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

Levi.

“This wasn’t part of my plan,” I said, curling a piece of Grace’s hair around my finger.

But definitely a worthy detour.

“I was going to take you to lunch.”

“I’d settle for Vegemite on toast.”

Whatever that was didn’t sound great. Grace was folded over me, her breaths slowly returning to normal. Since hearing the stories of the, as she referred to it as, sex couch, she’d had this on her list. I hoped her list was never ending. I loved this risky side of her. Though it did make me nervous as fuck. Every time I heard a car or even a gust of wind, I was whipping my head around to check out the window. I lifted Grace off me then gently set her among the cushions. As much as I loved lazy, post-coital Grace, I was too on edge. I wanted her dressed. She looked too fucking hot, all messy hair and flushed skin. As I gathered up her things, she slowly pulled them back on. Just as she’d dragged her fingers through her hair, her phone rang. She picked it up.

“It’s my brothers.”

That was my cue. I slipped my hoodie on. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”

“No.” Grace grabbed my hand, pulling me back. “I want you to meet them.”

My chest constricted. “You sure?”

Nodding, she tugged us both onto the couch. Grace settled beneath my arm before accepting the call. Two blonde faces filled the screen. I’d thought Grace was tanned, but her brothers were next level. Their skin was so bronze it made their hair almost appear white.

“Happy birthday, Gracie,” they said in sync.

Grace beamed. “Where are you?”

They turned the phone, capturing an amazing looking beach and stunning sunset.

“Jealous,” Grace said. “Is it warm there?”

While I hadn’t officially met Grace’s brothers, I’d seen enough pictures to know who was who.

Seth, the eldest, nodded. “Thirty-three-degrees still.”

“Ninety-one,” Grace translated for me.

Shit. That sounded a lot better than the high of fifty-four we were expected to get.

“Who’s that?” Seth asked, squinting at the screen.

Dylan snickered. “Mate, you need glasses.”

“No I don’t. The sun is causing a glare is all.”

“Nah, mate. Your eyesight is cactus.”

Grace giggled as she watched her brothers argue. They spoke in a way very similar to her, and their mannerisms were matching.

“This is Levi,” Grace said. “My boyfriend.”

Seth’s eyebrows rose. “She has an American boyfriend?”

“I do.”

Now I understood her angst meeting my family. I had the safety net of meeting her brothers through a phone, and it was still terrifying.

A playfulness edged into Seth’s tone. “I thought he was just a friend?”

“He was.” Grace nestled closer. “At first.”

“You look huge,” Dylan said. “You play football or something?”

Ouch. Sore spot.

Grace chuckled. “Levi’s captain of the ice hockey team. You guys would like it. It’s super fun to watch.”

Seth nodded, smiling in a way very similar to Grace’s. “Well, it’s good to formerly meet you, Levi.”

I finally found my voice. “You too. And thanks for your help with the snacks. It was a hit.”

I left out the part where the tin of Milo got me laid. I don’t think he’d appreciate that.

“So.” Dylan edged his face closer to the camera. “How long have you been going out?”

Grace’s eyebrows drew together as she glanced at me for confirmation. “Um.”

I counted it from the first time I kissed her. It was all over for me after that.

“Two months,” I supplied.

“Huh,” Grace quipped. “That’s gone fast.”

It had. Too fast. I wanted time to slow down. Though I was excited to start training with the Eagles, I wasn’t ready for this part of my life to end. Living with my best mates. Hanging with them every day. Not to mention being with Grace. She was the part I doubt I’d ever be ready to give up.

“Today doesn’t feel the same without you here, Gracie,” Dylan complained. “When are you coming home?”

“And will you be bringing the American boyfriend with you?” Seth added.

The mood shifted. At least on our end. Each time Grace and I were reminded how far apart our lives were, it was like I’d just been slammed into the boards.

“It’s a bit complicated,” Grace answered. “Levi’s been drafted to the NHL, which is the hockey equivalent of the AFL.”

Dylan’s expression lit up. “So you could get us amazing seats if we came over for a game?”

I laughed. “Sure. It’s a long way to come though.”

Seth shot a pointed glare at Grace. “We might have to if Grace doesn’t come back anytime soon.”

“I will,” Grace said. “I promise.”

I checked over my shoulder when a car pulled into the drive. Tripp. I’d sat down with him and Ryan the other day and brought them up to speed. Starting with the off-the-cuff dumb bet and ending with the fact that Grace was not a wager to me. I knew I couldn’t squash people talking. I planned on telling Grace. If the truth was going to come out, it was best it came from me. But there’d always been something the past few weeks. A game. A meet. Now, her birthday. 

“I should let you get home,” Grace said. “Quiz night at the pub tonight?”

“You know it,” Dylan returned. “Snitty and a pint for twenty-bucks. You can’t turn that down.”

