Three Pucking Wedding Dates (Hockey Harems #1)

23. Oakley

23

OAKLEY

T he lingering soreness in my womanhood is a delicious reminder of the threesome in the car with Gray and Reid. Heat floods my cheeks as I recall the way their hands explored every inch of me, their lips leaving a trail of fire along my skin. The sensations still dance beneath my flesh, making it difficult to focus on anything else.

“Ready for some bowling, Oakley?” Gray asks, his warm brown eyes filled with concern. I nod, doing my best to push aside the memories and focus on the present.

We enter the bowling alley, and I’m immediately struck by the familiar sound of pins crashing and balls rolling down the lanes. It’s not the most luxurious place I’ve ever been, but there’s a certain charm to it that makes it more appealing than others I’ve visited.

“Hey, guys!” Iris calls out, waving enthusiastically from a nearby lane. She stands with Theo and Avery, all three already geared up for some friendly competition. My heart skips a beat at the sight of Theo, his brooding expression only adding to his allure.

“Welcome to the party,” Reid says with a wink, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Shall we show these amateurs how it’s done?”

“Speak for yourself,” I retort playfully, swatting his hand away. “It’s been years since I last played.”

“Then consider this your triumphant return,” Gray chimes in, handing me a pair of bowling shoes.

“The guys really went all out!” Avery exclaims as she bounds over to me with a grin on her face. “The boys booked the entire place just for us!”

I smirk and reply, “Must be nice having money to burn.” My body still hums with the lingering sensations of my recent encounter with Gray and Reid, but I push those thoughts aside for now.

Avery leans in close, glancing over at Theo who’s grabbing drinks near the counter. “Listen, Oakley, I need your help. Any ideas on how to get Theo alone tonight?”

Caught off guard by her request, I hesitate for a moment before admitting, “I’m still working on it, but I promise I’ll let you know as soon as I have something.”

“Good,” Avery says firmly, her eyes locked on Theo. “I’m determined to use my charms on him tonight. He won’t know what hit him.”

My stomach twists with an unexpected pang of jealousy as I watch her gaze linger on Theo. But why? I remind myself that I already have two of the brothers wrapped around my finger—surely I don’t need the third as well. Plus, I should be supportive of Avery—after all, even in such a short time, she’s become one of my closest friends.

One of my only friends, honestly.

“Go for it, girl,” I encourage her, trying to sound enthusiastic. “You deserve some fun.”

“Thanks, Oakley,” she replies, flashing me a grateful smile before heading toward Theo.

I watch them interact from a distance, trying to ignore the strange feeling bubbling inside of me. I take a deep breath and decide to focus on the game and the lighthearted banter between Iris, Gray, and Reid instead.

“Oakley, you’re up!” Reid calls out, snapping me back to the present. I quickly tie my shoes and pick up a bowling ball.

I approach the lane.

“Come on, Oakley! You can do it!” Iris shouts encouragingly from behind me, her enthusiasm contagious.

I focus on the pins, trying to remember the technique I used to know so well. With a determined exhale, I release the ball, watching as it hurtles down the lane. To my surprise, it strikes the pins with precision, leaving only one standing. A wave of elation washes over me, and I can’t help but let out a triumphant whoop.

“Nice job, Oakley!” Gray calls out, joining in my celebration. “You still got it!”

“Thanks!” I reply, grinning widely. “Beginner’s luck, maybe?”

“Or maybe you’re just a natural,” Reid suggests, winking at me playfully.

I grab another ball and once the pins are reset, I aim the ball for the last pin, watching it go down the lane before it knocks it down. “That’s a spare!” I scream.

Everyone starts to cheer for me. Basking in the sound of laughter and playful banter, I can’t remember the last time I felt this carefree.

“Hey, Oakley,” Iris says, nudging me playfully, “remember that time we went roller skating and you ended up with one foot in a trash can?”

My cheeks flush at the memory. “Oh my god, yes! I thought I was going to break my ankle!”

“Your face was priceless,” Gray chuckles, his eyes warm and teasing. “But hey, you recovered like a pro.”

“More like a lucky klutz,” I counter, rolling my eyes. The reminiscing continues, each of us sharing silly anecdotes from our past, laughter ringing out across the lanes.

As my turn comes up again, I grab my ball and approach the lane, focusing on the pins. My fingers grip the smooth surface, and I take a deep breath before setting the ball into motion. However, as I release it, something catches my eye—Theo and Avery are standing by the food counter, talking animatedly.

Avery reaches out and places her hand on Theo’s arm, leaning in closer to him, and a sharp pang of jealousy cuts through me. I shake my head, reminding myself that I have no claim over Theo. Besides, I already have Gray and Reid, who both mean so much to me.

I force my attention back to the game, where my ball has knocked down seven pins. Not bad, considering I was distracted.

“Nice throw, Oakley!” Iris cheers, pulling me back into the moment.

“Remember that summer when we practically lived at the bowling alley?” Gray asks, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

“Of course,” Reid chimes in. “We had that epic tournament and Oakley was our secret weapon.”

“Secret weapon?” I laugh, my jealousy fading as I become lost in the joyful memories we share. “More like a desperate hope.”

“Hey, you saved us from complete embarrassment.” Iris grins, giving me a gentle shove.

“True,” I concede, smiling back at her.

Gray is the next one to send a ball barreling down the lane, effortlessly picking up a strike. I grin, clapping enthusiastically along with Iris and Reid.

“Show off,” I tease, playfully bumping my hip against Gray’s as he returns to our group.

“Hey, what can I say?” he replies, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “I’ve got skills.”

“Alright, Mr. Hotshot, let’s see if you can keep it up,” Reid challenges, ruffling Gray’s hair before taking his turn.

As we watch Reid’s ball curve smoothly toward the pins, I take a moment to absorb the sights and sounds around me—the colorful neon lights reflecting off the polished wood lanes, the faint scent of nacho cheese mingling with the familiar smell of bowling shoes, and the rumble of balls rolling down their tracks, punctuated by the satisfying crash of pins meeting floor.

“Nice job, Reid!” Iris exclaims as Reid knocks down all but one of the pins.

“Thanks,” Reid grins, stepping back to allow Iris her turn. She lines up her shot, sending the ball spinning down the lane with surprising force. It veers just a bit too far to the right, knocking over only a few pins, but Iris’s laughter is infectious, and we all join in.

“Next time, I promise!” she declares, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

“Can’t win them all,” I reassure her, patting her on the back before taking my own turn, a part of me wishing this night would never end.