Page 142 of What Are The Odds?
“Tell him the seat upgrades were a nice touch,” Dylan added. “Now I’ve gone first class, I don’t think I could go back.”
I laughed. Of course Levi had upgraded them. He never flew anything lower than business. Said it was because he was too big to sit in economy. But we both knew it was because he never had, and didn’t have to either. I hadn’t seen Dylan or Seth since last Christmas. I’d planned to fly out in August, before Levi’s season started. But they’d talked me out of it. Now I understood why. I’ll bet this trip had been in the works for a while. I looked over my shoulder, eyes narrowing at Tripp.
“You knew.”
He smiled smugly. “Of course I did. Levi’s been like a giddy kid at Christmas since organising it. He needed someone to be excited with.”
I wanted to see Levi so badly. To thank him. To kiss him. To tell him I loved him. But that would have to wait until after the game. Tripp picked up his glass and drained the remainder of his beer at the same time Anna returned from the bathroom. She smiled warmly at my brothers, not at all phased by their presence. I guess she was in on it too.
“Nowwe can go,” Tripp said.
*
Whenever friends or family came to watch Levi’s games, I’d either sit with them in the stands or they’d join me in whichever box Levi sorted tickets for. But nothing had topped this. Watching it with Dylan and Seth was as good as it got. I didn’t have to explain the game to them. They understood the rules. They made a conscious effort to watch as many of Levi’s games as they could, which wasn’t always easy given hockey wasn’t big back home. As expected, Tripp and Dylan had hit it off. Those two were going to be a dangerous combination over the next six weeks. That’s how long Seth and Dyl were staying for. Sixwholeweeks. While just shy of three of them would be without Levi, it’d be the perfect balance of time just with my brothers and time all together. I couldn’t wait to see Levi and my brothers in the same room. I mean, we kind of were now. But it wasn’t the same when Levi was all the way down there on the ice.
“It looks so much faster in person,” Seth said, leaning forward on his elbows. “Have you gotten any better at skating?”
I chuckled. “No. Levi has well and truly given up on that fantasy.”
After the game, which we won, I tracked the familiar walkway to wait for Levi. Seth draped his arm over my shoulder, walking beside me. Tripp and Dylan were a few steps ahead. Tripp was telling Dyl all about the ski resort he worked at. Skiing and snowboarding were generally reserved for guests only there, but Tripp had gotten us in before. A work perk I suppose. Anna was a few steps behind me, talking to one of the other partners.
“How has your first official year been living in America?” Seth asked.
I shrugged. “It’s gone fast. And having a job now makes me feel more like a resident than a tourist.” I smiled sheepishly. “I do miss home though.”
“I bet you always will. But it looks like you’ve carved out a pretty good life here.”
I was extremely lucky. I knew that. I had two amazing homes. Two amazing families. And right now, both were here. Together. I wouldn’t take advantage of that for a second. Many other people were waiting for the players to file out. There were other wives and girlfriends. Plenty of friends. And some kids. How long Levi took depended. On games like tonight, where he’d scored, he’d often get held up in interviews or press. At least I had the best company while we waited.
“What the hell, Gracie,” Dyl drawled in an accent I would never get sick of hearing. “Tripp said your place has a sauna.”
I shrugged. “It’s good for Levi’s recovery.”
There was an ice bath too, but I never used that. Purposely making yourself colder? No thank you. As players began filtering through the door, I watched anxiously. Noah came out. He caught my eye and smiled before finding Anna. Next was the captain, whose kids ran towards him and threw themselves into his strong arms.
“I think I’m going to get a little starstruck,” Dylan mocked. “Meeting the potential rookie of the year.”
There were already talks of Levi being nominated for the Calder Trophy. And Will too. Both were having incredibly killer starts to their first seasons. There was a group chat which Ryan and Tripp constantly updated, summarising the guys’ games and who had played better. Levi had played Will earlier in the season. The game had been in Texas and a day before my high school swimming carnival, so I couldn’t make the trip over. Ryan and Will had though. Since college, the guys had all made an effort for the big things. I’d been worried the distance would be hard on Levi. But they all still spoke every day. And. Reminder. Tripp lived with us. Not to mention Ryan was living less than an hour away, super close to Levi’s parents’ house. We caught up with him and Lana most weekends. Really, it was only Will who was faraway. But he had his own support network. Not to mention the most amazing girlfriend. I spoke to her almost every day. The breath knocked out of me when Levi walked through the door. He was dressed in his post-game suit, the tips of his hair still wet from his shower. A smile transitioned his face as he caught sight of us. Seth dropped my arm and made his way over to Levi. They embraced in a man hug. A combination of a handshake, clap and hug. Dylan was right behind him, having to press onto his toes to reach over Levi’s shoulder. Seeing the three of them together was – well, I don’t know what it really was. But it was pretty bloody good. And I never wanted this moment to end.
“It’s good to finally see you face-to-face,” Seth said.
Dylan looked Levi up and down. “You’re definitely bigger in person.”
Tripp hung back, a gentle smile on his face. I guess he was being polite and giving us space. But I didn’t need it from him. He was as much of my family as Levi and my brothers. Levi edged past everybody and made his way to me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, gripping tightly when my feet came off the floor. I pressed my lips to his ear.
“You’re something else, Holloway.”
Smiling, he set me on my feet. “I know.”
He crouched down, planting a polite kiss on my lips. While he never held back in front of his friends, I guess that would be a bit different now my brothers were here. I suppose kitchen sex would be off the table for the next six weeks.
“I love you,” I told him.
“Love you more, Hughesy.” Gripping my hand, he turned back to my brothers and Tripp. “What do you say? Should we head home?”
I tightened my fingers around his. I already was.
