Three Pucking Wedding Dates (Hockey Harems #1)

56. Oakley

56

OAKLEY

T he frigid air of the hockey stadium sends shivers down my spine as I nervously wait for Avery to arrive. The mixture of anticipation and anxiety has my heart pounding in my chest, each thump echoing through my veins. My fingers fiddle with the edges of my jacket, a futile attempt at distracting myself from the mounting tension.

“Oakley!” Iris’s voice rings out across the stadium as she approaches, carrying popcorn and sporting a cheerful grin.

“Hey, Iris,” I say, forcing a smile and trying to steady my nerves. Her easygoing demeanor contrasts with the storm brewing inside me, making it even harder to remain composed.

“Isn’t this exciting? I haven’t been to a hockey game in ages!” Iris exclaims, her curly red hair bouncing with every step. Her hazel eyes sparkle with mischief as she tosses a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “You alright, Oakley?” She raises an eyebrow, her gaze searching mine for answers.

“Uh, yeah, just nervous,” I say. The weight of my impending apology feels like a heavy anchor on my chest, dragging me down into the depths of regret.

“Hey, it’s gonna be okay,” Iris says. “I forgave you, didn’t I?”

As we make our way to our seats, I can feel the knot in my stomach tightening. My palms are clammy, but I know I have to face Avery and make things right. The sooner I lay everything out on the table, the sooner we can start healing our friendship and move forward. But as much as I dread the confrontation, I can’t help but hope that somehow, despite everything, we’ll find our way back to each other. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll come out stronger on the other side.

“Hey, Avery,” Iris calls out as we approach. “Why don’t you chat with us for a bit?”

Avery hesitates, her gaze flicking between me and Iris before she releases a resigned sigh. “Alright, fine.”

With Iris’s support, Avery turns to face me. My stomach churns, realizing that there’s no turning back now. It’s time to face the consequences of my actions and apologize, even if it means swallowing my pride.

“Look, Avery,” I begin, my voice wavering despite my efforts to remain steady. “I just wanted to say…I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you, and I regret what happened more than anything.”

My words tumble out in a rush, like water gushing from a broken dam. I hate feeling this vulnerable, but I know that the only way to mend our fractured friendship is by being completely open and honest.

“Oakley, I…” Avery’s expression softens slightly, though her posture remains rigid. Her eyes bore into mine, searching for any hint of insincerity.

“I messed up, okay?” I admit, swallowing the lump that has formed in my throat. “I didn’t handle things well, and I hurt you in the process. That wasn’t fair to you, and I don’t expect you to forgive me right away, but I want to make things right.”

“Make things right?” Avery echoes, her voice laced with skepticism. “How do you plan on doing that?”

“By owning up to my mistakes and taking responsibility for my actions. By showing you that I’m truly sorry and that I care about you, Avery,” I say, my heart pounding in my chest. “I want us to be friends again.”

“Oakley,” she begins, voice tight with restrained anger, “Why did you lie about setting me up with Theo when you were actually involved with all three Archer brothers?”

My stomach twists into knots, but I force myself to maintain eye contact. “I should have been upfront about my lingering feelings for Theo,” I admit, wincing at the hurt that flashes across Avery’s face. “I never thought anything would happen between us.”

“Then why go along with it?” Avery demands, crossing her arms over her chest. “Why not just come clean from the start?”

I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “Fear, I guess.” My fingers fidget with the hem of my shirt, betraying my nervousness. “I was afraid of what would happen if I admitted how I felt. Afraid of losing our friendship, of making things even more complicated.”

“Instead, you made it worse by lying to me,” Avery says flatly, her voice devoid of any warmth. “And now we’re here, in this mess.”

“I know, and I’m sorry,” I say, my heart racing in my chest. “I never wanted to hurt you, Avery.”

“Too late for that,” she replies, her tone icy. My heart sinks, but I can’t blame her for being angry. I’ve made a mess of things, and I need to fix it—no matter how difficult it may be.

“Maybe it is,” I murmur, swallowing hard. “But I hope that one day, you can forgive me and we can move forward. I don’t want to lose you as a friend.”

“Me neither,” Avery says quietly, her eyes clouded with uncertainty. “But it’s going to take time, Oakley. And I need to know that I can trust you again.”

Taking a deep breath, I pull the small box from my pocket, my fingers trembling slightly as I hold it out to her. She opens it, pulling out a small piece of paper. The numbers scrawled on it might not mean much now, but they represent a chance at mending our friendship.

Avery eyes the piece of paper warily, clearly unsure whether to accept the offering, and confused about what this gift even is.

“Those are my cousin’s digits,” I say, struggling to keep my voice casual despite the urgency bubbling within me. “He’s a doctor, and I think you two would really hit it off.”

Avery raises an eyebrow, her confusion evident. “And why do you think that?” she asks, her tone skeptical but curious.

“Because,” I continue, taking a deep breath to gather my courage, “he’s smart, caring, and has a wicked sense of humor—just like you. And he’s single.”

“Oakley…” Avery starts, her expression hesitant as she processes my words.

“I know it doesn’t change what happened,” I interrupt, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. “But I want you to be happy, Avery. You deserve someone who will treat you right, and I truly believe my cousin could be that person.” My heart hammers in my chest, uncertain but hopeful.

Avery stares at me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine as if trying to find some hidden meaning or deception. When she finally speaks, her voice is soft but sincere. “Thank you, Oakley. That…that means a lot.”

“Really?” I ask, daring to hope that maybe, just maybe, this gesture is enough to mend the broken trust between us.

“Really,” she confirms, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. “It’s sweet of you to think of me like that. And I am curious about your cousin, I won’t lie.”

“Great!” I exclaim, a grin lighting up my face. “I’ll tell him to give you a call—” I pause, hesitating, before adding, “If that’s okay with you?”

“Sure,” Avery agrees, her smile growing. “Why not? It’s not every day someone offers to set me up with a doctor.”

“Trust me,” I say, my voice warm and genuine, “you won’t regret it.”

“Look at you two, all friendly again!” Iris exclaims, her hazel eyes shining with happiness. “I take it everything is sorted out?”

“Yep,” I confirm, my heart swelling with relief. “All water under the bridge.”

“Fantastic!” Iris claps her hands together enthusiastically, her red curls bouncing around her shoulders. “Now, let’s lighten the mood, shall we? How about we watch that hockey game together?”

“Sounds perfect,” Avery agrees, her smile genuine as she links her arm with mine. It’s a small gesture, but it means the world to me.

“Great idea, Iris,” I add, my chest feeling lighter than it has in days.

We make our way through the bustling stadium, the energy of the crowd infectious as we find our seats. My mind races with excitement—not only for the game, but for the renewed bond between Avery and me.

“Wow, these seats are amazing!” Avery exclaims as we settle into our spots, close enough to the ice that we can practically feel the chill.

“Only the best for my girls.” Iris winks, pulling out a bag of popcorn from under her seat and offering it to us. “Dig in!”

“Thanks, Iris,” I say, grabbing a handful of popcorn and popping it into my mouth. The buttery taste bursts on my tongue, and I can’t help but feel a sense of contentment settling over me.

As the game begins, I find myself caught up in the thrill of it all—the loud cheers of the crowd, the players skating gracefully across the ice, and the camaraderie shared between my friends and me. I know there will be challenges and obstacles ahead, but in this moment, surrounded by laughter and friendship, I’m reminded of what truly matters.

“Go, Archers!” Iris shouts beside me, her enthusiasm contagious as we all join in the chant, our voices blending together in a symphony of support.