What Are The Chances (Phil-U #2)

22 Hughesy’s my bff

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Hughesy’s my BFF

WILL

Levi settled in my passenger seat, clipping his seatbelt in place. Like me, he was dressed in his pre-game suit, complete with his hockey jacket. It was too cold to go without.

I started the engine, warming up the car while we waited for Ryan and Tripp. My money was on Ryan to be the last one out. The dude styled his hair before games even though we wore helmets.

“Good nap?” I asked.

Our pregame ritual hadn’t varied since freshman year. After our morning skate, we always came home to nap. Now we were heading to a local diner for a routine pre-game meal with the team where I always ordered the same pasta with chicken. Then it was back to the barn for our pre-game skate before we were skating onto the ice in front of our home crowd.

“Couldn’t sleep,” Levi admitted, yawning. “I shoved my headphones in and did some meditation instead.”

I had slept like a baby. My eyes had fallen shut the second my head hit the pillow and I’d awoken feeling refreshed and ready to kill it tonight.

Levi leaned forward, checking the side mirror to glimpse the front door. I’d been watching it too. No sign of Tripp or Ryan yet.

Sitting back, Levi sipped his protein shake. “How was being Ryan’s wingman last night? Was the roommate as hot as he sold?”

Memories from last night were already at the surface. They hadn’t left. Hand stuff under a blanket was so PG-13. It was also fucking hot. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it, and I was still trying to decide whether the unexpectedly timed blackout was a blessing or a curse. If I wasn’t mistaken, Riley had been only moments from giving me a hand job beneath the blanket. And crazily, despite Ryan and Parker being right there, I would’ve let her.

“The roommate was Riley,” I admitted. “Turns out the chick Ryan is trying to sleep with is Riley’s best friend.”

Levi’s eyes widened. “Shit.”

I shrugged. “It’s fine.”

Levi held my gaze. “Is it?”

Last night had been beyond fine. I’d headed straight for the shower when I got home, needing to ease the tension that had seeped into my veins after Riley had palmed my dick. I’d enjoyed myself way too much. Now I was keyed up in a good way. I wanted to do it again. I wanted to do more. But I doubt that would be on the agenda.

Levi sighed. “Not to dredge up the past, but you were a fucking wreck when you broke up. Like, more pathetic than I was when Hughesy went home.”

“Hmm. Debatable. You were pretty pathetic.”

Levi ignored my jab. “Do I need to be worried about any feelings resurfacing if Riley’s back in your life?”

“She’s not back in my life,” I said in reassurance. “At most she’s my friend’s girlfriend’s friend.”

And even that was a stretch. Ryan wasn’t the monogamous type.

“And your PT,” Levi pointed out.

Yeah, I wasn’t ready to give that up. The shoulder taping had worked a treat at my morning skate earlier. I was confident going into the game tonight that my shoulder wouldn’t give me any grief.

When the front door slammed closed, I checked the culprit.

Tripp.

Winner winner – Ryan was last.

“I’m good,” I told Levi. “Promise.”

He nodded, but I knew he wasn’t convinced. Truth be told, I hadn’t convinced myself either.

*

Today’s post-game debrief had been much better. Firstly, because we’d won, and secondly, because my game had improved ten-fold. My skating had been smoother, my passing accuracy was better, as a team, there had been less turnovers, and our defence and goalie had been so tight it was a shutout.

“That’s more fucking like it,” Levi said, shaking my shoulders as we trudged into Lastlings .

The crowd had shifted from the arena to here. It was busy, like usual. And like usual, Morrison, our teammate and bartender at Lastlings, had tables reserved for us. The celebration wasn’t likely to get out of hand tonight though given we had another game this weekend. But we needed to do something to celebrate the fact our team had found their mojo again.

“That felt good,” I admitted, sliding into a bar stool.

“Just what the team needed before going up against Allentown.”

Exhaustion filled my body simply thinking about how gruelling that game was going to be, but excitement outweighed it. I couldn’t wait. I was amped.

“Blonde at three o’clock,” Ryan said, edging into the seat across the table from me.

I craned to glance over my shoulder. Sure enough, one of his signature Barbies was sitting a few tables over.

I turned back to him, a frown taking shape. “Aren’t you spoken for at the moment?”

“Nah. Parker and I aren’t exclusive.”

Riley’s words echoed in my mind. Please don’t let Ryan hurt her. If Ryan played her friend, it was only cementing to her that all hockey players were cheating assholes. I mean, lots were. But take Levi for example. The guy was as loyal as they came. Speaking of...

“Where’s Hughesy?” I checked.

“She headed back to the house. She has an early practice tomorrow.”

Grace’s training schedule put ours to shame. She was usually gone before I woke up, and that was generally before six-am.

Tripp clapped excitedly. “About time we had a boy’s night.”

“We live together. Every night is boy’s night,” I pointed out. “Besides, you’re the one who invites Hughesy everywhere.”

“Do not.”

“You literally do,” Ryan snorted. “You’re obsessed with Holloway’s girlfriend.”

Unfazed, Tripp shrugged. “What can I say, Hughesy’s my BFF.”

Ryan pouted. “I thought I was your BFF.”

Levi snickered. “This boy’s night is sounding pretty fucking girly.”

“Let’s do shots,” Tripp suggested.

I was glad Levi jumped in to veto that so I didn’t sound like the party pooper.

“No fucking chance. We have training tomorrow.”

Tripp slumped back in his chair, crossing his arms over his hockey jacket. “Fine. But no excuses Saturday night. We’re going to crush Allentown, then us four are getting fucking hammered after. Deal?”

The instant rebuttal to decline surfaced, but I coughed it down .

“I’m in,” I agreed.

Ryan nodded. “You don’t need to tell me twice.”

Tripp beamed. “Cap?”

Levi was the only wildcard. With hectic training schedules, Sundays were generally the only day he got to spend with Grace uninterrupted. I doubt he wanted to spend it hungover.

“Fine,” he relented. “But not Lastlings. Too many puck bunnies.”

“Agreed,” Tripp said. “I need fresh talent. There’s a new night club that opened in town. I’ll get us on the door list.”

The words night and club didn’t bode well to me. So I followed them up with loosen and the reins.