Page 19 of What Are The Odds?
His frown deepened. “What are you playing at?”
“Nothing.”
“Hughesy’s a cool girl.”
“I know.”
In the corner of my eye, I noticed the blonde shift, awaiting an explanation. I smiled sheepishly.
“Sorry, I, ugh, have an early morning training.”
“No we don’t,” Ryan interjected.
I groaned. Jackass. With a roll of her eyes, the girl stomped off. She likely thought I was blowing her off to hook up with Grace. I guess she wasn’t entirely wrong. Though I sure as hell didn’t plan on making a move tonight. I was starting to realise Grace Hughes was going to be a slow burn. Here’s hoping Ryker didn’t pick up on that. If he came on too strong, he’d blow his shot. For the first time in my life, I was trying to cross the friend zone first.
*
I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets as I waited by the car for Grace. Right on time, she walked out of the party. Alone, to my relief. I’d been worried she’d have a friend or two in tow. Her eyebrows sceptically pulled together when I opened the door for her. Maybe I was laying it on too thick. Once buckled in, I edged my car off the lawn then headed towards the main road. Grace leant forward, cranking the heater.
“Is there a servo between here and my dorm?” she asked.
“What the hell is a servo?”
“Gas station,” she clarified. “I’m snacky and the vending machine in my building has the worst snacks.”
I rumbled a laugh. “I can do snacks.”
On cue, we approached a gas station. Grace slid from the car once I slowed to a stop. I followed her inside. She eagerly headed straight for the confectionary. Pulling her lip between her teeth, she scanned the shelves.
“It’s insane that even chippies are different here.”
“Chippies?”
“Potato chips,” she clarified. “All of yours are thin. Where the hell is the crinkle cut? Only Light & Tangy tastes better when it’s thin.”
It was like she was talking in a foreign language. While she scoured the racks, another idea occurred to me. After locating a sim card, I met her at the checkout. I placed the cardboard packet on the counter.
“And whatever she has there,” I told the cashier.
Grace defiantly shook her head. “I’ve got this.”
“Just add the snacks, Hughesy.”
She narrowed her eyes, her mouth pouting in challenge, before she set her food on the counter. After keying it up, I took the bag from the cashier then guided Grace back to my car. She didn’t waste a beat before ripping into a packet of potato chips. She held them out to me. I took a couple.
“I got you something,” I said.
She frowned. “You did?”
I reached into the bag. “Here.”
She studied the paper packet. After realising what it was, she tilted her head back and laughed.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“It was two-dollars, Hughesy.”
“Fifteen if we’re including all my snacks.” She popped another potato chip in her mouth. “And hey, what’s withHughesy?”
