Three Pucking Wedding Dates (Hockey Harems #1)

40. Oakley

40

OAKLEY

I stand with Reid, Theo, Avery, Iris, and Gray, our conversations flowing easily. The barbecue sizzles nearby, releasing a mouthwatering aroma that mingles with the scent of the ocean.

“Hey, Oakley, remember that time we went camping and you almost set the tent on fire?” Reid teases, a mischievous glint in his green eyes.

“Excuse me, it was not my fault that Theo decided to bring a faulty lantern!” I retort, unable to hold back a grin. Warmth blooms in my chest as we recall memories of past adventures, feeling completely at ease with these incredible friends who’ve become my family.

“Guilty as charged,” Theo confesses with a sheepish smile, running a hand through his dark hair. “But hey, we survived, right?”

“Thanks to Gray’s quick thinking and fire-extinguishing skills,” Iris chimes in, giving Gray a playful pat on the back. His brown eyes twinkle with amusement as he nods in agreement.

“Alright, alright, enough reminiscing for now,” I say, rolling my eyes playfully. “I’m going to grab a drink. Anyone need anything?”

“Another beer would be great,” Reid requests, tilting his empty bottle.

“Same here,” Theo adds, while the others decline. Armed with their requests, I make my way toward the refreshment area, the cool grass tickling my bare feet as I walk.

As I approach the drinks cooler, I can’t help but think about how much my life has changed since meeting these incredible people. They’ve been there for me through thick and thin, cheering me on and protecting me when I needed it most. In some ways, I feel like I owe them everything—but I also know that they don’t see it that way. To them, I’m family, just as they are to me.

My hand closes around a cold bottle of lemonade, and as I straighten up, my heart lurches in my chest as I come face-to-face with Dan. He’s the last person I wanted to see, though I suppose I should have expected to see him at a pre-wedding celebration for his own wedding. The atmosphere around me shifts like the sudden change of wind before a storm, and the laughter and banter that filled the air moments ago seem to fade away.

“Hey, Oakley,” he says hesitantly as he comes to a stop in front of me. His brown eyes are filled with remorse, making it difficult for me to hold on to the anger that’s been simmering inside me ever since I found out about him and Georgia.

“Dan,” I reply curtly, keeping my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions threatening to break free.

“Look, I know I’m probably the last person you want to see right now, but I needed to talk to you.” He runs a hand through his dark hair, a nervous habit I used to find endearing. “I made a huge mistake, Oakley.” He glances around to make sure there’s no one else standing near us. “Cheating on you with Georgia…it was the worst decision of my life.”

I take a deep breath, controlling my anger as best I can. “You think I didn’t know that already, Dan? You hurt me in ways I can’t even begin to explain.”

He winces at my words, and for a moment, I almost feel sorry for him. But then I remember the betrayal and the pain he caused, and my resolve hardens. “And getting Georgia pregnant…God, Oakley, I never meant for any of this to happen. I regret it every day.”

I scoff in disbelief that he would think now is an appropriate time to tell me all this.

“Dan, what are you saying right now? Your wedding is just a few short weeks a way. We are currently at a party to celebrate you and Georgia, and what? You’re telling your ex that you regret leaving her?” I focus on the cold condensation against my fingers, grounding myself in the present moment. “You and Georgia deserve each other. Congratulations on your impending fatherhood,” I say sarcastically, my voice dripping with disdain. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have friends waiting for me.”

The weight of Dan’s gaze bears down on me, as if trying to smother my newfound strength. But I refuse to let him have that power over me. Not anymore.

“Oakley, please,” he pleads, desperation lacing his voice. “I really am sorry. You don’t think we could give it another shot? For old times’ sake?”

“Old times’ sake?” I scoff, letting out a bitter laugh. “Dan, you cheated on me and knocked up my stepsister. Old times’ sake doesn’t erase that.”

“Come on, Oakley,” he says, his tone shifting from remorseful to arrogant. “You know I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you. No one else will ever compare.”

I chuckle, shaking my head at his audacity. “Actually, Dan, you did me a favor by leaving. You showed me that I deserve better than someone who lies and cheats.”

His eyes narrow, and I can tell I’ve struck a nerve. “Oh yeah? And who exactly is this ‘better’ guy? Because from what I’ve seen, there’s no one here even close to my level.”

“Maybe you’re right.” I smirk, playing along to disarm him. “Maybe there isn’t just one guy who’s better than you. Maybe there are several.”

