Page 18 of What Are The Odds?
“Would you like a drink, Grace?” Will offered.
“What are the options?”
“Um.” He scanned the many open bottles. “There’s vodka. And tequila. And Cointreau.”
I pressed onto my toes, leaning over the bar. There was practically every spirit here, as well as a random collection of mixers. I’d be able to make something out of this. I rounded the bar, bumping Will with my hip as I rummaged through the bottles. Laughing, he took the hint and stepped out of the way.
“What are you making?”
“A pina colada.”
“I want a pina colada,” Tripp said, resting his forearms on the edge of the bar.
“You got it.”
I measured the portions, dropping them into the cocktail shaker. I could feel Will’s eyes on me, watching me with interest. Smoothies and cocktails – or mocktails when I was younger – had always gone hand in hand in our house. Dad loved experimenting, testing out new flavours and mixes. Mum’s favourite was always a pina colada. Simple. Yet bloody delicious. After locating enough ice in the bar fridge, I shook the ingredients. I’d made enough to fill three glasses. Tripp took one, and Will took another. I brought mine to my lips, taking a sip. As always, the drink went down well. Too well. It reminded me of home and warm nights spent outside. Not the basement of a frat house and an icy breeze waiting outside.
“Fucking delicious, Grace,” Tripp moaned.
“Seconded,” Will agreed.
Ryan strolled over, dark eyebrows furrowed. He was the most clean-cut of these guys. His hair was neatly brushed from his face, and there wasn’t a speck of dirt on his white sneakers.
“What’s with the girly drinks?”
“Don’t knock it ‘til you try it babe,” Tripp jested.
Tripp was clearly the clown of the group. I was still trying to figure the others out. I think Ryan might be the player, especially given the two girls trailing him. Will took me as the serious one, the one that kept the rest level-headed. And Levi was undoubtably the captain. Even now, in a room full of people, he emanated a level of authority. I pulled my phone from my back pocket out of habit. It was pointless. It was still on airplane mode. Though the time did work, and it was getting late. I might not have training tomorrow, but I did have an early class.
“You can have mine,” I told Ryan, handing over my drink. “I should get going.”
Tripp pouted. “But you just got here.”
“I’ve been here for hours,” I countered. “You just found me.”
10. Friend zone
Levi.
Grace barely made it two steps before I found myself calling out her name. I stood up, ignoring the protests of the girl by my side. Had I been planning on going home with her? Yeah. But I couldn’t pass this opportunity up.
“I’ll drive you,” I told Grace.
I reached into my pocket, pulling out my keys. I’d contemplated whether to drink or drive tonight. I was glad I’d chosen the latter. Grace’s eyes moved between me and the girl standing beside me. Damn. I didn’t want this going against me. Had I known Grace was at the party, I would’ve remained solo. But by the time I saw her in the kitchen, the wheels with blondie had been set in motion.
“I was about to head out anyway,” I lied. “And the dorms are on my way home.”
A slight exaggeration, but I was banking on Grace not knowing her way around enough yet to call me out on it.
“Um.” Her forehead furrowed as she thought. “Okay. Sure. But I need to find my friends first.”
I checked my phone. It’d just gone midnight.
“How about I’ll meet you at my car in fifteen?”
Grace nodded before saying farewell to the guys. I couldn’t help but stare at her ass as she climbed the stairs. Her jeans hugged her body perfectly. A body I’d catalogued after spending forty-five minutes staring at during the media photos. When I turned back to the guys, Tripp was frowning.
“What?” I murmured.
