Three Pucking Wedding Dates (Hockey Harems #1)

43. Oakley

43

OAKLEY

T he next morning, trepidation claws at my chest as I lift my hand to knock on Iris’s hotel door. One, two, three knocks echo through the silent hallway. The lack of response sends a chill down my spine. Bracing myself for the unknown, I reach for the doorknob and find it unlocked. Pushing the door open, I step into an eerily pristine room.

“Hello?” My voice sounds small in the empty space. “Iris? Are you here?”

The room has already been cleaned—not a single trace of Iris or her belongings remain. Confusion and disappointment hit me like a tidal wave, leaving me feeling stranded in this alien environment.

“Where could they be?” I mumble under my breath, my heart racing as I wrack my brain for answers.

Desperation drives me from Iris’s room, and I make a beeline for Avery’s door. I pound on the wooden door, hoping against hope that they’re both inside.

“Guys, are you in there?” I shout, my voice trembling with urgency. Once again, silence greets me, and dread coils around my heart.

Swallowing hard, I turn the handle and push the door open. It mirrors Iris’s room—immaculate and devoid of any signs of life. Panic threatens to choke me, but I force myself to take deep, calming breaths.

“Get a grip, Oakley,” I tell myself, trying to muster some semblance of control. “They wouldn’t just leave without saying goodbye…right?”

The ocean breeze caresses my cheeks as I storm out of the hotel, frustration and worry gnawing at my insides. Where could Iris and Avery be? My mind races with possibilities, but none of them bring me any comfort. Just as I’m about to pull out my phone and call them, a familiar voice cuts through the frigid air.

“Oakley! Hey, wait up,” Reid calls out, jogging to catch up with me. His breath fogs in the cold and his wavy blond hair is tousled by the wind, reminding me of how disheveled he looked after last night’s party. I can’t help but snark at him.

“Nice of you to join us this morning, Sleeping Beauty. You seen Iris or Avery anywhere?” My tone is laced with sarcasm, but beneath it, desperation claws at my chest.

Reid’s green eyes darken with concern, and he runs a hand through his hair. “Yeah, uh, about that…they left early this morning.”

My heart drops like a stone, and a sharp pain stabs through my chest at his words. Left? Without a word?

“Wait, what do you mean ‘left’?” I demand, my voice faltering. “Why didn’t they tell me?”

“Look, Oakley, I don’t know all the details, but they said they had some urgent business to attend to back home.” Reid’s expression turns apologetic. “I guess they didn’t want to wake you up or something.”

“Or something…” I mutter bitterly under my breath, anger and hurt swirling together like a toxic cocktail inside me. My best friends, gone without even a goodbye. It feels like a punch to the gut, and I struggle to keep my emotions in check.

“Hey, don’t take it personally, okay?” Reid says gently, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You know how they are—always caught up in something.”

“Caught up in something” or not, it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve been left behind like an afterthought. My heart aches with a sense of betrayal I can’t quite shake off, but I’m not about to let anyone see just how much this stings.

“Whatever, it’s fine,” I lie, forcing a tight smile onto my face. “I guess it’s just one more day anyway, huh?”

Reid nods, his eyes searching mine for any hint of the turmoil I’m trying so hard to hide. “Yeah, but hey, you’ve still got us, right?”

“Yeah. Thanks for letting me know,” I say, forcing a lighthearted tone. “Guess I should start packing up my things too.”

Reid studies my face for a moment, and I worry that he’ll see through my fragile facade. But he simply nods, his green eyes filled with a mixture of concern and understanding. “Do you need any help packing?”

I shake my head, the smile still plastered on my face. “Nah, I’ve got it covered. Thanks, though.”

“Alright,” Reid concedes, running a hand through his tousled blond hair. “How about I drive you to the airport, then? I have a rental car.”

His offer is a lifeline, and I grasp it eagerly, grateful for the company. “That sounds great. Thanks, Reid.”

“Of course,” he replies, flashing me one of his easy, charming smiles. “It’s the least I can do after they left you high and dry like that.”

As we make our way back to my room, I can’t help but feel a twinge of guilt for leaning so heavily on Reid. But in this moment, I need him more than ever. I need someone who understands—who knows what it feels like to be abandoned by those you care about most.

My fingers tremble slightly as I zip up my suitcase, my mind racing with thoughts of Avery and Iris. Did they really not care enough to say goodbye? Were they so wrapped up in their own lives that they forgot about me entirely?

“Let’s get going,” I say, forcing myself to sound upbeat and ready to face the day. “The sooner we get to the airport, the better.”

“Reid…is this…?” My voice trails off as I struggle to find the words to express my amazement.

“Yep,” he grins, looking pleased with himself. “It’s a private jet. The three of us thought you could use a little something special to make your trip back home more enjoyable.”

My eyes widen in shock. “You and Gray and Theo arranged this? For me?”

“Of course,” Reid replies, his green eyes sparkling with excitement. “You deserve it after everything you’ve been through.”

I stare at the jet in awe, trying to wrap my mind around the fact that these men have gone above and beyond for me like this. “But why?” I ask, genuinely curious. “You didn’t have to do this, Reid.”

He shrugs, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Well, for starters, we figured a smoother and less turbulent ride would help ease your fears about flying. I know it’s still hard for you. And besides, who wouldn’t want to travel in style?”

His casual explanation doesn’t quite convey the enormity of the gesture, but knowing Reid, he’s probably downplaying it on purpose. He’s never been one to boast or draw attention to his acts of kindness.

“Thank you,” I whisper, touched by his thoughtfulness and generosity. “This means a lot to me, Reid.”

“Anything for you, Oakley,” he says sincerely, turning toward me, his hands coming to rest on my waist.

I can’t help but feel a surge of gratitude and affection toward Reid. Despite the pain and confusion of recent events, having him by my side has brought me a sense of comfort and stability I never realized I needed.

“Reid, you’re amazing,” I say as I throw my arms around his neck for a tight embrace, pressing my lips to his.

He returns the kiss passionately, his tongue slipping into my mouth and his hands dipping lower to cup my ass.

Just then, Gray clears his throat from behind us, drawing my attention to him. Panting slightly, I release Reid and turn to face Gray, who’s wearing a sheepish smile. Theo stands silently beside him, his piercing blue eyes studying our interaction.

“Gray! Theo! I can’t believe I get to fly on a private jet! You guys are amazing!” I press a firm kiss to each of their lips in turn.

“Of course,” Gray says. “Flying is way more fun this way.”

Theo shrugs nonchalantly, though there’s a smile on his lips. “We all just wanted to make sure you were comfortable, Oakley.”

Something about the way he says the word comfortable reminds me of the close proximity I’ll be sharing with these men during the flight. The thought sends a shiver down my spine.

Theo’s intense gaze meets mine, and there’s a flare of heat between us, as if he’s reading my mind. I have to remind myself to breathe. Gray takes my hand to guide me up the steps, and Theo insists on grabbing my luggage. Reid grins as he claps his hands together. “Let’s get on board and start our trip back to the city!”