Page 130 of What Are the Chances
RILEY:I’m in Calvary hospital. I wasrunning and–
I didn’t get to read the rest. Because I’d been incessantly checking my phone all day, I’d just run out of battery.Fuck.
I slipped my slides back on then rummaged through my stall for my keys.
“What are you doing?” Levi asked.
“I have to go. Can you tell Coach I can’t play tonight?”
Levi shook his head. “Can’t. Coach skipped out because his daughter is – wait. What do you mean you can’t play tonight?”
I didn’t answer his question because I was already halfway down the corridor.
“Will,” Levi shouted. “If this is a joke, it isn’t fucking funny.”
I didn’t respond. I just kept moving.
*
The drive from campus to the hospital wasn’t long, but it sure as hell felt it tonight. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was fined for some traffic violations. If I was being honest, I didn’t entirely recall the drive over.
After squeezing my truck into the shitty underground parking lot, I practically ran inside.
I headed straight for the reception desk, where a nurse with greying hair and thick glasses was staring at her computer. She signalled to her headset to imply she’d be a moment. I internally cursed. Didn’t she realise people generally didn’t want to hover when they arrived at a hospital?
When a man came to stand beside me at the reception desk, my peripheral vision caught onto enough details that I did a double take.
“Coach?”
He was still dressed in his casual branded hockey tracksuit rather than the tailored suit he changed into before the game kicked off. He double looked me too, his eyebrows lowering in confusion.
“Caufield? What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to see my girlfriend. What areyoudoing here?”
“My daughter,” he answered.
He looked more anxious than I’d ever seen him before. More anxious than overtime, than penalty shootouts, than playoffs.
The receptionist finally ended her call. She peered up at Coach and me. “Who are you here to see?”
“Riley Dover,” we answered in unison.
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
I’m sorry you missed it
RILEY
A figure appearing in the doorway drew my attention.
Will.
He was partially dressed in his hockey gear, as though he’d sprinted straight here. He was wearing compression skins beneath a pair of athletic shorts and a Phil-U hockey hoodie.
I softened when he edged into the room. I was so relieved to see him. That feeling evaporated instantly though when dad followed behind. All thoughts literally evaded me. I was so fucking busted.
“Riley.” Dad rushed to my bedside. “What the hell happened?”
