Three Pucking Wedding Dates (Hockey Harems #1)

28. Oakley

28

OAKLEY

T he airport whirls around me like a chaotic storm, but I can’t help feeling like the eye of it all as Avery and Iris flank me, each carrying a heavy bag filled to the brim with clothes they’ve picked out for me.

“Guys, this is ridiculous,” I say, hoisting my own bag higher on my shoulder. “I didn’t need all these clothes.”

“Oakley, sweetie, trust us.” Iris grins, her hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. “You’re going to outshine Georgia so much she’ll be begging for mercy.”

I roll my eyes at her enthusiasm, but the thought of besting Georgia does ignite something in me—a competitive flame that refuses to be snuffed out. With a sigh, I adjust my grip on the bag handle and continue toward the ticket counter.

I take a deep breath, trying to quell the nerves that flutter in my stomach like a thousand butterflies. As I step forward, the ticket agent, Marnie, greets us with a tight smile.

“Hi there,” I say, pulling out my ticket and handing it to her. “Here’s my ticket.”

“Thank you,” Marnie replies, scanning my ticket with practiced efficiency. “You’re all set to board Flight 422. Enjoy your flight, Ms. Price.”

“Thanks,” I reply, feeling a small measure of relief wash over me. At least I’ll have Avery and Iris there with me to keep me calm during the flight. They always know how to distract me from my fears.

“Let me just check your tickets too,” Marnie says, turning her attention to Avery and Iris.

“Of course.” Avery hands over her ticket, but the moment Marnie scans it, her smile falters.

“Um, I’m afraid there’s been a mistake,” she says hesitantly. “You’re actually booked on the next flight out, not this one.”

“What?” Avery exclaims, disbelief etched across her face. “That can’t be right—we were all supposed to be on the same flight.”

“Let me see yours too,” Marnie asks Iris, who hands over her ticket with a worried expression.

“Sorry, but it’s the same for you as well,” Marnie informs Iris, shaking her head apologetically. “You’re also on the next flight.”

“Are you serious?” Iris demands, her voice rising. “This is ridiculous! We planned this trip together—we’re supposed to be on the same flight!”

“Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do,” Marnie says, her voice firm but sympathetic.

A mischievous glint appears in Iris’s eyes as she leans in toward Marnie. “What if we make a deal?” she suggests, her voice low and persuasive. “You get us all on this flight, and I’ll give you a little something extra for the trouble.”

“Are you trying to bribe me?” Marnie raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.

“Of course not,” Iris says with a saccharine smile. “Just a friendly incentive.”

“Unfortunately, there’s really no room on this flight,” Marnie insists, her voice firm. “I can’t kick someone off just because you want to travel together. You’ll have to wait for the next one.”

Irritation flickers across Iris’s face, but she quickly masks it with a resigned sigh. “Fine,” she concedes, shooting me a worried glance.

Avery chimes in, placing a hand on my shoulder. “It’s not a big deal. Oakley can go first, and we’ll catch up later. Right, Oak?”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. The thought of flying alone terrifies me, but I don’t want to burden them with my fears. “Yeah,” I say, attempting to sound confident. “I’ll be fine. I’ll just meet you guys there.”

“Alright,” Iris agrees hesitantly. “If you’re sure.”

Nodding, I send my luggage off with the attendant, keeping only my trusty backpack with me. As I watch my friends exchange worried glances, I fight the urge to tell them the truth—that I’m absolutely terrified to step foot on that plane without them by my side. But I know I have to face this fear, and I can’t let it hold me back any longer.

The terminal stretches out before me like a cold, sterile maze. My heart races as I make my way to the gate. I grip the straps of my backpack tightly.

“Last call for Flight 422 to Honolulu boarding at Gate 12,” a voice announces over the loudspeaker, making my stomach twist with anxiety.

“Okay, Oakley,” I mutter under my breath, forcing myself to breathe deeply. “You can do this.”

As I step onto the plane, the reality of the situation hits me like a ton of bricks. I’m doing this—I’m really going to face my fear head-on. My hands tremble as I hoist my backpack into the overhead compartment, my chest tightening with each frantic heartbeat.

