Page 63 of What Are the Chances
The mention of that asshole’s name caused me to tense.
“If it makes you feel any better,” she went on. “I didn’t let him kiss me.”
That barely made me feel better. But at least it was one less body part that he’d touched.
Riley was silent for a moment before whispering, “I haven’t let anybody kiss me since you.”
That knocked the air from my lungs.
Alcohol had certainly lowered her defences. There’s no way she’d tell me this sober. And hell, that admission made my heart dance and ache at the same time.
Before I could figure out what to say back, Riley’s breaths evened out and she went slack in my arms. Asleep. Passed out. It didn’t matter. She was back with me. And I needed to find a way to make her realise it was where she belonged.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Extra ice time
WILL
Riley had bounced early yesterday morning. I’d partially woken to a light tapping on the door. Parker’s lowered voice had floated into my dreams, whispering to Riley that she’d booked an Uber.
Thinking I was still asleep, Riley had hurriedly got dressed and rushed out without saying a thing. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sting. But what was I expecting? Sure as hell not a kiss goodbye.
I hadn’t stopped thinking about Riley’s admission that she hadn’t kissed another guy since me. I was trying to figure out whether it made me feel special or worse.
An opening door echoed in the empty arena. On game days it was sometimes so loud I could barely hear my teammates.
Coach walked onto the ice, his hands shoved into his hockey jacket. He’d sorted extra ice time for me, but I hadn’t expected him to be here on a Sunday morning. I shouldn’t be surprised though. I don’t think he had a life outside of this hockey program. Dedicated was an understatement when it came to him.
In his NHL days he was known as the ‘Robot’. He was an anomaly. He lived and breathed hockey. Nothing else mattered to him.
As he approached, I stopped what I was doing. I’d been midway through working on my stick control, specifically while changing directions. Coach had mentioned it let me down last game.
“The team would be in a much better position if all the guys were willing to put the work in like you,” he said, clamping his hand over my shoulder.
Mygoodshoulder luckily.
While we’d had a few unexpected losses lately, the team was still in an okay position. Though it might not stay that way if the losing streak continued.
Our next home game was coming up on Wednesday night. The GM for the Texas Bobcats was flying in for it. Coach had assured me it was part of the process, that he was just checking in. But knowing someone who had the power to alter my future would be in the stands added an extra layer of pressure. Hence the extra session this morning. I couldn’t have another game of botched passes or mistakes.
“Holloway didn’t want to join you?”
“Nah. He has better things to do on his day off than skate.”
Coach’s mouth thinned. “I’ve noticed a girl hanging around him lately. Is that new?”
“Hughesy? She’s been around for a while actually.”
“Nice girl?”
“Yeah.”
Coach grumbled. “I hope she’s not distracting him from hockey. His future is as bright as day if he stays focussed, just like yours.”
I rested my stick against my hip, nodding in response. I wasn’t entirely sure what to say back to that. I doubt Levi would consider Hughesy to be a distraction. She was part of his life now. No different than his parents or his sister.
“Be a good teammate and keep an eye on him,” Coach ordered. “If you find him slacking, you tell me first.”
