Three Pucking Wedding Dates (Hockey Harems #1)

15. Oakley

15

OAKLEY

S urprisingly enough, the ice rink is even more breathtaking at night, the twinkling lights casting a magical glow over the slick surface. A few couples continue to glide gracefully around the rink, their laughter echoing through the air. I lean against the railing, my ice skates dangling from my fingers as I gaze up at the moon, its silvery light reflected on the ice below.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Gray’s voice is gentle beside me, drawing my attention away from the sky.

I glance over and notice he’s not looking at the rink, but at me instead. His warm brown eyes are filled with sincerity, making my heart race in my chest. “What are you doing?” I ask, unable to keep the blush from creeping up my cheeks.

“Looking at the most beautiful thing in the world,” he replies simply, his gaze never wavering.

My breath catches in my throat, and for a moment, I’m struck speechless. Gray doesn’t just love me—he’s in love with me. That’s nothing new to me, but the realization brings a tumult of emotions swirling through me, and I can’t help but wonder if I could ever feel the same way about him.

“Gray…” I start, unsure of what to say. He’s always been so devoted, so caring, and yet I’ve never allowed myself to entertain the idea that we could be more than friends. But in this moment, with the stars above us and the night air kissing our skin, anything seems possible.

“Oakley,” he says, and there’s something new in his tone—a quiet desperation that tugs at my heartstrings. “Don’t you see the way I feel about you…how much I love you? No man can ever love you as much as I do, as deeply as I do. Why can’t you accept that?”

My mind races as I try to make sense of Gray’s confession. The vulnerability in his eyes, the sincerity of his words—it all makes my heart beat faster, my breath catch in my throat. But before I can say anything in return, another memory tugs at the back of my mind, demanding attention.

“Gray,” I say, my voice wavering slightly, “why did you punch that guy during practice? That’s not like you at all.”

He hesitates for a moment, his gaze flicking away from mine. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he mutters, clearly uncomfortable.

“Come on, Gray,” I press, suddenly filled with determination. “You’ve always been the calm and collected one. What could have possibly made you lose your temper like that?”

He sighs heavily, resigned. “Fine. You really want to know? It was because of something Ash said about you.”

“Me?” I ask, taken aback. “What could he have possibly said that would make you react like that?”

“How he wanted to take you for a turn.” Gray’s jaw clenches, anger flashing in his eyes.

Take me for a turn?

“He was talking about you like you were some kind of object, and I couldn’t stand for it.”

“Gray, you shouldn’t have let it bother you so much,” I say softly, trying to reassure him. “People will always say things, but you can’t let them get under your skin. Especially not when it comes to me. And it’s not like I’d ever sleep with him anyways.” I smile and nudge him to try and lighten the situation.

It doesn’t help.

“Oakley, you don’t understand,” he says, suddenly grabbing hold of my arms, his touch gentle yet firm. “It bothered me because I don’t want anyone else looking at you like that, thinking about you like that. Because I want you all to myself.”

I swallow hard. I try to cut him off, but he continues, his voice urgent. “I can’t keep pretending that I don’t have feelings for you, Oakley. That I don’t want more for us.”

“Gray,” I say softly, my voice wavering slightly, “I’m touched by your words, but…I’ve never had good relationship experiences.” I look down, biting my lower lip as memories surface. “My high school boyfriend dumped me because I wasn’t ready to put out. My first college boyfriend thought I was too needy and left me. And then there was Dan, my fiancé who cheated on me with Georgia.” I shudder, the pain still fresh even after all these years.

“Oakley, I would never do any of those things to you,” Gray says earnestly, his warm brown eyes filled with sincerity.

“I know,” I reply, giving him a small smile. “But you’re too important to me, Gray. I can’t risk anything going wrong. I can’t risk losing you.”

Before he can respond, Reid appears behind me, his hand sliding down my side and resting on my thigh. My body responds immediately, a jolt of electricity shooting through me. Theo follows closely behind, his piercing blue eyes watching our every move.

“Tell me, Oakley,” Reid murmurs in my ear, his voice low and enticing. “Do you enjoy how it feels when we touch you?”

I swallow hard, my cheeks flushing as I try to steady my breathing. The tension between us is palpable, and I can’t help but feel torn. On one hand, I crave their touch, the closeness we’ve shared; on the other, I’m terrified of what this might mean for our relationships.

“Yes,” I admit, my voice barely a whisper. “I enjoy it…more than I should.”

“Then why hold back?” Reid asks, stepping closer and placing a hand on my shoulder.

“Because I…I don’t need a relationship.”

“I don’t either,” Reid whispers. “But, we won’t take it that far. It only has to be serious if we let it.”

“So no boyfriend-girlfriend?”

Reid laughs. “No boyfriend-girlfriend.”

“But…” My eyes dart between Gray, Reid, and Theo, who remains silent but attentive. “What would people say? What would they think of us if they saw us?”

“Who cares what they think?” Reid scoffs, his fingers brushing against my thigh again, sending another shiver through me. “We don’t owe anyone an explanation for anything. I can have sex with whoever I want, and so can you.”

“Reid’s right,” Gray adds, squeezing my shoulder gently. “If we want to explore this, whatever ‘this’ is, we can keep it a secret. For now, at least.”

Their words are enticing, and I bite my bottom lip, imagining all the things they could do to me…the things I want them to do to me. “Okay.”

Reid looks to Gray, raising an eyebrow. “So, are you in?”

“Oakley,” he says softly, “I want to make this clear. I’m in, no matter what. I’d take you in any way I can get you. You mean that much to me, but this won’t stop me from wanting more, from wanting to be with you for real.”

I swallow and nod.

Reid grins, obviously pleased with our decision, and then turns to his brother. “Theo? Are you in?”

Theo’s piercing blue eyes bore into me, and I can’t help but feel unnerved by the intensity of his stare. He’s always been so hard to read, his emotions carefully guarded behind a mask of indifference. But now, as he looks at me, I see something flicker in those icy depths.

“Oakley,” Theo says quietly, his voice barely audible over the sound of the wind, “you’re bad luck. I’m not touching you with a ten-foot pole, and by the time my brothers realize, it’ll be too late.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I feel my resolve begin to crumble. Bad luck? Is that really all I am to him?

He didn’t think that when he took my virginity.

With that, he turns on his heel and begins to walk away, his steps brisk and determined. “I’ll get a ride from Charlie,” he calls over his shoulder, leaving us standing there in stunned silence.

As I watch him go, my heart aches with confusion and hurt. Why does he have to be so cruel? And why do his words cut me so deeply?

“Oakley,” Gray murmurs, his arm wrapping protectively around my waist. “Don’t listen to him.”

“Thanks,” I manage, swallowing back the tears that threaten to spill over. “I just…I thought he cared about me. Maybe that’s just some distant memory.”

“Maybe he does,” Reid suggests gently, his hand on my shoulder. “But sometimes, people push away the things they care about the most.”

Gray leans in, capturing my lips in a passionate kiss that sends warmth coursing through my veins. His touch is gentle at first, seeking permission, but as I melt into him, it deepens, becoming more urgent—a silent plea.

And I’m willing to give him whatever he asks for.