“Ha! So you’re admitting that you’re just jumping from one guy to another, huh?” he seethes, revealing his true colors once more.

“Hardly,” I retort, my voice steady despite the anger bubbling beneath the surface. “I’m discovering that I don’t need anyone to define my worth or make me happy. Least of all, you.”

“Pathetic,” he spits, the word dripping with venom. “You’ll come crawling back soon enough. You won’t last long without me.”

“Keep dreaming, Dan.” I laugh, feeling the power shift in my favor as I stand tall and unyielding. “You’re not even a blip on my radar anymore.”

With a smirk still on my lips, I begin to walk away from Dan, determined to put as much distance between us as possible. But before I can take more than a few steps, I feel a sudden, viselike grip on my arm. Panic floods my senses as I realize he isn’t done with me yet.

“Let go of me, Dan,” I hiss, trying to twist free from his grasp. His fingers dig into my skin, sending sharp pain up my arm.

“Come on, Oakley,” he murmurs, his voice low and dangerous. “You can’t tell me you don’t miss our chemistry.”

“Get your hands off her!” Theo’s voice booms through the tension. Though I’d thought there was no one nearby to overhear us, Theo appears at my side in an instant, shoving Dan away from me. “If you ever touch her again, I’ll make sure it’s the last thing you do.”

“Back off, Archer. This is between me and Oakley,” Dan sneers, trying to maintain his bravado even as his eyes flicker with fear.

The air crackles with tension, and I can practically feel the heat radiating from Theo’s protective stance. Before my eyes, Reid and Gray rush to our side, forming a solid wall against Dan.

“Back off, Dan,” Reid warns, his green eyes glittering with anger. “You’ve crossed the line.”

“Yeah, you don’t get to treat Oakley like that,” Gray adds, his usually gentle voice carrying an edge of steel.

The united front of the Archer brothers leaves me feeling humbled and grateful. Their unwavering support fills me with a sense of strength I haven’t felt in a long time.

“Three against one?” Dan sneers, taking a step back but maintaining his aggressive posture. “Seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it?”

“Life isn’t fair,” I retort, crossing my arms over my chest. “But then again, you never seemed to care about fairness when it came to your actions.”

“Oakley’s right,” Reid chimes in, his tone daring Dan to argue. “You brought this on yourself.”

Dan clenches his fists, his jaw set in defiance. For a moment, I think he’s going to lunge forward and start a fight. But then, something shifts in his expression—a flicker of doubt, or maybe the realization that he doesn’t want to call attention to this situation, not with his fiancée chatting animatedly with her friends just down the beach.

“Fine,” he spits, glaring at each of us in turn. “But remember this—none of you are welcome in my life anymore, and I’ll make sure everyone knows what a mistake Oakley made by choosing you instead of me.”

I roll my eyes at his pathetic attempt at a threat. “As if we’d ever want to be part of your messed-up world, Dan.”

With one last venomous look, Dan turns on his heel and stalks away. I watch as he approaches Georgia, turning on a fake smile as he slides an arm around her waist.

“Good riddance,” Gray whispers in my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. “You dodged a bullet with that one, Oakley.”

I nod in agreement, my heart still racing from the confrontation. “Yeah, I did,” I admit, my voice barely audible. “I just can’t believe it took me this long to see him for what he truly is.”

Gray places a comforting hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently. “Some people are really good at hiding their true colors,” he replies, his tone understanding. “But you’ve got us now, and we won’t let anyone hurt you again.”

“Thanks, Gray,” I say, touched by his words and appreciative of the unwavering support from Theo and Reid as well. They stand close, their eyes filled with concern and determination.

“Are you okay?” Reid asks, his brow furrowed with worry.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I reply, forcing a smile. “Just shaken up, I guess. But I’ll be okay.”

Theo steps closer and envelops me in a reassuring hug that speaks volumes about our newfound connection. The warmth of his embrace is both soothing and invigorating.

“Oakley,” he murmurs into my hair, “just remember that you’re worth so much more than what Dan made you feel like. You deserve all the happiness and love there is.”

His words resonate deeply within me, and I cling to them like a lifeline. I may not have found love with Dan, but perhaps fate has something better in store with these incredible men who’ve come into my life.

“Thank you, Theo,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “I’ll never forget that.”

“Neither will we,” Gray adds, his hand still resting on my shoulder.