What Are The Chances (Phil-U #2)

33 I didn’t hate it

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

I didn’t hate it

WILL

The girls were blasting music and singing happily in the backseat. We were waiting in the parking bay for the food they’d ordered. Way more than either of them would be able to eat. Levi and I had added onto the order too because, hell, we’d played a game earlier and I was fucking starving.

“I’m getting déjà vu,” I told him.

Barely a month ago he’d sat in the passenger seat of his car as we waited in this same bay. He’d been as drunk as his girlfriend was now, and pining because she was on a flight back to Australia.

Things could change so quickly. If I’d been told then that I’d be back with Riley in my car, I wouldn’t have believed it. Speaking of Riley...

“Uh oh,” she mumbled.

Grace turned the music down. She was controlling it from her phone. I couldn’t pinpoint the moment my car Bluetooth automatically connected to her phone, but here we were.

“I don’t have house keys. They’re in Parker’s bag.”

Grace clapped excitedly. “Looks like you’ll have to sleep over.” She tipped forward behind me, gripping my headrest and speaking directly into my ear. I could smell the tequila on her breath. “Can Riley sleep over, Will?”

I peeked in the rear-view mirror to catch Riley’s eye. She was watching me expectantly.

“If she wants to.”

Grace squealed. “You can stay in Levi’s bed with me, Riley. Levi can crash with Will. I’m sure they won’t mind.” She paused to lower her voice, only her drunken whisper came out at full volume. “Sometimes I think they’re in love and going to run away together.”

Riley’s whisper was as pathetic as Grace’s. “I agree. I always thought Caufield and Holloway were secret lovers.”

“Right,” Grace solemnly nodded.

Levi and I shared a look. It was a what-the-fuck-has-our-life-become look. But low-key, I didn’t hate it.

*

The girls crashed and burned after they ate. Of the three burgers Riley had ordered, she’d only eaten half of one and a handful of fries. She had finished a whole McFlurry though. Her and that sweet tooth.

I gathered the leftovers and shoved them in the fridge. Tripp and Ryan would count their lucky stars when they came home later. If they came home.

“Come on, Hughesy,” Levi said, sliding her out of the barstool. “You’re about to fall asleep on your burger.”

Fall asleep? More like pass out. I’d only seen Grace this drunk once before, when we were home over Thanksgiving break. She’d had a killer hangover the next day. I expected that was going to be the case tomorrow.

Halfway up the stairs, Levi stopped. He glanced between Riley and me. “Are you good?”

I nodded. “I’ve got this.”

I waited for their footsteps to retreat entirely before making my way to Riley. She was using her leftover fries to spell out my name. My first name. The one she hadn’t called me since she’d burst back into my life.

Tonight had certainly taken an unexpected turn. I’d been too caught up in Riley’s drunkenness to remember I’d lost a game of hockey. My bruised ribs were a reminder though. I’d iced them while Riley and Grace slowly picked at their food.

“Are you staying here tonight, Dover?”

Riley placed the i from my name in her mouth before tilting her head. “Will you stay with me?”

“That depends.”

She looked intrigued. “On what?”

“Whether you want me to.”

“Will we have sex?”

I barked out a laugh. “You’re way too drunk, Dover.”

My dick groaned in protest.

If Riley and I were to ever entertain that idea again, it would be when she was sober enough to remember it in the morning. And when I could guarantee she wasn’t going to have any regrets .

“Your loss,” she shrugged.

I exhaled. My loss indeed.

She slipped from the barstool and headed for the stairs without another word. I guess she was staying.

I flicked off the downstairs lights and made sure the doors were locked before climbing the first set of stairs to my room. With the door still wide open, Riley was at the foot of the bed, slipping out of her jeans. Summoning as much willpower as I could, I averted my gaze and walked straight to my wardrobe.

“Want something to sleep in?”

“I’m good.”

When I turned back she’d ditched her top and was climbing beneath the covers in nothing but a matching set of lacy underwear. This girl was about to really test my patience.

After heading to the bathroom to brush my teeth, I returned to the bedroom and shrugged off my suit jacket. Sitting against the headboard, Riley watched me unbutton my dress shirt. The way she was looking at me was criminal. The safest bet would definitely be to sleep on the couch, because if she made a move, I don’t know if I’d have the self-control to stop her.

“Why’s your stomach red?” she questioned.

“Because I was just icing it.”

Jesus, how drunk was she?

“What did you do to it?” she pressed.

“I played a game of hockey, that’s what.”

She threw back the covers and crawled to the edge of my bed, which was torture to watch. Though entirely innocent, it was the most seductive thing I’d ever seen. Especially dressed as minimally as she was.

Pushing onto her knees, she trailed her warm fingers down my stomach. “You’re hurt.”

I arrogantly smirked. “You should see the other guy, Dover.”

Her eyebrows pulled at that. “I don’t want to see any other guys.”

I tried not to read into what she was saying too much. She was drunk after all.

With a pout, Riley slipped back beneath the covers and lazily flopped against the pillow.

After ditching my slacks, I turned off the light then tracked the familiar walkway to my bed.

Riley had chosen the left side, the same side that had belonged to her when we were together. Still unable to lie on my right shoulder, I rolled onto my left side and began getting comfortable. Unlike the awkwardness in my swag, Riley immediately scooted back to mould her body around mine. Well, into mine was more apt. I dwarfed her small frame.

I draped her hair over her shoulder so I didn’t inhale it while I slept. In nothing but boxers myself, too much of our skin was touching. We were in dangerous territory here.

“Hey, Caufield,” Riley whispered.

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry for telling you about Hayes.”

The mention of that asshole’s name caused me to tense.

“If it makes you feel any better,” she went on. “I didn’t let him kiss me.”

That barely made me feel better. But at least it was one less body part that he’d touched.

Riley was silent for a moment before whispering, “I haven’t let anybody kiss me since you.”

That knocked the air from my lungs.

Alcohol had certainly lowered her defences. There’s no way she’d tell me this sober. And hell, that admission made my heart dance and ache at the same time.

Before I could figure out what to say back, Riley’s breaths evened out and she went slack in my arms. Asleep. Passed out. It didn’t matter. She was back with me. And I needed to find a way to make her realise it was where she belonged.