Page 37 of What Are the Chances
“Hmm. Debatable. You were pretty pathetic.”
Levi ignored my jab. “Do I need to be worried about any feelings resurfacing if Riley’s back in your life?”
“She’s not back in my life,” I said in reassurance. “At most she’s my friend’s girlfriend’s friend.”
And even that was a stretch. Ryan wasn’t the monogamous type.
“And your PT,” Levi pointed out.
Yeah, I wasn’t ready to give that up. The shoulder taping had worked a treat at my morning skate earlier. I was confident going into the game tonight that my shoulder wouldn’t give me any grief.
When the front door slammed closed, I checked the culprit.
Tripp.
Winner winner – Ryan was last.
“I’m good,” I told Levi. “Promise.”
He nodded, but I knew he wasn’t convinced. Truth be told, I hadn’t convinced myself either.
*
Today’s post-game debrief had been much better. Firstly, because we’d won, and secondly, because my game had improved ten-fold. My skating had been smoother, my passing accuracy was better, as a team, there had been less turnovers, and our defence and goalie had been so tight it was a shutout.
“That’s more fucking like it,” Levi said, shaking my shoulders as we trudged into Lastlings.
The crowd had shifted from the arena to here. It was busy, like usual. And like usual, Morrison, our teammate and bartender at Lastlings, had tables reserved for us. The celebration wasn’t likely to get out of hand tonight though given we had another game this weekend. But we needed to do something to celebrate the fact our team had found their mojo again.
“That felt good,” I admitted, sliding into a bar stool.
“Just what the team needed before going up against Allentown.”
Exhaustion filled my body simply thinking about how gruelling that game was going to be, but excitement outweighed it. I couldn’t wait. I was amped.
“Blonde at three o’clock,” Ryan said, edging into the seat across the table from me.
I craned to glance over my shoulder. Sure enough, one of his signature Barbies was sitting a few tables over.
I turned back to him, a frown taking shape. “Aren’t you spoken for at the moment?”
“Nah. Parker and I aren’t exclusive.”
Riley’s words echoed in my mind.Please don’t let Ryan hurt her.If Ryan played her friend, it was only cementing to her that all hockey players were cheating assholes. I mean, lots were. But take Levi for example. The guy was as loyal as they came. Speaking of...
“Where’s Hughesy?” I checked.
“She headed back to the house. She has an early practice tomorrow.”
Grace’s training schedule put ours to shame. She was usually gone before I woke up, and that was generally before six-am.
Tripp clapped excitedly. “About time we had a boy’s night.”
“We live together. Every night is boy’s night,” I pointed out. “Besides, you’re the one who invites Hughesy everywhere.”
“Do not.”
“You literally do,” Ryan snorted. “You’re obsessed with Holloway’s girlfriend.”
