Page 129 of What Are the Chances
In Colorado I’d snuck off one morning to have breakfast with dad. Away from home, things had felt easier. Like we could laugh and talk without the past twenty-one years weighing us down.
Being around him this hockey season had been kind of nice too. He knew how to have fun when he was in a hockey arena. Did I feel bitterness towards him for that, or did I sympathise with him? It’s all he knew.
I had no idea howhewould react once I told him about Will. The first time I’d met Will had been in the Athletes’ Centre during a hockey conditioning practice.
In freshman year the girls on my athletics team had relentlessly gushed about Levi. Even back then he was exciting news – the hot new hockey gun guaranteed to go pro. All I’d seen though was Will. His dark blonde hair. His quiet temperament. His hot as hell body.
Apparently he’d only seen me too. After a week of staring at each other across the gym, he asked me out. It was that simple.
He liked me. I liked him. Let’s go out.
Falling for him had been quick and easy. We clicked. We fit. But when his hockey gears shifted, my fears surfaced. Then mum got sick and everything became chaos.
In all of that though, I’d never stopped thinking about him. Or wondering what he was up to. Or caring about him. Or loving him.
Whenever dad subconsciously brought Will up in conversation, I’d fish for more details like an addict. I’d never thought he would be back in my life. Now that he was, I vowed not to let things explode again.
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
Something was definitely wrong
WILL
I was partly dressed for tonight’s game. We’d just returned to the locker rooms from our pregame stretch. We were meant to be gearing up for a pregame skate next, but instead I was staring at my phone.
I’d message Riley over five hours ago. She hadn’t responded and she always responded – even when she was mad at me.
Before I’d left to stretch I’d text Hughesy asking her to check in with Riley. But according to her latest update, Riley hadn’t responded to her either. Something was wrong, I could feel it.
Richard passed me, a kit shoved beneath his arm. Riley was meant to be working with him again tonight. There might be a chance she was blowing me off, but she wouldn’t skip out on him.
I jumped up. “Richard,” I called out. “Have you seen Riley?”
He shook his head, confirming my suspicions. “She didn’t show, which is odd. She emailed this morning saying she’d be here.”
Something wasdefinitelywrong.
I flopped back on the bench, my shoulders feeling heavy. My thoughts should be on tonight’s game, but that wasn’t going to happen. Not until I knew Riley was fine.
It was unlike her to go MIA. So unlike her that I couldn’t shake this sinking feeling. Had something changed? Was she rethinking us? We’d jumped several steps by throwingI love youback into the mix. But it was how I felt, and I wasn’t going to shy away from that.
I knew that was how she felt as well. Things were different this time around.Shewas different this time around.
Just as I was reaching for my gear, my phone vibrated. I had to scroll though all my unanswered texts to reach her reply.
WILL:Sorry I had to bail on lunch. I’ll make it up to you. Promise.
WILL:Are you mad?
WILL:Riley? I’m leaving for the barn in 20 minutes. I’ll see you there.
WILL:Where are you?
WILL:I’m worried Riley. Call me.
RILEY:I’m not sure if you’ll see this before your game. Sorry for the radio silence. It took a while for the nurses to find where the paramedics had left my phone.
Nurses, paramedics – what the fuck!?
