Against All Odds (Holt Hockey Book 2)

Levi

When Tripp and Ryan walked into the kitchen, I ignored them, refusing to look up from my phone. I was so fucking mad at them both.

“Good lunch?” Will asked, playing peacekeeper.

“Mmhm,” Tripp answered. “Was good to see Hughesy again. I missed her.”

“What do you mean you missed her?” Ryan said. “You spoke to her everyday she was gone.”

My head snapped up. As if sensing my anger, Tripp took a big step back. I used to like the fact Tripp got along so well with Grace. Now, as much I hated to admit it, I was well and truly jealous.

“You knew she was coming back?” I growled.

Tripp nodded. “Whose idea did you think tonight’s scavenger hunt was? Hughesy ain’t that evil.”

Fucking dick. Ryan leant on the island, resting on his forearms.

“You gonna play along tonight?”

“I don’t have a choice,” I bit.

“You better win,” Tripp warned. “Being Grace’s friend will suck if I have to play nice with her football player boyfriend.”

My blood literally boiled at the thought.

“We’ll be around here tonight,” Ryan said, looking at me intensely. “Just in case you need to find us later and drown your sorrows.”

*

I checked the time. Twenty-four minutes until midnight. Shit. I’d searched every place all three of us had been together. Twice. I’d even driven to Ryker’s place earlier. As I’d turned the corner, I’d found myself slowing. The possibility of seeing their cars parked side by side had almost been impossible to face. Thankfully his car had been missing, and all lights were off. I’d broken the rules and checked other places, like all the parties I’d heard were happening tonight. But they’d been a waste of time. So had Lastlings. The place had been packed. It’d taken almost a full hour to do two laps. Grace’s name lit up my phone. I answered hurriedly. Her face filled the screen, blue eyes glistening as she grinned. We were clearly in opposite moods.

“Time’s running out, Holloway.”

I groaned. I was well aware.

“Can I have a clue?”

“That wasn’t part of the deal. If I give you a hint, I have to give Ryker one.”

“I don’t entirely agree with that.”

I looked in the background of her video, hoping for any insight as to where she was. But she was keeping the camera close to her face. Wherever it was, it was loud. She was shouting to be heard over the music.

“You’re cold,” she said.

“No shit. It’s New Year’s Eve in Philadelphia.”

“I mean, you’re off. I’m not near the Athlete’s Centre.”

“Oh.”

My stomach sunk. Was I even within twenty-four – shit – twenty-two minutes of getting to her? Her background darkened as she flipped off the light. As she stepped out of the room she was in, people swarmed her. She was at a party. That much was clear. Had she been at one of the ones I’d checked? Had I missed her? I’d looked as thoroughly as I could at each of them without wasting time. Half the campus probably assumed I was an ass after ignoring them when they tried to say hi.

“Here’s your clue,” Grace said.

She tapped the back of a broad shoulder. If that was Ryker I was going to – Tripp turned around, a grin stretching across his face.

“Oh hey, Cap. I forgot to mention we’re having a party tonight.”

I was going to kill him. Our house. Of course. We’d all been there at the same time. The party after my hockey game. The night Grace kissed Ryker. But the night she spent with me. I jogged to my car, praying I didn’t slip on ice. It took me fifteen-minutes to drive to campus most days. But that was when there was traffic. There shouldn’t be any this close to midnight on New Year’s Eve. The camera returned to Grace.

“You better stay right there, Hughesy,” I warned.

She smiled. “Come find me, Holloway.”

*

I made it home in record time. I parked across the driveway, boxing in every person who’d parked in my way. I jumped from my car before I’d even cut the ignition. Striding to the front door, I was equal parts angry and amused. I had nine minutes to find Grace. I didn’t want to waste another second. The party was in full swing as I crossed the threshold into my house. There was going to be one hell of a clean-up tomorrow. The guys could do it. That was my punishment for hiding Grace from me.

“He made it,” Tripp said, looking up from where he was sitting with a bunch of guys from the team.

“Just,” Ryan said, checking his watch.

