Page 125 of What Are the Chances
Grace’s eyebrows lowered. “I thought we were looking at apartments, Levi.”
Levi pulled into the drive, where a sportscar was already waiting.
Cutting the ignition, he turned over the seat to look at Hughesy. “Let’s check it out first and then we’ll know what we’re dealing with.”
Once inside, Levi and I indifferently looked around the modern entry, whereas Grace and Riley’s eyes were as wide as saucers.
It was clear that Grace and Levi had grown up differently. Mine and Levi’s fathers had started a security company, which had grown more than either of them had ever expected. Now they employed over six-hundred people and operated across twelve states.
Because of that, Levi and I had grown up very spoilt, with homes much too big and everything we needed at our disposal. We were lucky, I understood that. Now Grace had the opportunity to get a taste of that lifestyle. Though I think before she agreed to it, her and Levi were going to need to have a very open conversation.
We met the real estate agent in the kitchen. While she then proceeded to take Levi and Grace on the full tour Riley and I hung back, giving them a semblance of privacy. We didn’t need to know the ins and outs of the place.
Riley slowly ambled onto the back patio. The yard offered plenty of privacy, with hedges and trees grown well above the fence height. There was lots of greenery, which was maintained to perfection. If this was the house Levi and Grace chose, they’d definitely need a gardener. I’d seen how Levi cut grass.
“This place is insane,” Riley whistled.
The wind roused, floating her signature scent my way. I could smell it everywhere again. On my clothes. In my car. In my bed. I moved closer to her, hugging her from behind.
“Though it’s probably pretty modest for Holloway.” Turning in my arms, she looked up at me, her bottom lip pulled between her teeth. “And fairly modest for you too, right?”
My forehead furrowed. “Are you trying to bring something up, Dover?”
“No.” She averted her gaze. “Maybe.” She blinked nervously. “Grace told me about Levi’s family home. I’m guessing yours is quite similar.”
Almost identical. They were in the same gated community.
“My family home is, but it belongs to my parents. I don’t own a house.” I squeezed her ribs. “You do though.”
She chuckled lightly. “I own a shoebox in comparison to this.”
“If you live there, it’s got to be the best damn shoebox in the world.”
She playfully rolled her eyes. “Sweet talker.”
She walked back into the kitchen area where the heat was pumping. Grace had to be happy about that part at least. Our heat at home never got turned off nowadays, which gave Tripp an excuse to wear even less.
Riley paced around the room, checking out the rest of the space. It was bright in here, with white walls and light hardwood floors, and plenty of large windows.
“Have you got accommodation in Texas yet?” Riley asked.
I nodded.
“Will you be living alone?”
“Nope. With another guy from the team.”
I didn’t know what to make of the thoughtful look that flashed across Riley’s face. With Riley and me, it didn’t feel like we were freshly dating. Itwas more like we’d picked up straight where we’d left off, and that was almost a year in.
In freshman year we’d dodged talking about our futures. I’d known mine would involve hockey in one way or another, and I wasn’t confident Riley was committed enough to follow wherever that would lead. I had no idea where her head was at now. Maybe she had plans to move elsewhere after graduation. Maybe her future was just as set in stone as mine. And maybe they were going to be worlds apart. I was afraid to ask, but I also had to know.
I casually voiced the question. “Have you got any jobs lined up after graduation?”
Riley stopped pacing. She slipped her hands into her coat pockets. “Not exactly. In a month or so my course counsellors will post a list of available graduate jobs. I’ll apply to the ones that appeal to me most and hopefully use Richard’s recommendation to get there.”
I leant against the back of the sofa. We were standing on opposite sides of it.
“Are those jobs all in Philadelphia?”
