Three Pucking Wedding Dates (Hockey Harems #1)

20. Oakley

20

OAKLEY

“ I can’t wait to watch the boys practice,” Avery gushes, practically vibrating with anticipation.

“Me too,” Iris chimes in, her hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. I smile at their enthusiasm, even though my heart is pounding with nerves.

It’s been almost a week since the disastrous practice where Gray got in a fight because of me. Apparently the coach let him back on the ice, but one more wrong move and he’s out. It’s also the first practice I’ve attended since I started spending the night with both Reid and Gray, in one or the other of their beds. Iris is still in the dark about that, so I’ve spent much of the week hanging out with Iris and Avery during daytime hours and trying to avoid the subject of the Archer brothers.

As we approach the entrance, a burly security guard steps into our path, his arms crossed over his chest. “Can I help you ladies?” he asks. He’s balding, with a gap between his teeth.

“We were just going to watch practice.” Avery smiles and bats her eyelashes.

“Sorry, ladies, but you’re not allowed in here during practice.”

“Come on, we just want to watch our friends,” I protest, trying to sound more confident than I feel.

“Rules are rules,” he says gruffly, his expression unyielding. “No one’s allowed in without proper authorization.”

“Proper authorization?” Iris scoffs, her curly red hair bouncing as she puts her hands on her hips. “Gray, Reid, and Theo are my brothers…the three best members of the team? Go and ask them.”

The security guard hesitates, seeming to consider Iris’s words before shaking his head. “So you can sneak in while I’m gone? Nice try, but I can’t let you in. Now please leave before I have to call for backup.”

“Fine,” I mutter, shooting him a glare that would’ve made my wicked stepmother proud. Iris’s eyes narrow as her plan to get past him crumbles, but my determination only grows stronger. I’m not about to let some stubborn guy ruin our plans.

Turning away from the guard, I lean toward my friends and whisper, “Follow me.”

We walk a few steps before I spot our alternative route. The door to the locker room is slightly ajar, and I can hear the distant sound of showers running. Smirking, I lead Avery and Iris toward the entrance, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves.

“Oakley, are you sure about this?” Avery asks, her blue eyes filled with concern. “What if we get caught?”

“Relax,” I reply, trying to sound more confident than I feel. “We’ll just be quick.”

I don’t give them a chance to answer, pushing open the door and slipping inside. The warmth of the locker room washes over us, and the scent of soap and sweat fills the air. Rows of lockers line the walls, and the floor is slick with water from the nearby showers.

“Okay, girls,” I say, my voice low and determined. “One of these doors leads straight to the seats.”

Avery bites her lip, looking around nervously, but Iris grins at me. “You sure do know how to keep things interesting, Oakley.”

“Never a dull moment,” I agree, flashing her a playful smile.

“Which one’s Theo’s locker?” Avery whispers, her excitement barely contained.

“I wouldn’t know,” I admit. “It’s my first time actually being in here.”

Iris frowns. “Then, how did?—”

“Long story,” I cut her off, biting my bottom lip as I think about the little fight that happened yesterday. “Why are you so infatuated with Theo anyways?”

“Who wouldn’t be?” Avery smirks. “You seem to have a lot of opinions about him. Do the two of you have some kind of history?”

“History” is a strong word for what Theo and I have—or don’t have. I lean against a nearby bench, feeling my cheeks flush slightly. Yeah, he took my virginity on my eighteenth birthday. Iris would kill me if she ever finds out that I’ve now slept with all three of her brothers. “We used to be close, that’s all. Back when he had a soft side.”

“Soft?” Avery repeats. “I knew it!”

“He’s not soft anymore, trust me.”

Avery fidgets with her ponytail, a sign that she’s nervous, before finally speaking up.

“Oakley, do you have any…feelings for Theo?” she asks hesitantly, her blue eyes searching mine for any hint of emotion.

I shake my head, surprised by her question but determined to set things straight. “No, not at all. If you want him then go for it.”

“Good! I’m a huge believer in girl code, and I wouldn’t want to step on your toes. We’re friends now, right?”

Even though I just met her today, and the thought of anything between her and Theo leaves a sour taste in my mouth, being friends with her actually is a pleasant thought to me. I smile and nod. “Yeah. Friends.”

Avery smiles, visibly relieved. “Great! Now, let’s get out of this locker room and see what our boys are up to.”

As we approach the door on the other side, I can already hear the distant sound of skates slicing through ice and the faint echo of the coach’s barked instructions.

I grip the handle and swing the door open, and the three of us step forward.

The cold air hits us like a slap in the face as we step through the door, and I immediately realize that something is very wrong. Instead of finding ourselves in the stadium seats, we’re standing directly on the ice rink. The slick surface glistens beneath our feet, mocking our grand entrance.

“Uh, Oakley?” Iris whispers, her eyes wide with panic. “I think we’re in the wrong place.”

“Ya think?” I retort, trying to keep my voice steady. My heart pounds in my chest—not from anticipation anymore, but from pure dread.

“Okay, okay,” Avery chimes in, attempting to defuse the tension. “We just need to turn around and find another way out, right? No big deal.”

“Easy for you to say,” I mutter, taking a tentative step forward. My foot immediately slips out from under me, causing me to flail wildly for balance. “This is like walking on glass!”

