Page 128 of What Are The Odds?
“How was dinner with Luke’s family last night?” Dylan asked.
“Good. It was great to see them.”
“Things weren’t awkward with Luke?”
“Not at all."
Seth arched an eyebrow. “You tell him about Levi?”
“Yeah. We’ve both moved on. He’s been dating a girl from uni for a few months apparently.” I wriggled my toes in the sand. “It’s nice to have that friendship back.”
And I meant it. I’d known Luke my entire life. While he'd been a good boyfriend through high school, he was an even better friend. Our chemistry had never been what Levi and I had. I hadn’t filled my brothers in on the entire shit show happening back at Phil-U. While the distance was generally hard, in moments like these when I wanted to keep the universes separate, it worked out well. I didn’t want them associating Levi with a stupid decision. Instead, I’d explained Levi and I had needed some space, while I figured out what came next. It wasn’t too far from the truth.
“You’re really thinking about staying there?” Seth asked.
“Am. Was. I don’t know. Things are complicated.”
“With Levi?”
“With everything,” I admitted.
It was hard to think about when things had turned to chaos. I knew I didn’t have to go back if I didn’t want to, didn’t have to face my final few months at Phil-U. But I’d committed to an entire year. I owed that to my parents. To the team. To myself. And to Levi. Running off hadn’t been entirely fair. I should’ve heard him out properly, given him a chance to explain. But I’d run knowing I would be back there in a few weeks. I guess that’s not what Levi thought. In the brief snippets of messages I’d seen come through, he thought I’d left for good. He didn’t think he’d ever see me again. It was definitely cruel letting him think that when it wasn’t the truth. But it was also mean to make a bet with another guy about who could hook up with me first. So consider this my first step getting even.
“Staying would mean leaving this behind,” I said.
Dylan nodded. “This, yeah. But not us.”
“FaceTime isn’t the same.”
“Nah,” Seth agreed. “It sucks. But we could come to you.”
I peered at him, eyes wide in a mixture of wonder and confusion. What was he saying?
“Things slow down here in the winter,” he added. “Dyl and I spoke, and we reckon we could take a few months off each year and fly your way, via Hawaii of course so we could get some surfing in.”
My head snapped to Dylan when he started talking.
“And we’re totally down for a white Christmas too. There’s some killer snowboarding in Colorado. Not to mention we both have buddies in Canada we could fly up and see while we’re there.”
Seth bumped my hip with his. “We want to get to know your boyfriend.”
“And watch him play hockey,” Dylan added. “Preferably from a corporate box with complimentary beer.”
My stomach turned to excited knots thinking about that scenario, but I didn’t want to bring them down with the truth. I couldn’t believe they’d thought about it, considered even giving up a part of their life to be with me. Dylan draped his arm over my shoulder.
“We’ve really thought it through. If you move, we’ll come visit each winter. In exchange, you come here over Levi’s off season, and we tee up to meet half-way somewhere else throughout the year.”
“Like Hawaii,” Dylan jested.
I laughed. But to be fair, it was practically the only place you could consider halfway. Well, maybe Fiji too.
"It’s a lot different there,” I warned them. “Tipping is a pain. And they never include taxes on the bill. And don’t get me started on the weather.”
My brothers laughed, their blue eyes dancing.
“I love you both.”
“We love you too, Gracie,” Seth said, giving me a noogie.
