Three Pucking Wedding Dates (Hockey Harems #1)

27. Oakley

27

OAKLEY

I lean against the wall, arms crossed and eyebrows raised, as I watch Avery and Iris enthusiastically rummage through racks of swimsuits and barely there clothing. The colors and patterns blur together in my mind, making it hard to focus on any one item.

“Oakley!” Avery calls out, holding up an eye-catching, barely there bikini. “How about this one?”

The minuscule scraps of fabric look more like a pair of elastic bands than an actual swimsuit. My cheeks heat up just imagining myself wearing it.

“Uh, no thanks,” I say, shaking my head. “I’d feel naked in that thing.”

“Aw, come on, Oakley. It’s perfect for you!” she insists, giving me a cheeky grin. “Besides, isn’t being naked kind of the point? It is a bathing suit.”

“Avery!” I exclaim.

“What she means is, you’ll be turning heads,” Iris corrects her.

“Turning heads isn’t really my priority,” I retort, feeling my sassiness rise. “Plus, I’m pretty sure that bikini is giving me a wedgie just by looking at it.”

“Fine, fine,” Avery relents, rolling her eyes playfully. “We’ll find something a little more…modest for you.”

Iris chimes in, giggling. “Don’t worry, Oakley. We’ll make sure you have the hottest wardrobe, even if it’s a bit more covered up.”

“Yeah, we’ll make you a hot nun.” Avery grins.

“Thanks, I think,” I mumble, trying to hide my relief.

Though I appreciate their enthusiasm, shopping with the girls is a completely different experience than when I went with Reid and Gray. Everything was simpler with them, less about flaunting and more about finding what made me feel comfortable and confident.

I’d rather be with them.

I watch Avery and Iris disappear into the racks of swimsuits again, a sigh escaping my lips. I’ve never been one for shopping, but their relentless energy makes me feel like I’m being dragged along in a whirlwind.

“Oakley,” Iris calls out, poking her head around a display of neon bikini tops. “You look like you’re at a funeral, not swimsuit shopping. Lighten up!”

“Sorry,” I mumble, trying to force a smile. “I guess I’m just not really in the mood for this.”

“Come on, Oak,” she insists, walking over and looping her arm through mine. “This is supposed to be fun! You can’t spend the entire trip in jeans and a T-shirt.”

“You sure?” I roll my eyes.

“Try these on,” Iris commands, handing me an armful of clothes. I reluctantly head to the fitting room.

After several minutes of trying on various outfits picked out by Iris and Avery, I start to feel overwhelmed and need a break. Slipping out of the fitting room, I make my way toward the store exit for some fresh air.

“Be right back,” I call over my shoulder, and Avery waves me off with a cheerful smile.

Once outside, I take a deep breath and lean against the wall. I hadn’t realized how stuffy it was inside the store until now. As I close my eyes for a moment, I hear the familiar sound of a lighter flicking open, followed by a deep inhale. My eyes snap open, and I find Charlie, the Archer brothers’ driver, standing a few feet away from me, puffing on a cigarette.

“You know, those things will kill you,” I say, trying to keep my tone light despite the heavy subject matter.

Charlie chuckles, smoke drifting from his lips as he does so. “You sound like one of those anti-smoking commercials, Miss Price.”

“You don’t have to call me Miss Price. Oakley is fine.”

“I just wouldn’t be comfortable with that.”

I change the subject. “Maybe they’re onto something,” I retort, crossing my arms over my chest as we drift back to the cigarette conversation. “I mean, come on, there are countless studies that show how bad smoking is for your health.”

“Relax, sweetheart,” he says, giving me a dismissive wave as he takes another drag. “I’ve been smoking for years, and I haven’t had any major problems yet.”

“Yet” is the operative word here, but I bite back my retort, knowing it won’t do any good. Instead, I let out a resigned sigh, watching as the smoke dances through the air, carried away by the soft breeze.

“Besides,” he continues, “there’s something about a little vice that makes life interesting. Keeps the heart pumping, so to speak.” He winks, and I roll my eyes.

“Very poetic, Charlie,” I say sarcastically, shifting my gaze to the busy street in front of us. “But seriously, you should consider quitting.”

“Who knows?” He shrugs. “Maybe one day.”

“Maybe” isn’t a very reassuring word either, but I hold my tongue, choosing instead to focus on the warmth of the sun on my face, the way the wind gently tugs at my hair, and the hum of conversation around us. The world keeps moving, even when we’re standing still.

“Anyway,” I say, trying to change the subject, “what do you do for fun when you’re not chauffeuring around the Archer brothers?”

Charlie chuckles. “Believe it or not, driving them around is kind of fun. They always have something interesting going on.”

“Really?” I raise an eyebrow, genuinely curious. “I can’t imagine what it’s like working for those three.”

“Ah, it has its ups and downs, but overall, they’re good guys,” he says, a hint of fondness in his voice. “They’ve been through a lot together, and it shows in how they treat each other. And the people who work for them.”