“Excuse me,” I say, squeezing past a couple in the aisle to find my seat. The numbers blur together as my nerves threaten to overwhelm me. A few deep breaths help steady me just enough to locate my row, and then…

“Oakley?” a familiar voice says, and my head snaps up in surprise.

I blink in disbelief, finding Theo sitting in the window seat next to mine. His piercing blue eyes regard me warily, as if he’s afraid I might bolt at any moment. I can’t say I blame him—the urge to run is overwhelming.

“Hi, Theo,” I manage to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper. He nods stiffly, his expression unreadable.

“Didn’t know you were on this flight too,” I say, settling into the seat beside him. As much as his presence unsettles me, it also provides a small measure of comfort. At least I won’t be completely alone. “Honestly, I can’t even believe Reid and Gray convinced you to come along.”

“Neither can I,” he replies, his voice low and tinged with annoyance.

The plane’s engine hums softly in the background as Theo shifts in his seat, clearly annoyed. “You know,” he grumbles, “I specifically requested a seat alone so I could have some peace and quiet on this flight.”

“Sorry to ruin your plans,” I retort, rolling my eyes. My heart is still racing from my earlier panic, but now irritation begins to bubble up inside me as well. “It’s not like I asked to sit next to you either.”

“Fine,” he snaps, giving me a cold stare. “But can you at least keep your mouth shut then? I don’t need any more distractions.”

My first instinct is to snap back at him, but I bite my tongue instead. Maybe he’s right—maybe we could both use some silence. The urge to ask a flight attendant if there are any other seats available crosses my mind, but I hesitate. As much as I hate to admit it, there’s a part of me that wants to be close to Theo, even if it means enduring his icy demeanor.

“Alright,” I sigh, leaning back in my seat. “I’ll keep quiet. But only because I’m not in the mood for arguing either.”

“Deal,” he mutters, turning his gaze toward the window. As the plane taxis down the runway and starts gaining speed, my pulse quickens once more. I clench my fists, trying to steady my breathing and remind myself that I’ve made it through takeoff countless times before.

Despite the tension between us, I find myself stealing glances at Theo, wondering what brought him here. What are the odds that we’d end up on the same flight, seated next to each other? Somehow, the universe seems to be playing a cruel joke on me. But as the seconds tick by and my anxiety refuses to wane, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of comfort in his presence. Maybe, just maybe, we can make it through this flight without tearing each other apart.

The engines roar to life, vibrating through the cabin and setting my nerves on edge. My heart hammers in my chest as if it’s trying to escape, and I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping to block out the reality of what’s about to happen.

“Are you okay?” Theo’s voice startles me, and I snap my eyes open to find him watching me with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

“Fine,” I lie, my words coming out shaky and unconvincing. “Just not a fan of flying.”

“Really? You never mentioned that before.” He seems genuinely taken aback, but there’s an undercurrent of amusement in his tone.

“Didn’t think it was worth mentioning,” I retort, focusing on the seat in front of me, gripping the armrests tightly as the plane starts moving faster.

“Listen, Oakley,” Theo says, shifting in his seat to face me more directly. “I know we’re not exactly on the best terms right now, but if it makes any difference, I promise everything will be fine.”

His words do little to calm my nerves as the plane tilts upward, lifting off the ground. My head swims, and I feel like I’m going to hyperventilate. I squirm in my seat, desperately trying to control my breathing.

“Hey,” Theo murmurs, reaching out to place his hand on mine. His touch is surprisingly warm and comforting, despite our earlier animosity. “Take a deep breath. Trust me, it’ll be okay.”

I glance at our hands, my eyes widening in surprise. Theo Archer, the man who barely tolerates me, is offering comfort and reassurance? The situation feels surreal, but somehow his presence grounds me.

“Okay,” I whisper, forcing myself to breathe deeply. With each inhale and exhale, my heart rate slowly steadies, and I can’t help but feel grateful for Theo’s unexpected support.

The world outside the plane window blurs as we ascend, and my heart clenches. Theo’s hand remains steady on mine, his grip firm but not suffocating.