Three Pucking Wedding Dates (Hockey Harems #1)

50. Oakley

50

OAKLEY

I sit with Theo on the couch, my back pressed against his chest as I try to hold back the tears that insist on falling. He wraps his arms around me, holding me close and offering comfort even though my heart feels like it’s shattering into a million pieces. Despite the warmth of his embrace, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of despair.

“Everything is just…falling apart,” I manage to choke out between sobs. “I lost my job, Iris won’t talk to me anymore…it’s like my life has turned into one big disaster.”

Theo tightens his grip around me, his chin resting on top of my head. “You’re stronger than this, Oakley. You’ll bounce back—you always do.”

“Easy for you to say,” I grumble, wiping my tear-streaked cheeks with the back of my hand. “You don’t know how it feels to have your best friend turn her back on you when you need her the most.”

“Maybe not,” he admits softly. “But I do know what it’s like to feel completely alone, and I promise you, you’re not.”

His words might be intended to soothe me, but they only serve to fan the flames of my anger and frustration. I’ve always been the dependable one, the one who picks up the pieces when everything goes wrong. And now, when I’m the one who needs the support, it feels like everyone has abandoned me.

“Then why does it feel like I’m on my own?” I demand, pulling away from him slightly so I can look into his piercing blue eyes. “Why does it feel like no one cares?”

“Because sometimes people are too caught up in their own problems to see what’s right in front of them,” he says, the corners of his mouth turning down in a slight frown. “But that doesn’t mean you’re alone, Oakley. And it doesn’t mean people don’t care.”

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to steady my racing thoughts. Theo’s strong arms around me offer a comfort I haven’t felt in a long time.

“Oakley,” he begins cautiously, “have you ever thought about leaving this city? Starting fresh somewhere new?”

I look at him, surprise etched on my face. “What are you talking about?”

“Maybe all of this—losing your job, your best friend turning away from you—maybe it’s a sign. A sign that it’s time for you to move on and try something new. I’d love for you to make your stay with us in New York a little more permanent. And I know Gray and Reid will be on board with this too.”

My mind races with the possibilities. New York is so different from the life I’ve known here, but the idea of starting over somewhere new sends a shiver of excitement down my spine. But there’s still a nagging doubt that gnaws at me. “You’d really want me to live with you? Just a couple weeks ago you were ready to pay me to leave.”

He chuckles. “Yeah, I was an idiot then. I couldn’t fathom that my brothers would be willing to share you, and I thought denying myself happiness was the way to solve that problem. But I was wrong. What we have, the four of us…it’s something special.”

I can hardly breathe. “You really want me to move in with you?” I ask, my voice barely audible. “Why?”

“Because I love you, Oakley,” he says, his voice firm and unwavering. “I’ve loved you since the moment I met you, and I can’t imagine my future without you in it.”

His confession leaves me momentarily speechless. The certainty in his voice, the depth of emotion shining in his eyes—it’s overwhelming. And yet…it’s what I’ve always wanted to hear.

“Are you sure?” I whisper, searching his face for any sign of hesitation.

“More than anything,” he replies, reaching up to gently brush a stray tear from my cheek. “I want to build a life with you, Oakley. I want us to face whatever challenges come our way, together. So if there’s anything I can do to help you transition to living in the same city as me, then that’s what I’ll do.”

His words wrap around me like a warm embrace, filling me with a sense of hope I haven’t felt in so long. Despite the chaos my life has become, there is one thing I can be sure of—Theo’s love for me.

“Thank you,” I murmur, leaning in to rest my forehead against his. “I don’t know what the future holds, but knowing you’ll be by my side makes it easier to face.”

With a newfound sense of hope and excitement, I pull Theo closer, our lips meeting in a fiery kiss. The world fades away as we drown in each other’s embrace, his strong arms wrapping around me protectively. It’s as if we’re making up for lost time, our passion intensified by the roller coaster of emotions we’ve both experienced.

Theo’s hand caresses my cheek, his thumb brushing against my lower lip before he deepens the kiss. I let out a soft moan, my fingers tangling in his short, dark hair as I cling to him. The raw vulnerability between us, combined with the electric connection we share, sends shivers down my spine.

Just as Theo moves to trail kisses along my collarbone, a shrill ringing pierces through our intimate bubble. We both freeze, our lips still touching, as the sound of my phone vibrating on the coffee table intrudes upon our moment of passion.

