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

Levi.

I sat in front of my locker, ignoring the post-practice small talk as I took off my skates. Coach had worked us on the ice. We had a home game Saturday night. We’d likely be playing to a sold-out crowd. The expectations were high. I was looking forward to it. The entire team was. There’d been a humming energy ever since the season started. Back-to-back wins generally had that effect. I planned on adding a third Saturday night. Will sat beside me, stretching his legs out. Tripp had already stripped down to his pants. The dude was against shirts.

“How are we celebrating Saturday night, Cap?” he asked.

I set my skates in my stall. “We haven’t won yet.”

“We will. I vote party.”

“Seconded,” Ryan chimed in.

“I vote Lastlings,” Will spoke up. “I can’t be assed with the aftermath at home.”

I picked up my phone. I’d messaged Grace on my way to the barn this morning, but she hadn’t responded yet. I’d consistently messaged her this week. Not enough to come on too strong, but enough to build up rapport. I wouldn’t say we were friends just yet, but we definitely weren’t strangers anymore. I had no clue where she stood with Richardson. He hadn’t been impressed to learn she’d still come round to watch the game. I expect since learning of that revelation, he’d made an effort to progress things with her. Though I hadn’t received a message yet that the bet had been won, so I guess we were still playing.

“Cap?” Tripp prompted.

I locked my phone.

“Party,” I answered.

That was a good segue. I could get two wins on Saturday night. I could invite Grace to my game then to the after party. Impress her with hockey then get one-on-one time afterwards. I took off my shin guards then ripped my jersey over my head.

Ryan craned his head. “Theme?”

“No theme will be necessary when we’ll be celebrating a win,” Tripp said.

Will whipped him with his towel. “Don’t fucking jinx us, man.”

“Don’t get your superstitious knickers in a knot, Caufield. The team is electric this year. We’ve got this.”

I checked my phone again. Nothing had come in from Grace in the last thirty-seconds. Picking up my towel, I followed Tripp to the showers. It was already steamy in here. The mix of sweaty guys and hot water was a deadly combination. When I walked back to my locker after rinsing off, I reached straight for my phone.

Will frowned. “I’ve never seen you check that thing so much in your life.”

Damn. He’d noticed. I shouldn’t be surprised. Will was attentive as hell. Which made him deadly on the ice. If he wasn’t on my team, I’d hate playing against him. As luck had it, we’d never not played on the same team. The familiarity we’d built up over the years was something other teams tried to replicate. But they always fell short. Wearing different jerseys next year would be strange.

“I forgot to mention that line-backer was being an ass in the gym yesterday,” Will said before picking up his towel. “Ryker was around, so nothing happened, but something will soon.”

I grunted. “I’m handling it.”

Will stilled. “How?”

I checked the locker room. Nobody was paying us attention. Rap music was blasting so loudly you could barely hear anything other than the person beside you, and most of the guys were focussing on a freshman who, if I were to guess, was recapping the events of his latest conquest. The dude looked way older than eighteen. He had a full beard and tattoos covering most of his arms and chest. Still, I lowered my voice.

“Ryker and I made a deal.”

“A deal?”

“More like a bet. Same as last year. Winner gets gym rights. The other team clears out.”

“What’s the wager this time round?”

I cleared my throat. “Grace.”

Will’s eyebrows pulled together. “What do you mean?”

I lifted my shoulders in answer. He figured it out on his own.

“Huh. That’s a bummer.”

“Why?”

Will sighed, his shoulders deflating. “She just seemed like the first girl you ever liked.”

“I barely know her.”

Tripp strolled back into the locker room, his towel wrapped around his waist. After spraying on deodorant, he let the towel drop to the ground. Then he turned, facing me front on. Dude was against all clothes apparently.

“Hey Cap, are you going to invite Hughesy to the party?”

I think Tripp had a crush. I would’ve teased him about it if there wasn’t a lot already on the line when it came to Grace Hughes.

“I was thinking about it.”

“She’s cool.”

“She is,” I agreed.

“She just here for the semester?”

“Full school year.”

“She’s hot,” Ryan said, joining the conversation. “Has she got any sisters?”

I shook my head. “Two brothers.”

Smirking, Will picked up his towel and walked towards the showers. But not without mumbling under his breath, “Barely know her my ass.”