Three Pucking Wedding Dates (Hockey Harems #1)

13. Gray

13

GRAY

A drop of sweat trickles down my face as I push myself harder on the ice, but it’s not enough to distract me from the memories flooding my mind. Oakley’s body pressed against mine, her lips tasting like heaven itself. I’d always envisioned what it would be like for us to be together sexually…of course, Reid was never a part of my plans, but I’ll take what I can get.

I’m so lost in thought that I don’t even realize the puck is coming my way until it’s too late. The missed pass sends Coach into a fit of rage, his face turning an alarming shade of red as he screams at me from the sidelines.

“Archer! Get your head in the game! We’re too close to the end of the season for you to be making idiotic mistakes like that!”

“Sorry, Coach,” I mutter, trying to refocus on the practice. But even as my body goes through the familiar motions, my mind is still consumed by thoughts of Oakley and Reid—our tangled limbs, and the way she moaned my name.

“Gray, seriously, what’s gotten into you?” Reid skates up beside me, concern etched across his features.

“Nothing,” I lie, knowing full well that he can see right through me. “I’m fine.”

He stares at me before smirking. “It’s Oakley, isn’t it?” And then he skates off.

I don’t respond, can’t respond. I can’t seem to shake my preoccupation with Oakley. The image of her sitting in the stands, watching us with those piercing green eyes, sends shivers down my spine that have nothing to do with the cold. I need her like I need air to breathe, and it terrifies me.

“Archer!” Coach’s voice pulls me out of my reverie once more, and I realize that I’m on the verge of screwing up again. “Do better!”

I grit my teeth in frustration. I can’t afford to let my feelings for Oakley jeopardize our season, but how can I possibly ignore the way she sets my soul on fire? This is what I’ve trained for, after all—to be the best player I can be, no matter the circumstances. But as I glance over at Oakley one last time, it’s clear to me that there’s more to life than hockey.

The shrill sound of the whistle pierces my ears, and I wince as I try to get a grip on my emotions. As the players regroup, Theo skates up to me, his eyes narrowing. “What’s gotten into you, Gray?” he demands, clearly frustrated by my lack of focus.

“Nothing,” I snap, my gaze involuntarily drifting toward Oakley once more. She sits nervously in the stands, her green eyes filled with a mix of worry and excitement.

“Damn it, Gray,” Theo hisses when he notices where my attention lies. “You shouldn’t have brought her here.”

“Last time I checked, you’re not the boss of me,” I retort, my irritation growing. “Ever since she got here, there’s been a stick up your butt.”

“I’m just looking out for you,” Theo insists, his voice softening slightly. But I shake off his concern, returning to practice with renewed determination.

Even so, my performance only worsens.

“Hey, Archer,” Ash, one of my teammates, calls out, interrupting my internal struggle. “No wonder you’re playing like crap. If I had Oakley waiting to spread her legs for me, I’d be too distracted to focus too.”

My blood boils at his crude words. I skate over to him, my fists clenched and my face burning with rage. “Back the hell off, Ash,” I growl, getting right in his face. “Don’t you dare talk about her like that.”

“Okay, okay. Just tell me this, can I get a turn with her once you’re done?”

My heart pounds in my chest, and before I can stop myself, my fist connects with Ash’s jaw. He stumbles back, his eyes wide with surprise before they narrow into a dangerous glare.

“Is that all you got, Archer?” he taunts, wiping the blood from his lip.

I ignore the burning pain in my knuckles as I advance on him, my focus solely on protecting Oakley’s honor. Ash throws a punch of his own, but I swiftly dodge it, countering with a powerful hook to his ribs. I hear him gasp for breath, but he isn’t done yet.

Ash launches himself at me. We grapple, our bodies colliding with unyielding force. We trade blows, each hit more vicious than the last. My vision blurs with sweat and anger, and somewhere in the distance, I vaguely register the shouts of our teammates. The world narrows to the space between me and Ash, each of us determined to come out on top.

Finally, I land a devastating uppercut, sending Ash sprawling onto the ice. My breaths come in ragged gasps as I stand over him, fists clenched and ready to keep going if need be.

“Enough!” Reid’s voice booms as he tears me away from the fallen Ash. “Gray, what the hell are you doing?”

“Archer!” Coach roars, storming across the rink. “You’re benched! You won’t be playing next game or any game until you get your crap together!”

Reid’s grip on my arm is firm, but not painful, as he drags me away from the scene. Adrenaline still courses through my veins, but as I look up at Oakley in the stands, her eyes wide and horrified, reality begins to sink in. What have I done?

Reid leads me into the locker room, my chest heaving with each breath. I can’t shake off the image of Oakley’s mortified expression, her wide green eyes reflecting the chaos I’ve caused. Theo follows closely behind us, his eyes scrutinizing my every move.

“Gray, what the hell were you thinking?” Reid demands.

“You never lose your cool like that,” Theo adds, his tone more accusatory than Reid’s, his usual stoicism replaced by frustration.

I hastily peel off my sweat-soaked jersey and start changing out of my hockey gear, avoiding their stares. “I don’t know,” I admit, my voice cracking with the weight of my emotions. “But I couldn’t just stand there and let him talk about Oakley like that.”

“Look, we all know Ash runs his mouth,” Reid says, running a hand through his hair. “But you’ve got to keep your head in the game, especially this close to the end of the season.”

“Gray, you’re smarter than this,” Theo chimes in, leaning against a row of lockers. “You’ve gone and jeopardized everything, for what? A few crude words from a guy who doesn’t matter?”

My hands ball into fists at my sides, but I force myself to take a deep breath, trying to steady the storm raging within me. “I know, okay? I messed up. But there’s something about her…seeing her with us, here…I just couldn’t help myself. I had to protect her.”

“Protect her?” Theo scoffs. “You think throwing punches on the ice does that? You think getting yourself benched helps anyone?”

“Enough, Theo,” Reid interjects, his voice firm but gentle. “Gray knows he screwed up.”

“Does he?” Theo shakes his head. “Gray, man, we know you’ve always had a thing for Oakley, but this is just insane. Something happened, didn’t it?” he asks, narrowing his eyes at me. I struggle to find the words to explain what transpired earlier.

Before I have a chance to say anything, Reid steps forward and speaks up. “Gray and I…we both kissed Oakley, at the cooking class,” he admits.

“You’re not serious.” Theo’s jaw drops, and he looks from me to Reid, disbelief etched across his face. “I mean, sure, I’d expect that kind of behavior from Reid, but Gray? You’ve always been the responsible one. What the hell were you thinking?”

“Watch it, Theo,” I snap, my anger bubbling beneath the surface. “I don’t need you. I’m leaving.”

Reid and Theo exchange a worried glance, but I don’t give them a chance to respond. I grab my bag and storm out of the locker room.