“Should you get that?” Theo asks, pulling away slightly, his breath warm against my skin.

“Probably,” I sigh, my fingers reluctantly releasing their grip on his hair. “It might be important.”

I reach for my phone, hesitating for a moment before answering the call. “Hello?”

“Hey, Oakley,” my dad’s familiar voice greets me, a hint of concern in his tone. “I just wanted to check in on you…see how you’re doing as we get closer to the wedding.”

“Hi, Dad,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions still swirling inside me. “I’m…I’m okay, considering.”

“Good,” he says, relief evident in his voice. “Listen, why don’t you come over tonight? We can have dinner and just…talk. I feel like we haven’t done that in a while.”

“Sure, Dad,” I agree, glancing at Theo and silently cursing the timing of this phone call. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Love you, kiddo,” he says before ending the call.

“Love you too, Dad.”

“Hey, Theo,” I begin hesitantly, “would you…do you want to come with me to my dad’s place tonight? For dinner? And…we’ll probably stay the night since it’s a bit of a drive.”

Theo’s eyes widen in surprise, but he quickly recovers and offers me a gentle smile. “Are you sure, Oakley? I don’t want to intrude.”

“Of course,” I insist, biting my lip. “I think it’d be nice for you two to get to know each other better.” As much as I crave the comfort of Theo’s presence, there’s a nagging voice inside me questioning my decision. It’s the same voice that has held me back my entire life—the one that tells me I’m not good enough, that I don’t deserve love.

“Alright, if you’re sure,” Theo says softly, squeezing my hand reassuringly. “Just let me grab a quick shower and change into something more presentable.”

As Theo disappears into the bathroom, I find myself craving the sound of his voice saying those three little words again. The words that had set my soul alight just moments before. But would it be too much to ask? Would it make me seem needy or desperate?

“Hey, Theo?” I call out, unable to suppress the urge any longer. “Can you…can you say it again? You know…that you love me?”

The sound of the shower stops abruptly, and Theo emerges from the bathroom, his hair damp and a towel wrapped around his waist. The vulnerability in his eyes is palpable as he hesitates, searching for the right words.

“Oakley,” he begins, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m not going to turn into a sap, so don’t expect this to happen twice in one day at any point after today…I love you.”

A warm smile blooms across my face as I meet Theo’s gaze, feeling the love and sincerity radiating from him. “I believe you, Theo,” I reassure him, reaching out to brush a strand of damp hair away from his forehead.

His eyes soften, and he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close. Our bodies meld together as if they were always meant to be this way, and I can’t help but marvel at how right it feels.

“New York, huh?” I muse aloud, my thoughts turning to the future Theo suggested earlier. The idea of leaving the city that has been my home for so long is both terrifying and exhilarating. But with the recent chaos in my life, perhaps a fresh start is precisely what I need.

“Are you seriously considering it?” Theo asks, curiosity and hope coloring his tone.

“I think I am,” I admit, the notion of starting anew with Theo and his brothers filling me with hope. “I’ll at least come back to New York and stay with you all until after the wedding, while I think about it. And…I need to make things right with Iris.”

Theo nods, understanding the importance of mending bridges before moving on to the next chapter of our lives. “What do you plan to do?”

“I don’t know yet,” I confess, my fingers tracing idle patterns on his chest. “But I have to try. She’s been there for me through thick and thin, and I owe her an apology.”

“Knowing Iris, she won’t hold a grudge for too long,” Theo says, a small smile playing on his lips. “Just be honest with her. That’s all anyone can ask for.”

“First, I want to focus on spending time with my family,” I say, my gaze drifting back to the sparkling cityscape. “I haven’t really spent much time with Dad since everything blew up with Georgia and Dan, and I know he’s felt caught in the middle. And I miss him, a little.”

“Understandable,” Theo murmurs, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. “What else?”

“Then there’s the matter of enjoying my dad’s world-famous banana pudding,” I add, grinning despite the gravity of the situation. “No family gathering is complete without it, and I haven’t had it in ages.”

Theo chuckles, the sound rumbling through his chest. “Sounds like you have your priorities straight.”

As Theo’s arms tighten around me and the city lights continue to dance in the night, I allow myself a moment of peace and contentment.