“Still, it must be exhausting sometimes,” I admit, thinking about the whirlwind that seems to follow Reid, Gray, and Theo wherever they go.

“True, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything else,” Charlie replies with a grin. “It keeps me young, you know?”

“Speaking of keeping young,” I tease, “what about finding a healthier hobby? You know, one that doesn’t involve inhaling toxic chemicals?”

“Ha! You never give up, do you?” He shakes his head, amused by my persistence. “Maybe I’ll take up knitting or something.”

“Hey, don’t knock it ’til you try it,” I retort playfully. “Knitting can be very therapeutic.”

After a moment of silence, curiosity gets the better of me. “Charlie, do you ever take any time off? You know, go on vacation or something?”

He looks at me thoughtfully, taking a final drag from his cigarette before stubbing it out. “Every now and then, but not too often. Why do you ask?”

“Everyone needs a break sometimes, even you,” I reply with a gentle smile.

“True enough,” he admits, rubbing the back of his neck. “I guess I’d like to spend more time with my family. My granddaughter is growing up so fast, and I feel like I’m missing out.”

“Wait, you have a granddaughter?” I blink in surprise. Somehow, it had never occurred to me that Charlie might have a family. “That’s amazing.”

“Thanks, Oakley. She’s my pride and joy,” he says, a tender expression crossing his face. “I’d love to take her to the beach someday, maybe teach her how to build sandcastles.”

“Sounds like a wonderful idea,” I encourage him, imagining the burly driver crouched in the sand with a little girl, both of them laughing and covered in sand.

“Enough about me,” Charlie says, shaking off the sentimentality. “You were curious about what it’s like to work for the Archer brothers, right?”

“Right.” I nod, grateful for the change in topic.

I can’t help but feel a sense of camaraderie with Charlie as we stand there, sharing secrets and stories about the Archer brothers. There’s something comforting in knowing that other people care about them just as much as I do.

“Oakley!” Avery calls out from the boutique’s entrance, interrupting our conversation. “What are you doing out here? We’ve got your new wardrobe all ready for you!” She playfully raises her eyebrows, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Guess it’s time for me to face the fashion firing squad,” I say with a sigh, shooting Charlie an apologetic look. “Wish me luck?”

“Good luck, Oakley,” Charlie replies, his smile genuine and warm. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out another cigarette, waving it in farewell as I turn to leave.

“Thanks, Charlie. And remember, think about cutting back on those,” I add, nodding at the cigarette before heading back inside.

As I make my way through the door, I brace myself for whatever wild ensemble Avery and Iris have concocted for me. The fact that they’re grinning like Cheshire cats only adds to my apprehension.

“Alright, ladies,” I say, steeling myself for whatever lies ahead. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Iris and Avery exchange glances, their eyes gleaming with excitement. They each grab a handful of clothes from the dressing room and practically shove me inside.

“Get ready to be amazed!” Avery exclaims as she hands me a bikini so tiny it looks like it might only cover my pinky finger.

“I thought you said we were going for modest!” I exclaim.

“Well, I tried.” Avery shrugs.

I can’t help but roll my eyes, but I know they’re only trying to push me out of my comfort zone.

“Seriously, guys?” I grumble, holding up the itsy-bitsy swimsuit. “This is what you came up with?”

“Trust us, Oakley,” Iris pleads, her hazel eyes wide and earnest. “You’ll look amazing in it, and besides, we’ll be on vacation! It’s all about letting loose and having fun.”

I take a deep breath, weighing the options in my mind. On one hand, I could stubbornly refuse to try on the ridiculous bikini, or on the other hand, I could embrace the spirit of adventure and give it a shot.

“Fine,” I sigh, finally agreeing to their plan. “But if I end up looking like an overstuffed sausage, it’s on both of you.” Their laughter rings through the air, and I can’t help but smile as well.

“Ready or not, here I come,” I announce, stepping out of the dressing room and revealing my newly adorned body to my eager audience.

“Wow, Oakley!” Avery exclaims, her eyes widening in appreciation. “You look incredible!”

“See? We told you so,” Iris chimes in, smiling proudly at their handiwork.

I glance down at myself, feeling a mixture of vulnerability and pride. The swimsuit may be skimpy, but there’s no denying that it complements my figure in a flattering way.

“Alright, you two did an okay job,” I admit reluctantly, still feeling a bit exposed but trying to embrace the experience. “Now let’s get the rest of this shopping done so we can move on to more important things—like enjoying our vacation.”

“Agreed!” Avery says with enthusiasm as Iris nods in approval.

We spend the next hour browsing through the store, selecting various outfits and accessories for our trip. I find myself gradually growing more comfortable with their choices, even daring to try on a few bold pieces that I would have never considered before.

As we gather our purchases and prepare to leave, I realize how grateful I am for friends like Avery and Iris—people who push me beyond my comfort zone and help me discover new aspects of myself. Despite my initial hesitation, today’s shopping adventure has turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable, and I’m really looking forward to spending some time on the beach next week.