Page 14 of What Are the Chances
Tripp craned his head. “Unless yesterday’s run in has given you the yips.”
Caution clouded Levi’s features. He glanced between Tripp and me, waiting to be filled in. When it became clear I wasn’t saying zip, he murmured, “What happened yesterday?”
Tripp the motherfucker. I hadn’t mentioned my encounter with Riley to Levi or Ryan because I knew what it would become.
In all fairness though, I was surprised Grace hadn’t said anything to Levi. Those two were so tight-fucking-knit I should probably be worried she was going to replace me as his new best friend. Though until she was up to speed with the hockey lingo, I was safe.
“That student physical therapist you sent us to,” Tripp began, amusement filtering into his voice. “Was Riley Dover.”
Ryan whistled. “Shit. That’s a name I haven’t heard for a long time.”
Levi faced me, his eyebrows furrowed. “What the hell, man. Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
He sounded, if I wasn’t wrong, hurt. Which was weird as all hell. I’d seen Riley Dover. So what.
I shrugged. “Wasn’t a big deal.”
Levi scoffed in response. He knew I was lying.
“How was it really?” he pressed.
Fucking torture. Being near her but not beingwithher was weird. Riley and I were aneverythingornothingkind of couple. Yesterday had reaffirmed we’d made the right decision by staying out of each other’s lives entirely the past three years.
“Pretty fucking awkward,” Tripp answered on my behalf. “Will froze like a deer in fucking headlights.”
“I didn’t freeze.”
“Yeah, you fucking did.”
“Fine. Maybe a little,” I admitted in defeat. “Last time I saw her she was breaking up with me.”
“Only because she caught you with your dick in someone else’s mouth,” Ryan mumbled under his breath.
The glare Levi sent Ryan was terrifying, even to me.
That was... it was... god. I didn’t have the brain power to relive that night. As complex as the situation was, Ryan was right. Riley had walked into my room while I’d been sitting on the edge of my bed with a girl on her knees in front of me, mid blow job.
I think Riley and I had broken up precisely seven minutes later.
Levi released a heavy breath. “Sorry man. I assumed Grace knew the girl through swimming or something. Fuck knows how she met Riley Dover.”
I hung my skates in my locker, doing my best to seem unfazed. The more encouragement I gave my friends, the longer this would drag out. I didn’t want to think about Riley for another second.
“It’s all good.”
“I’ll go to the next session,” Levi said. “Whenever it is.”
As eager as I was to take Levi up on that, I couldn’t. If I bailed, what did that look like? That seeing her had been too hard? That I was hung up on her? That I was too weak to front up?
Fuck that. If she was okay with it, I sure as shit would be too.
“It’s all good,” I repeated.
I don’t know whether Levi bought the lie, but he let it drop. At least for now.
CHAPTER NINE
Moral support
