Page 61 of What Are the Chances
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
I didn’t hate it
WILL
The girls were blasting music and singing happily in the backseat. We were waiting in the parking bay for the food they’d ordered. Way more than either of them would be able to eat. Levi and I had added onto the order too because, hell, we’d played a game earlier and I was fucking starving.
“I’m getting déjà vu,” I told him.
Barely a month ago he’d sat in the passenger seat of his car as we waited in this same bay. He’d been as drunk as his girlfriend was now, and pining because she was on a flight back to Australia.
Things could change so quickly. If I’d been told then that I’d be back with Riley in my car, I wouldn’t have believed it. Speaking of Riley...
“Uh oh,” she mumbled.
Grace turned the music down. She was controlling it from her phone. I couldn’t pinpoint the moment my car Bluetooth automatically connected to her phone, but here we were.
“I don’t have house keys. They’re in Parker’s bag.”
Grace clapped excitedly. “Looks like you’ll have to sleep over.” She tipped forward behind me, gripping my headrest and speaking directly into my ear. I could smell the tequila on her breath. “Can Riley sleep over, Will?”
I peeked in the rear-view mirror to catch Riley’s eye. She was watching me expectantly.
“If she wants to.”
Grace squealed. “You can stay in Levi’s bed with me, Riley. Levi can crash with Will. I’m sure they won’t mind.” She paused to lower her voice, onlyher drunken whisper came out at full volume. “Sometimes I think they’re in love and going to run away together.”
Riley’s whisper was as pathetic as Grace’s. “I agree. I always thought Caufield and Holloway were secret lovers.”
“Right,” Grace solemnly nodded.
Levi and I shared a look. It was awhat-the-fuck-has-our-life-becomelook. But low-key, I didn’t hate it.
*
The girls crashed and burned after they ate. Of the three burgers Riley had ordered, she’d only eaten half of one and a handful of fries. She had finished a whole McFlurry though. Her and that sweet tooth.
I gathered the leftovers and shoved them in the fridge. Tripp and Ryan would count their lucky stars when they came home later.Ifthey came home.
“Come on, Hughesy,” Levi said, sliding her out of the barstool. “You’re about to fall asleep on your burger.”
Fall asleep? More like pass out. I’d only seen Grace this drunk once before, when we were home over Thanksgiving break. She’d had a killer hangover the next day. I expected that was going to be the case tomorrow.
Halfway up the stairs, Levi stopped. He glanced between Riley and me. “Are you good?”
I nodded. “I’ve got this.”
I waited for their footsteps to retreat entirely before making my way to Riley. She was using her leftover fries to spell out my name.My first name.The one she hadn’t called me since she’d burst back into my life.
Tonight had certainly taken an unexpected turn. I’d been too caught up in Riley’s drunkenness to remember I’d lost a game of hockey. My bruised ribs were a reminder though. I’d iced them while Riley and Grace slowly picked at their food.
“Are you staying here tonight, Dover?”
Riley placed theifrom my name in her mouth before tilting her head. “Will you stay with me?”
“That depends.”
She looked intrigued. “On what?”
