Three Pucking Wedding Dates (Hockey Harems #1)

Epilogue

THEO

The sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows casts a kaleidoscope of colors across Oakley’s face, and I can’t tear my gaze away. She stands among the other bridesmaids like a diamond in a sea of glass, her beauty undeniably mesmerizing.

“Dan must be kicking himself right now,” Reid murmurs beside me, his mischievous green eyes glinting with shared disbelief.

“Choosing Georgia over Oakley?” Gray chimes in, his warm brown eyes filled with concern as he looks at our dear friend. “He’s got to see what he’s missing.”

I take in Oakley’s gracefulness, the way she carries herself with a quiet confidence that sets her apart from the others. Memories of that intimate moment we shared years ago flood my mind, and a pang of longing courses through me.

“Oakley deserves so much better,” I whisper, barely realizing I’ve spoken my thoughts out loud.

“Damn right she does,” Reid agrees, nodding his head firmly. “And we all know it.”

The church doors swing open, revealing Georgia in a breathtaking white gown, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders like liquid gold. Her eyes are bright with a mix of nervousness and pride, and for a moment, I’m struck by her beauty. But as she steps forward, the truth of who she is—manipulative and cunning—overshadows any physical appeal.

“Here comes the bride,” Gray mutters beside me, his tone laced with disdain.

Reid scoffs quietly, crossing his arms over his chest. “More like ‘here comes the trouble,’” he adds.

I can’t help but agree, watching as Georgia glides down the aisle toward Dan, her smile wide and her posture radiating confidence. Behind her, Oakley’s expression is a mix of annoyance and resignation, and it pains me to see her like this.

“Please let this be over soon,” I whisper under my breath, though part of me already knows that things won’t go according to plan.

As Georgia finally reaches Dan at the altar, the priest begins the ceremony, speaking with gentle authority about the sanctity of marriage. It’s clear that everyone in the room is expecting a traditional, picture-perfect wedding—everyone, that is, except for us.

“Dan,” the priest says, turning to the groom, “do you take Georgia to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

There’s a pause, and then, instead of reciting his vows, Dan interrupts the proceedings with a shocking confession. “No, I can’t marry Georgia.”

The crowd gasps, and I feel a sudden surge of adrenaline course through me. Beside me, Gray and Reid exchange glances, their expressions a mixture of surprise and anticipation.

“Dan, what are you saying?” Georgia demands, her honeyed tone quickly turning sharp. “What’s the meaning of this?”

“Georgia,” Dan replies, his voice filled with regret, “I found out about your infidelity and the false pregnancy. I can’t marry someone who’s been lying to me like this.”

A stunned silence falls over the church as Georgia’s face turns ashen, her piercing blue eyes wide with shock. This is it—the moment when everything changes. My heart races, knowing that our lives are about to take a drastically different course.

“Dan…” Georgia stammers, trying desperately to regain control of the situation. “It’s not what you think. I can explain.”

But Dan shakes his head, his brown eyes hardening with resolve. “No, Georgia. You’ve already said enough. This wedding is off.”

My heart pounds in my chest as the drama unfolds. I watch Oakley where she stands with the other bridesmaids. I expect to see some sign of emotion—after all, this is her ex and her stepsister, and part of me wonders if she still has any feelings for him.

Instead, a smile spreads across my face as I take in her expression. Oakley is completely unbothered, almost amused at the disaster this wedding is turning out to be. She rolls her eyes at Dan’s proclamation, and seems to be fighting laughter.

She definitely doesn’t have feelings for him anymore. She meets my eyes and her expression turns fierce with love. And I suddenly know what I need to do.

“Attention, everyone.” My voice rings out, fueled by determination and emotion. All eyes turn toward me as I stand up, my gaze fixed on Oakley. “This wedding may be off, but we’re not leaving here without witnessing something real.”

A murmur of confusion ripples through the assembly, but I don’t care. I look at Oakley, her green eyes glistening with unshed tears, and I see our future together—bright and full of hope.

“Oakley Price,” I continue, my voice trembling with nerves and excitement. “I know this is unexpected and unorthodox, but I can’t let this moment pass us by.”

“What are you saying, Theo?” Oakley asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

I gesture for Gray and Reid to join me, feeling their support as they stand by my side. With a deep breath and a quick glance between the three of us, I turn to Oakley, her green eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“Oakley, we love you, and we want to marry you. Right here, right now.” My heart races as I lay our feelings bare, hoping against hope that she’ll understand and accept our impulsive proposal.

The room erupts into a cacophony of gasps and murmurs, but all I care about is Oakley’s reaction. For a moment, she just stares at us, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, her lips part, and she takes a shaky breath.

“Are you serious, Theo?” she breathes, her voice shaking with emotion.

“More serious than I’ve ever been in my life,” I reply, my own eyes welling up with tears.

“Then yes,” Oakley says, her voice stronger now. “Yes, Theo, Gray, Reid…I’ll marry you.”

The warmth of Oakley’s hands sends a jolt through me as I hold them gently in mine, the intensity of our connection amplified by the surreal events unfolding around us. Her green eyes meet mine, shimmering with tears of happiness.

“Oakley, I need you to know,” I begin, my voice low and heavy with emotion, “how much I love you. When I first met you, I knew there was something special about you. Your strength, your kindness, your fiery spirit—all these things drew me to you like a moth to a flame.”

“Okay,” the priest says, taking a deep breath and looking at each of us in turn. “Let us begin.”

“Wait,” Oakley interrupts softly, her voice trembling. “Before we start, I just want to say…thank you. To all of you.” She looks at me, then Reid and Gray, her gaze filled with gratitude and trust. “This is…unexpected. But I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Thank you for standing by me.”

“Always,” Gray murmurs, his warm brown eyes filled with reassurance. I notice how his hand finds Oakley’s other one, offering her additional support.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Reid chimes in, his teasing tone barely masking the genuine affection behind his words.

“Neither would I,” I add, my voice thick with emotion. I squeeze Oakley’s hand gently, trying to convey the depth of my feelings without words.

With that, the priest continues, guiding us through the exchange of vows. As each of us speaks, I can feel the intensity of our connection growing stronger, binding us together in a way I never thought possible.

“I promise to cherish and protect you, to be your partner in all things, and to love you fiercely, without reservation,” Gray says, his voice steady and full of conviction.

“Oakley, I promise to always make you laugh, to challenge you, and to be there for you, no matter what,” Reid adds, a mischievous glint in his bright green eyes.

“Oakley,” I say, my voice heavy with emotion, “I promise to love you and stand by your side for the rest of our days. I will never let you down.”

“Gray, Reid, Theo…” Oakley’s voice wavers as she speaks her vows. “I promise to love each of you deeply, passionately, and completely. I’ll be there for you in good times and bad, and I will always be your rock when you need me. We may have formed this family unexpectedly, but I promise to cherish it every day.”

As we finish our vows, the priest pronounces us husband and wife—or rather, husbands and wife. The moment feels surreal, like a dream I’m afraid to wake up from. But as I look into Oakley’s eyes, shining with happiness and determination, I know that this is real.

The End