Three Pucking Wedding Dates (Hockey Harems #1)

17. Reid

17

REID

T he steam from my morning coffee dances in the air as I take a slow sip. The rich, dark flavor floods my mouth, and I can’t help but close my eyes in contentment. My mind drifts back to last night.

I never would have seen this coming.

It’s not my first time sharing a woman, but I never thought I’d be doing so with Gray. Never imagined that the three of us—friends since childhood—would be exploring each other in such an intimate way.

And I never would have guessed that I’d enjoy every second of it.

A part of me feels like I should worry about what happens next. After all, relationships are messy, and adding my brother into the mix only complicates things further. But I shake my head, brushing off those thoughts. No, I’ve always been a firm believer in enjoying the moment, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.

“Good morning,” a feminine voice says from behind me.

“Good morning, Oakley.” I turn around to face her, smiling.

Instead of Oakley’s radiant smile, I’m met with a pair of sparkling hazel eyes that belong to my younger sister, Iris.

“Oakley?” she says, beginning to get excited. “Have you spoken to her recently?”

I swallow. I’ve never been one to lie, especially to Iris. “You could say that.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “There’s more to it.”

I take another sip of my coffee. “She’s here.”

“Reid!” she exclaims, her expression morphing into one of disbelief and delight. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen Oakley! Where is she? I can’t wait to catch up!”

“Hey, sis—” I try to keep my tone casual, hoping to defuse her excitement. “Oakley’s around, but she might still be asleep. Maybe we could all catch up later?”

Undeterred by my suggestion, Iris practically bounces on the balls of her feet, her red curls bouncing along with her. “Oh, come on, Reid! It’s been years! I just can’t wait any longer!”

She races upstairs, and my heart drops because there is something up there she might not want to see. I follow after her.

Iris’s impatience is palpable as she darts from one guest room to another, her red curls bouncing wildly with each rapid movement.

“Wait, Iris,” I call out, my voice strained with urgency. “You can’t just barge into people’s rooms!”

She doesn’t even spare me a glance, her focus entirely on finding Oakley. It feels like time is both speeding up and slowing down.

“Oakley!” Iris calls out, her excitement bubbling over. “Where are you?”

“Seriously, Iris, stop!” I plead, but it’s no use. She’s like a force of nature, unstoppable in her pursuit. My stomach churns with anxiety.

Finally, Iris reaches the door to the room where Oakley and Gray spent the night. I know because I was with them…

“Oakley, are you in there?” Iris asks, her voice quivering with excitement. She doesn’t wait for a response before flinging the door open wide.

The sight that greets us is both tender and damning: Oakley and Gray, tangled together in each other’s arms, their expressions peaceful and vulnerable in sleep.

“Wha—” Iris stammers, her face draining of color. Her eyes widen with disbelief, and her mouth opens and closes like a fish gasping for air. The excitement that was radiating from her moments ago has evaporated, replaced by shock and horror.

“NO!” she shrieks, the word slicing through the silence like a razor. Oakley jolts awake, her green eyes flying open in confusion.

Oakley looks disoriented and vulnerable, her bright green eyes darting between Iris and me. Then, realization dawns on her.

“Oakley…” Iris chokes out, her face contorted with a mix of hurt and betrayal. Her hazel eyes, once sparkling with excitement, now burn with rage and disappointment.

“Wait, Iris, let me explain,” Oakley stammers, her expression morphing into one of sheer panic. But she’s cut off by the venom in Iris’s voice.

“Explain? How could you?” Iris spits out, her words like daggers aimed straight at Oakley’s heart. She storms out of the room, slamming the door behind her so forcefully that the walls shake.

Talk about a way to put a damper on the morning.

Oakley leaps out of bed and wraps a sheet around herself, desperately trying to follow after Iris. I need to say something, do something, but the words won’t come.

“Reid, help me!” Oakley pleads, her voice cracking under the weight of her own desperation. Anxiety courses through my veins, threatening to choke me. How can I fix this? What can I say?

“Oakley, wait,” I manage to choke out, but she’s already halfway down the hallway, calling out for Iris. God, I have to do something.

Iris won’t listen right now—she’ll need time to calm down.

I sprint toward Oakley, catching her by the arm just as she reaches the staircase.

“Oakley, wait,” I say firmly, my grip on her arm unyielding as I drag her back to the room, shutting the door. “Give Iris some time. She needs a moment to process everything.”

“But Reid, I need to talk to her. I need to explain…” Oakley protests, her voice cracking. I can see the hurt in her eyes, and it breaks my heart.

“Trust me, Oakley,” I tell her softly, squeezing her arm gently in an attempt to comfort her. “She’ll listen when she’s calmer. You can’t force her to understand right now.”

As she hesitates, her gaze flickers between Gray and me. The uncertainty in her eyes is clear, and I can feel her doubt weighing down on me like a leaden blanket. “Is…is there something wrong with me?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. “I slept with both of you, and…and maybe Theo was right. Maybe I’m just a slut…”

“Oakley, don’t—” I start, but the words catch in my throat. “You’re not a slut, Oakley. You’re just human. We all want things, and sometimes we don’t know how to handle them.” I pull Oakley closer, gripping her shoulders more firmly. “Don’t listen to Theo,” I say with conviction, my eyes locked onto hers. “You’re not a slut, Oakley. You’re listening to what your body wants, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

My hands slide down from her shoulders to her upper arms, my touch gentle yet reassuring. Her green eyes search mine, looking for validation and comfort.

“Really?” she asks hesitantly, the doubt still lingering in her voice.

“Absolutely,” I confirm, a tender smile forming on my lips. I reach up to brush a stray lock of her wavy brown hair behind her ear, my fingertips grazing her warm skin. Leaning in, I whisper close to her ear, “Your body is incredible, Oakley…and so are you.”

She shivers at my words and the warmth of my breath on her neck. The vulnerability in her gaze starts to fade as she takes in my sincerity. A hint of a smile tugs at the corner of her mouth, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and desire.

“That should have given her a second to think,” I say, grinning playfully as I give her a gentle smack on the butt. “Go make things right with Iris.”

Her eyes widen in surprise at the sudden contact, but she quickly recovers and nods before quickly moving through the doors. My gaze lingers on her retreating figure, appreciating the way her wavy brown hair sways with each step. She’s strong, resilient, and absolutely amazing. It’s no wonder Gray has fallen so hard for her.

If I’m not careful…

“Reid,” Gray’s voice interrupts my thoughts, and I glance over at him. He must have just woken up. “You love her, don’t you?”

I don’t hesitate to respond, my heart swelling with affection for Oakley. “Yeah, I do.”

“But you’re not in love with her,” Gray observes, his voice gentle but firm.

The statement catches me off guard, and I pause, considering his words. “You are, though, aren’t you?” I counter, my voice soft yet steady. “You’re in love with Oakley.”

“Always have been,” he admits without hesitation, his devotion to her evident in his tone. “I’ll do whatever she wants, Reid. Always will.”

My lips press into a thin line, contemplating the situation we’ve found ourselves in. This dynamic is new and complicated, but one thing is certain—we’re all drawn to Oakley in our own ways.

“Then for now,” I say, meeting Gray’s gaze with a determined nod, “we’re sharing her.”