in the heart of the party, I was sitting around the bonfire outside, drowning my sorrows. Pull yourself together, Holloway I told myself. You don’t have any sorrows. You literally just beat Jersey State and the team is pumped.

“I got sent outside by a brunette to check whether you’d be down for, and I quote, a darn dirty time?”

I laughed at Will before bringing the beer to my lips.

“What do you think constitutes a darn dirty time?”

He shrugged. “She was dressed in a miniskirt and it’s near freezing, so I guess that gives you an idea.”

I checked over my shoulder, where a brunette in a short skirt and knee-high boots was standing in the doorway. She waved at me seductively over the top of her drink before slowly licking her lips. Jesus. I had a very good idea of what darn and dirty would mean.

“I thought after all these years you’d know my answer to a darn dirty time is always yes.”

Will lounged back in his chair and took a long, slow sip.

“I wasn’t so sure anymore.” At my frown he added, “You’ll ruin your chances with Grace.”

I shrugged him off. “Let me worry about the bet.”

Will responded quickly. “I’m not talking about the bet.”

A loud cheer caused us both to look inside. Morrison and our goalie were standing on the table, dangling two beer bongs as Tripp and Ryan raced. I swear more of Tripp’s drink was dripping down his neck than going down his throat. He could be on mopping duties tomorrow.

“She’s inside,” Will said.

I scuffed my shoe into the dirt. “With Ryker.”

“Stop sulking. It doesn’t suit you.”

“I’m not sulking.”

“Then go get her away from him. Since when are you afraid of a challenge?”

I took a long pull of my beer. I still wasn’t threatened by Ryker. Well, maybe I was. But I knew I could go back into that party and get Grace to myself. And I was quite confident if I kissed her, she’d kiss me back. But just because I wanted it didn’t mean I was rude enough to take it. I didn’t want to rush things because I was against the clock. I wanted to wait until Grace wanted me like I wanted her.

“Fine,” Will snapped. “I’ll send darn dirty time over here. But don’t complain to me when Grace finds out and friend zone’s your ass ‘til the end of eternity.”