Page 88 of What Are The Odds?
“It’s safe.”
Grace followed me inside, hurrying past the lounge. The cushions were in disarray. The horny prick had barely made it six feet into the house before dropping his pants. Grace settled in a stool at the kitchen island, smiling appreciatively when Will passed her the hot chocolate and muffin. She looked better. The puffiness in her cheeks had gone down, and while her voice was still husky, she sounded much clearer. I’d been ready to fight her if she tried going to practice this morning. Luckily she’d been too spaced-out last night to set an alarm. And for once, her body clock hadn’t woken her.
“Feeling better, Hughesy?” Will asked.
She smiled. “Heaps.”
Her smile fell when Tripp wandered into the kitchen. As per usual, he was without a shirt. I’d never paid much attention to how often he sauntered around the house barely dressed. Until Grace came into the picture. Thankfully she averted her gaze from him, feigning interest in her chocolate muffin.
“You and Ryan have a big one?” Will questioned.
He nodded. “We only rolled in an hour or so ago.”
I grimaced. A few months ago, I would have been with them, probably in the process of filling up a glass of water for the girl in my bed too. The thought of an all-nighter and partying until the sun came up held no appeal anymore. Tripp picked up one of the two remaining coffees and a bacon and egg bagel.
“Your nose is still pink, Hughesy.”
“Because she was sitting outside,” I bit. “Next time you and Ryan bring home company, make sure you both make it to your rooms.”
Tripp chuckled, amused. Speak of the devil. Ryan strutted into the room. Unlike Grace whose cheeks blushed, Ryan was totally unfazed. He went straight for the coffee. After taking a long sip, he looked at Grace.
“Enjoy the show, Hughesy?”
Grace looked like she wanted to combust. I moved behind her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders in a show of solidarity. She relaxed against me. Did I care Ryan had fucked a girl on the couch? Not really. Did I care Grace had seen one of my friends going at it? Kinda. I didn’t want her to become too scared coming round here.
“The couch?” she accused. “Really Ryan? People sit on that couch.”
Ryan shrugged. “I wasn’t the first guy to get my rocks off on that couch, Hughesy. And I’m sure I won’t be the last.”
He winked at me. Fucking asshole. Grace’s accusatory gaze snapped to me.
“It was one time,” I said in a rush.
“More like you only got caught one time,” Tripp mumbled under his breath.
“Pot kettle,” I bit through ground teeth.
His smile fell. I’d come home from class once to find him lounging on the couch with a girl on her knees in front of him. He hadn’t bothered to relocate. I’d ended up hiding in my bedroom until receiving a text that it was safe to come down. Leaning back against the bench, Will chuckled.
“New Year’s Eve last year,” Tripp was quick to add. “I came downstairs to get a drink and overheard–”
“Shit. Okay,” Will interjected.
Ryan smirked. “Told ya, Hughesy. It’s a sex couch.”
I pressed my lips to her ear and whispered, “And you wondered why I wouldn’t sleep on it.”
A car pulled into the driveway then tooted. An Uber by the looks. On cue, two girls strolled into the kitchen, looking slightly sheepish. One was blonde and the other brunette. That’s all I noticed. I tightened my arms around Grace’s body. Tripp and Ryan set down their food to walk the girls outside. I didn’t miss that. The awkward goodbye, exchange of numbers and weak promise that you’d call knowing full well you wouldn’t. Though maybe that was better than what I’d got myself into. I’d take an awkward goodbye over a hard one any day.
47. Train. Study. Levi.
Grace
Train. Study. Levi. That had become my new normal. Though it was more like Levi. Train. Levi. Study. Levi. Honestly, not much studying was happening. But I hadn’t moved here to focus on my education. I’d come to experience the world, to see something other than my own backyard. I’d certainly done that. I had friends. A team. A boyfriend. It was more than I expected to get from this exchange. Almost too much more. It made the thought of leaving really hard.
“Next level,” coach shouted.
I bumped the treadmill up, forcing my legs to increase their pace. My entire body was coated in sweat. Not that it mattered. We had pool time once this run was done. My brothers had called yesterday, checking I had booked my flight home for Christmas. Shortly after I’d hung up, Levi had called, checking I had booked my flight for Thanksgiving. I had an interstate meet the weekend before, so I was meeting Levi and Will in Colorado. Our meet was in Chicago. Stella and Ava were staying there to spend the holiday at Stella’s brother’s house. I was tempted to stay with them. Thinking about meeting Levi’s family made me nervous. I’d never had tomeet the familybefore. Luke and I had grown up four doors’ down from each other. I knew his parents almost as well as I knew my own.
