Page 11 of What Are The Odds?
Grimacing, I shook my head.
“One of my roommates went to the dentist today,” he explained. “Long story short, I need to grab him some things.”
“Oh. Right.”
“You wanna come with? The shops are just around the corner.”
My options were limited, so I found myself nodding.
“Sweet. This one’s mine.”
Levi walked to a black SUV, with windows tinted so darkly you couldn’t see inside. It was parked beside an army green Jeep, as well as a Ute that appeared to be on steroids. The tyres were as tall as my shoulders. Apart from a gym bag and hoodie on the back seat, the inside of Levi’s car was clean. The cream, leather seats didn’t have a mark on them, and the dashboard and centre console were free of dust.
“Are you cold?” Levi asked, fiddling with the temperature.
“I’m always cold here.”
He cranked the heat. Instantly I could feel it on my toes and cheeks. Using the reversing camera, he whipped out the driveway then headed down the street. The sun was beginning to set, making it hard to see the surroundings. But driving here, I’d got the inclination this was averynice part of town.
“Is the townhouse a hockey perk?” I asked.
“A best friend perk. My buddy’s parents own the place.” He slowed at a stop sign. “Are you staying on campus?”
I nodded. “In a dorm with two friends.”
Levi grimaced. “Sounds crowded.”
“I prefer cosy.”
In truth, I didn’t mind the dorm at all. Because Ava, Stella and I were in a three-person room, we had our own bathroom. So that was a win. And while I’d never shared a bedroom in my life, I was enjoying going to sleep to the sound of Stella’s stories and Ava’s random theories. It was like a constant sleepover, where you gossip until your eyes grew heavy.
“Am I going crazy, or is my ass heating up?” I asked.
“Heated seats.”
My eyes widened. “That’s bloody fancy.”
Levi’s laugh was a deep, lazy rumble. I hadn’t heard it until just now. So far, he’d been nothing but serious or smug.
“So,” he said, filling the silence when we slowed at a traffic light. “Why Phil-U?”
I pulled the seatbelt from my chest. I’d prepared myself to be asked this question when I applied for the exchange.
“It’s where my parents met.”
“One of your parents is American?”
I nodded. “My dad was. He moved to Australia after graduation with my mum.”
“Did you visit the states a lot growing up then?”
I shook my head. “My grandparents died when I was younger. Dad was an only child, so he never really had a reason to come back.”
Levi veered off the main road, indicating into a carpark. I assumed we were at the supermarket. I didn’t recognise the chain yet. Unless it was Coles or Woolies, I had no bloody clue.
“Are your parents going to visit you while you’re here?”
I snickered. “I highly doubt it.”
