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

Grace.

I stretched out my leg, wrapping my hand over my foot to work on my hamstring. We’d just completed another conditioning training, one which had me questioning every bad bit of food I’d ever eaten. Ava wasn’t bothering to stretch. She was lying on her back, staring up at the ceiling. I was half tempted to do the same. Though I knew I’d regret that decision tomorrow.

“Let’s go out for breakfast,” Stella suggested. “I’m over the food hall selection.”

My stomach turned at the thought. “I can’t think about food just yet. Give me a minute.”

Outside the weather was miserable, so the gym was busy with team programs. The football team were currently taking up the majority of weight machines, and the cheerleading team were making use of the padded floor space. The hockey team were nowhere in sight. They had an away game tonight. Summer Spritz stalked up and down her team line, shouting commands and instructions. As always, she donned her booty shorts. And she wore them bloody well. It was easy to understand why Levi had slept with her. Heck, she was not my type and I found I could easily fantasise about what she’d be like in bed. On Saturday night she’d been at the hockey game and appeared later at Lastlings. She was always around. Where there were athletes, there was generally cheerleaders. I no longer felt any angst or jealously when I saw her though. Sure, thinking of her and Levi sleeping together still made me cringe, but that was the past. I didn’t see her, or anyone else, in his future. Especially not after he’d admitted he loved me. His admission had floored me, causing my stomach to drop quicker than a rollercoaster. I’d loved hearing it, particularly because I knew how much he meant it. Though as much as he’d repeated it the past few days, I hadn’t been able to bring myself to say it back. Because how could I tell him I loved him too when I wasn’t sure what came next? Admitting I loved him was as good as deciding to stay. I couldn’t say that then book a flight home. It didn’t go hand in hand. I agreed with him. Long distance was off the table. It was stay or go home. Be everything or be nothing. I love you and I want you to stay. He made it sound so simple when it was anything but.

Stella clicked her fingers in my face. “Earth to Grace.”

“Hm?”

“Your phone.”

I looked down. The screen was lit up. I checked the messages. They were from Dylan. He was sending through the latest flight deals. He was so desperate for me to come home for Christmas. I was leaving it late. It was just over two weeks away. The Christmas break was the biggest one I was going to get from classes and training until I graduated. It was the only one to really make a thirty-hour commute home worth it. If I didn’t go back now, I had to wait until May. And that was assuming I didn’t decide to stay a bit longer, to see where this thing with Levi and me went.

“Dylan’s just sent through another flight,” I explained.

I read the details before laughing.

“For this afternoon apparently. I guess they’re selling last minute tickets.”

Ava sat up. “Really? Come with me Grace. I hate flying alone.”

I reread the information. Sure enough, it was the flight Ava was on later today. She’d brought her ticket to go home for Christmas months ago. There was still a week of classes and trainings, but the school was generally more lenient with international students knowing it would take them longer to get home.

“I haven’t decided if I’m going back yet,” I told her, switching legs.

I’d add it to the list of things Levi and I needed to talk about. I think that’s another reason I hadn’t booked a flight home yet, because talking to Levi about Christmas plans would surely open up discussions about next year. I wasn’t ready to revisit that conversation. After going through our stretches one final time, and listening to Stella complain about how hungry she was, I pulled on my jumper then picked up my towel before heading towards the exit.

“Grace,” Ryker called out.

He set down his weights, jogging to catch me. Things with Stella and her football player hadn’t eventuated. Now, she did her best to avoid him. Which was definitely hard when we spent half our time dodging them in the Athlete’s Centre. At least it meant she’d finally let the team Ryker argument drop.

“I’ll meet you outside,” I told her and Ava before meeting Ryker halfway.

He was in gym shorts and nothing more, a towel draped over his shoulders as sweat trickled down his bare, toned chest. 

“How was your birthday?” he asked.

I mustn’t have seen him since then. He missed classes more often than not due to his football schedule. The school was on board with football being the priority. It was the same with Levi. Wagging the hockey or football card was as good as a get out of jail free pass.

“It was amazing.”

“Holloway spoilt you?”

“Sure did.”

Ryker smiled, dragging his hands through his hair lazily. “Good.”

Summer waltzed over, looking me up and down before stopping beside Ryker. I’d been on the receiving end of her glares ever since Levi and I became public knowledge.

“I thought this was over,” she said, sounding bored. “You’ve made your choice, Grace. You’ve bagged Levi. Let Ryker off the hook.”

I simply frowned. I had no idea what she was talking about.

“Huh?”

“Don’t play dumb. Everyone knows about the bet.”

I stilled. “What bet?”

I had a sinking feeling I wasn’t going to like whatever she said next.

“You know, the one Levi and Ryker made. First one to hook up with you wins their team rights to the gym. Ring any bells?”

Not one single bell was ringing. She had to be joking. Please be joking.

“What were the rules originally, Ryker? First one to fuck her?”

I was at a loss for words. I looked at Ryker, waiting for him to explain. To make sense of whatever the hell Summer was talking about. He was frozen, his jaw just as slack as mine. Please tell me she’s making this up I prayed. A bet? Surely not. Though now the thought had stuck, I couldn’t shake it. Ryker and Levi. They were always there. Always competitive. Always vying for my attention. Could she be– No. I couldn’t believe it. There had to be an explanation. Summer was lying. Levi wouldn’t do that. And while I didn’t know Ryker nearly half as well, I don’t think he would either. They couldn’t be that cruel.

“I’ll admit, Levi took it further than I think he was meant to. The whole girlfriend act was pretty cute.” Summer popped her hip, resting her manicured hand on it. “But this is Holloway we’re talking about. He’ll lose interest now he’s proved his point.”

I couldn’t listen to Summer anymore, so I turned my back on her and faced Ryker. I didn’t even need to ask. He was floored. Floored like a kangaroo in front of bloody headlights. No. That was wrong. I was the animal, and he was the one driving the car, about to knock the life out of me. My world shattered at my feet. Not because of the guy in front of me, but because of the one I was considering giving up my home for. The one I’d kissed goodbye to only this morning. The one who’d trailed wet kisses down my naked body last night. The one I loved. My aching chest turned sharp, like I’d swallowed a knife. The urge to cry was there, but I wouldn’t. Not here. Not in front of them. So I did the only thing I could. I turned and got the hell out of there.