They were far too amused for my liking. My heart was in my throat. Didn’t they understand how much this girl meant to me? If I didn’t find her, they’d suffer too. I’d be miserable and they would have to deal with it again.

“Where is she?”

They both shrugged. Unhelpful pricks. I checked the kitchen first, using my height to look over the many people wedged in here. Next, I checked the back deck, where different groups huddled together. No way was Grace outside. She wouldn’t be able to handle the cold. Turning, I almost smacked into Will.

“You better be quick,” he said. “Ryker walked in five minutes before you did.”

“Has he found her?”

Will shrugged. “Haven’t seen him since he arrived.”

I climbed the stairs, two at a time, acting as though I was on the ice as I bumped people out the way. Once on the landing, I looked across the living area, hoping to see Grace’s blonde hair moving around. The place was packed, making it hard to keep track of anyone. When the music was turned down the crowd momentarily quietened.

“Two-minutes until midnight,” Tripp shouted. “Find your New Year’s kiss.”

The crowd cheered as he turned the music back up. Two minutes. Two minutes stood between having Grace and losing her. I frantically whipped around. There were a few stragglers on the landing, playing pool. But most of the partying was happening downstairs.

“Yo, Holloway.”

I stilled at the sound of Ryker’s voice. I was too scared to face him. Jumping off this landing seemed like a better option than fronting him if he’d found Grace. He took the decision out of my control when he moved to stand beside me. I let out a relieved breath when he came into view. He was alone.

“I’m bowing out, man.”

My forehead furrowed in surprise. Call me fucking sceptical, but I didn’t expect him to roll over without a fight.

“Why?”

“Out of all the places on campus, she chose to hide here.” He held my gaze. “I think it’s pretty clear who she was hoping would find her.”

I drummed my fingers on the timber railing. As much as I wanted him to be right, I wasn’t sure. She wasn’t anywhere to be found. Maybe she wasn’t here anymore. Maybe she’d made Ryker and I run around all night as revenge for our bet.

“How did you know she was here?”

“One of my guys tipped me off,” Ryker answered. He dragged his hands through his hair. “I haven’t seen her though. Heck, maybe this was all some ploy to get back at us for playing her.”

“We deserve it.”

“Yeah.” He laughed drily. “We do.”

I turned at the sound of a familiar accent. My face fell when I realised it was just Ava. She was in the arms of Morrison. That was new. I’d need to unpack that later. Her rosy cheeks told me she was drunk. Very drunk. She narrowed her glassy eyes at me.

“You know, I was rooting for you, Holloway.”

I allowed a bit of hope to return. If she was here, there was a high chance Grace still was too.

“Sixty seconds,” Tripp shouted. 

Those that were straggling on the landing, including Ava and Morrison, hurried down the stairs. It was one hell of a party. Too bad I wasn’t going to be able to enjoy the countdown.

“I’m going to join the party,” Ryker said. He held out his hand to me. “No hard feelings?”

I placed my hand in his and shook. Starting this, I hadn’t expected things to turn out the way they did. Despite fighting over the same girl, I had a newfound respect for Ryker. He wasn’t a total dick. In fact, he was a pretty good guy. I couldn’t say the same for his team though. With no intention to join the party without Grace, I continued up the second set of stairs to my room. Either she’d made it impossible to find her, or she didn’t want to be found. And that realisation was harder than any two-hundred-pound guy slamming me into the boards. The music became more and more subdued each step I climbed. I reached into my pocket to unlock my door, but there was no point. It was ajar. Groaning, I threw it open. If someone was using my room as a spot to hook-up, they were about to get thrown down the stairs.

“Ten,” a unanimous scream came from downstairs.

I flicked on my bedroom light.

“Nine.”

I jumped, holding a hand to my chest.

“Eight.”

Grace stood from where she was laying on my bed.

“Seven.”

She made a step towards me.

“Six.”

I held up my hand.

“Five.”

“Who did you want to find you tonight, Hughesy?”

“Four.”

“You.”

“Three.”

“Thank god,” I exhaled.

“Two.”

“Get over here so I can kiss you.”

“One.”

She ran across the room and threw herself into my arms.