Page 4 of What Are the Chances
I’d just stepped out of my last class for the day when my phone rang.Dadflashed across the screen. I groaned loudly, startling the girl walking beside me. It’d been a long day of back-to-back lectures and I hadn’t eaten since breakfast, I didn’t have the energy to deal with my dad right now.
I let his call ring out. Less than a second later, he called again. This time I screened it before slipping my phone into my bag. For someone who hadn’t given me the time of day until I was in middle school, he sure was demanding nowadays.
I headed straight to my car. I was late meeting my friend Parker at the local diner. My lecturer loved his own voice and had talked well beyond the end of class.
As I was pulling out of the parking lot, my half-brother’s name displayed on my car screen. Smiling, I answered Tanner’s call.
“What’s up?” I greeted.
He didn’t return the pleasantries. “Stop ignoring dad.” There was some rustling in the background, followed by a car door slamming. “Because when you ignore him, he calls me to ask why you’re ignoring him.”
“I’m not ignoring him,” I lied. “I’m running late to meet Parker.”
I could hear the smile in Tanner’s voice. “But you had time to answer me?”
“Because your calls don’t generally suck out my soul.”
Tanner laughed loudly, the sound echoing through my car speakers. “You’re dramatic, Ri. But I get it.”
Like me, my half-brother’s relationship with my father was stilted. Thankfully mine and Tanner’s relationship was as simple as they came.
I’d spent New Year’s Eve with him and his friends in Allentown. It’s where he went to college.
Apart from Parker, my other two closest friends went to Allentown as well. If it wasn’t for the house my mum had left me in Phil-U’s college town, I would’ve transferred in sophomore year.
“I’ll be down your way on Saturday,” my brother said. “Lucas is picking up a new car and I promised I’d drive him. Want to get lunch?”
Pulling into the diner, I edged my car between a Mercedes and BMW. There were so many rich kids at Phil-U.
“That sounds good. But hey, I’ve got to go. Text me a time and place and I’ll see you Saturday.”
I cut the ignition then headed inside. Parker was sitting at a booth by the jukebox. She was the epitome of gorgeous. She had dark skin and long black hair that was currently in an array of mini plaits. She was wearing black cargo pants and a band tee, matched with purple eyeshadow and a thick gold chain. It was stylish as hell.
Parker was a fashion major. I was a physical therapy major – and it showed. My default style was always gym wear. It’s what I felt most comfortable in. Leggings. Sneakers. An oversized sweater. Since becoming friends with Parker, she’d upped my style game slightly. Before any party or event, I had to get my outfits signed off by her.
“Sorry I was late.” I slipped out of my jacket, draping it across the back of the booth. “It’s been one of those days.”
Concern marred her jaw-dropping features. If she wasn’t my best friend, I’d envy how gorgeous she was. Well, I still kind of did.
“What happened?”
“It started with losing my athletes for my final assessment and ended with dad calling.”
Her dark eyebrows furrowed. “Did your brother pull out?”
“No. The criteria changed. The athletes need to be from Phil-U now.”
My brother had been the first person I’d thought of when I’d learnt of my final assessment. His friend Lucas had volunteered to help as well. And Brooklyn and Marnie, my two friends from Allentown, were both on the track and field team.
The logistics of driving between our two towns at least once per week for the assessment wasn’t ideal, but really, I did that most weekends by choice anyway. And it was a better alternative than risking being around Phil-U athletes.
“Shit.” Parker took a long sip of her Diet Coke. “I’ve been seeing this new guy. It’s still fresh, but I could ask if he can help you out. He’s on the–”
I shook my head, silencing her offer. “It’s all sorted. This girl Grace is doing me a solid. I’m meeting her tomorrow and she’s bringing three friends.”
Parker beamed. “Crisis averted.”
“Thank god.”