Seth playfully rolled his eyes. “Happy birthday, Grace. We love and miss you.”

“Love and miss you, too.”

She ended the call, just as Tripp threw open the door. His eyes lit up when he spotted Grace on the couch.

“The birthday girl in the flesh.”

He lifted her off me and spun her around like he was a veteran who’d just returned from war. She laughed loudly, the sound like fucking honey. After setting her down, Tripp frowned. He bounced his gaze between Grace and me.

“Why does it smell like sex in here?”

*

Grace was nursing a cocktail. Some fruity concoction Tripp had bought her. The waitress was clearing our table. We’d just finished up with dinner. Ava and Stella were here. So were Tripp, Will and Ryan. So much for the romantic dinner for two I’d originally had in mind. I didn’t mind though. Grace was having fun.

“Are you going to order a drink now you’re legal, Hughesy?” Ryan asked.

Her eyebrows etched. “I was already legal.”

“Huh?”

“Legal drinking age back home is eighteen.”

Ryan appeared floored. “You’re joking?”

“Nope. You can buy alcohol. Go clubbing. The works.”

Turns out Grace was a year younger than me. She’d just turned twenty-one. I turned twenty-two halfway through the year. By all means, she should be a junior. I was thankful that the Australia-America difference meant she’d ended up as a senior. If she hadn’t, we wouldn’t have been partnered in class. But then again, if she was a junior, it meant she would be in the country for at least another twelve months.

“Should we get going then, get a good spot?” Will suggested.

Grace frowned. “Spot?”

Because Grace still didn’t know where we were going, Ava and Stella had turned up to my place with clothes for Grace to change into. She was wearing a mid-length silky skirt, black boots, a knitted crop, and her hair was hanging loose over her shoulders. I tucked a piece behind her ear.

“All in good time, Hughesy,” I said, kissing her cheek.

I couldn’t believe I was close to pulling this off. The fact Grace hadn’t stumbled across the event herself was pure luck. The venue wasn’t far from here, the main reason I’d picked the restaurant. Grace walked between Ava and Stella, their arms linked together in an attempt to ward off the cold. I walked ahead with the guys, occasionally looking over my shoulder and catching Grace’s eye. I’d always planned on extending the invite to the final part of the night to the guys. But they’d taken my question about good restaurants in the area as an invitation. Ryan passed around a flask. I took a sip because I was pretty fucking cold myself. Whatever it was, it burnt going down my throat.

“My feet hurt,” Stella complained from behind us. “This is too far to walk.”

Tripp halted. “Want a lift?”

He crouched down, gesturing to his back. Stella jumped on without hesitating.

“Hey, I want one of those,” Ava whined.

Ryan didn’t miss a beat. Once Grace caught up with Will and me, she slipped her fingers through mine. Hers were like ice. I pulled them to my mouth, blowing on them to warm her up.

“Your feet good, Hughesy?” Will asked.

She nodded. “Even if they weren’t, they’re too numb to notice. It’s bloody freezing.”

“We’re not far,” I told her.

Ryan, Tripp, Stella and Ava reached the venue before we did. Mainly because they were racing each other like some messed up horse race. We were definitely in the right place. There was a steady stream of people making their way inside.

“Where are we?” Grace asked, looking up at the doorway.

I stepped in her way, blocking her view. We were so close. There was no need to ruin the surprise now. It was hard to hide the fact it was a gig of some type. Grace seemed excited by that fact alone. Once she realised who was playing, she was going to lose her mind. I’d been fairly confident this was her favourite band. And when her Spotify Wrapped came through the other day, that confirmed it. They were her number one artist. We got drinks then made our way inside. A thick crowd was forming near the front of the stage. We hung back. I’d never been a mosher. Neither had Will. We were too tall. Wherever we stood practically guaranteed nobody behind us would be able to see. When the lights dimmed, the crowd went wild. Four figures moved onto the stage, getting into position. One strummed a guitar. Another hit a drum. Then everything went silent for a moment before the first song begun.

“Is this–”

Grace didn’t need to finish her sentence. A backdrop illuminated the words Spacey Jane. Grace squealed, jumping up and down. She was ridiculously happy, and that made me fucking ecstatic. For the first few songs she sang without pause. She knew every single lyric. I knew way more than I realised too, proof she played it non-stop. At one stage Tripp and Ryan took her and the girls deeper into the crowd. A moment later Grace popped up on someone’s shoulders. Then Stella. Then Ava. Grace waved her arms in the air, singing at full strength. She was having so much fun. Mission accomplished. When she eventually came back, she’d tied her hair up and taken off the knit, leaving her in a tight singlet.

“Having fun?” I shouted.

She nodded before moving to stand in front of me. I wrapped my arms around her. Instinctively she relaxed against my chest. When she craned her lips to say something, I moved my ear closer.

“You’re going to get the best thank you sex for this when we get home.”

This day just kept getting better.