“Be careful!” Iris warns, reaching out a hand to steady me. But it’s too late—all three of us are now shuffling helplessly across the ice, our shoes providing little to no traction.

“Any bright ideas, Oakley?” Avery asks, her voice strained as she tries to regain her footing.

“Right now, I’m just focused on not breaking my neck,” I admit, gritting my teeth in concentration.

My efforts prove futile when, in a split second, my legs give out completely. I hit the ground with a resounding thud, the impact sending shock waves through my body. As I lie there, stunned and winded, I can’t help but think about how badly this plan has backfired.

I groan, trying to sit up and assess the damage. My pride might be bruised even more than my body.

Just as I’m struggling to regain my footing, a booming voice cuts through the air. “What’s going on here?” the coach demands, his brow furrowed in confusion and annoyance. He reaches for his walkie-talkie, presumably to call for security.

“Wait!” I shout, panic rising in my chest. The last thing we need is to be escorted out by security—or worse, banned from the rink altogether. But before I can think of a convincing excuse, Gray and Reid move toward us.

“Coach, don’t worry about it,” Gray says, trying to suppress his laughter as he glides effortlessly toward us. “They’re with us.”

“Really?” The coach raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “And since when do you let your friends wander around on the ice without skates?”

“Since they decided to surprise us,” Reid chimes in, grinning widely as he joins Gray. The rest of the team watches, chuckling at our predicament.

“Alright, just make sure they get off the ice safely,” the coach relents, shaking his head as he turns back to oversee the practice. “And don’t let it happen again.”

“Thanks, guys,” I breathe, relief washing over me.

“Anytime, Oakley.” Gray smirks, extending a hand to help me up. “Though I have to say, this wasn’t exactly your sneakiest plan. If you wanted to see us, all you had to do was ask. We would have helped.”

“It was sort of last-minute,” I retort as I accept his assistance. My legs wobble beneath me, but Gray steadies me with a reassuring grip on my arm.

“Your rescue missions could use some work,” he teases, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Ouch,” I say, feigning offense. “You know, you could try being a little less charming and a little more grateful that we came to watch you practice.”

“Grateful, huh?” Gray’s grin widens. “I’ll have to keep that in mind.”

Meanwhile, Reid skates over to Iris and Avery, offering them a helping hand. “Ladies, you’re lucky I’m here to save the day,” he jokes, exuding his usual confidence and charm.

“Thanks, Reid,” Iris says, smiling gratefully as she leans on him for support. “We really owe you one.”

“Hey, we all need a little rescue now and then,” he replies, winking at her. “Besides, this was way more entertaining than practice.”

“Speak for yourself,” Avery huffs, her cheeks flushed from embarrassment. “Next time, I’m bringing my own skates.”

“Deal,” Reid agrees, chuckling as he guides the girls off the slippery ice.

The cold air rushes past my cheeks as Gray suddenly scoops me up into his arms, carrying me off the ice like I’m some damsel in distress. Heat floods my face as I struggle to regain my composure and push down my embarrassment.

“Put me down!” I demand, squirming in his grasp. But instead of complying, he only chuckles and tightens his hold on me.

“Relax, Oakley. I’m just trying to help you get to the seats without any more accidents.” His tone is teasing, but beneath it I can hear genuine concern.

My pride stings, but I don’t have much of a choice right now. I let out a sigh, resigning myself to my fate as Gray carries me toward the stands.

“Fine, but this never happened, okay?” I mumble, feeling another wave of embarrassment wash over me.

“Your secret’s safe with me,” he promises with a grin, finally setting me down in one of the seats. My feet touch solid ground again, and I shoot him a grateful, if slightly annoyed, smile. “And every other hockey player here.”

Avery and Iris settle down beside me, still giggling about our clumsy escapade. Avery leans in close, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Did you see that, Oakley? Theo actually held my hand when Reid helped us up!”

“Really?” I arch an eyebrow, genuinely surprised by this new development. “I didn’t even notice Theo.” It seems Avery’s crush on Theo might not be as one-sided as I initially thought.

“I need you to help me,” Avery whispers, her eyes pleading. “I really like him, but I don’t know what to do.”

I take a moment to think about it before nodding. “Of course I’ll help you.”

“Thank you, Oakley!” Avery exclaims, beaming at me. “You’re the best.”

“Hey, that’s what friends are for,” I say with a grin that I can only hope reaches my eyes.

“Here they come,” Iris says, her eyes fixed on the players zipping back and forth, weaving intricate patterns across the frozen surface. “I’ve never seen them up close like this.”

“Me neither,” Avery adds, leaning forward with anticipation. “This is amazing.”

As the boys glide effortlessly around the rink, I find myself marveling at their skill and grace. It’s not often that I get to witness such raw talent, and there’s something undeniably magnetic about it. I’ve always enjoyed hockey. My gaze drifts from one player to the next, taking in their focused expressions and powerful strides.

The boys are pushing themselves harder than ever, each one vying for a chance to stand out amongst their teammates, which makes sense with the championships right around the corner. I watch as Gray easily navigates around his opponents, his movements fluid and precise.

“Gray is really good,” Iris comments, clearly impressed. “He’s so agile on the ice.”

“Isn’t he?” I agree, feeling a surge of pride for my friend. “But then again, so is the whole team.” I don’t want Iris thinking I’m interested.

We continue to watch, mesmerized, as the boys weave their magic on the ice.