Page 43 of Pucking the Team

I wish I could believe her, but the knot of dread in my stomach says otherwise.

The moment we step into our apartment, I collapse onto the couch, every ounce of strength sapped from my body. Selena sits beside me and pulls me into a tight hug.

“It’s going to be okay, sweetie,” she murmurs, stroking my hair. “You were so brave to be honest with them.”

I nod against her shoulder, but the tears keep flowing. “W-what if they can’t handle it? What if they make me choose?”

“Then we’ll get through that together,” Selena says. “What’s the best outcome for you here?”

I sniffle again, the sound echoing in our apartment. “I honestly don’t know, Lena. I’ve never been in a situation like this before. If I can date them all a little bit more, maybe I…I can figure out which one of them I’m supposed to be with?”

Selena gives me a long look and then says, “And what if you’re supposed to be with more than one of them? What if your heart tells you that you should be with all of them?”

My throat suddenly feels dry. “I don’t know,” I repeat. “I’ve never considered being polyamorous before. But what if I am? And what if they don’t want that?”

“Then they don’t deserve you,” Selena says firmly. “Em, you have the biggest heart of anyone I know. If they can’t see how special that is, then that’s on them.”

I know she’s right, but the uncertainty is eating me alive.

CHAPTER 19

SLADE

I shake my head as I listen to Lukas and Alex recount their steamy encounter with Emma in the conference room and everything that’s happened in the weeks since—the relationship forms, the secret hookups around the building, the texting. The three of us are nursing cups of strong coffee in our sleek, modern kitchen after a grueling early morning practice.

I’m not sure how to take what they’re telling me. A small, insistent part of me is deeply jealous. Emma and I haven’t talked much since that first night at The Gilded Lily, but from the moment I laid eyes on her, I felt we were two magnets that had been waiting our whole lives to snap together. Even though we’ve barely spoken since that electric first meeting, she’s been on my mind constantly.

And hearing about the things she’s done with my boys…well, it just makes me want her even more. My cock twitches in my shorts as I imagine her full lips wrapped around it, putting myself in Alex’s place.

But I squash that feeling down and concentrate on the bigger part of me that knows these guys are engaging in a dangerous situation.

“Guys, I think Emma is bad news,” I say, my voice low and serious. “Getting involved with a colleague is never a good idea, especially not one who’s playing the field.”

Lukas laughs. “Since when are you the voice of reason, Slade?” His eyes gleam with mischief.

“Yeah, this is so not like you, man.” Alex raises a dark eyebrow at me over the rim of his mug. “Usually you’re the first one to say go for it when there’s a hot chick involved.”

I roll my eyes and take a swig of the strong brew, letting the heat burn down my throat. They’re not wrong. Normally I’d be all over a mantrap like Emma, no hesitation. But this feels different somehow.

“I’m just saying, this has the potential to get real messy, real fast. Inter-office romance never ends well.” I lean back against the granite countertop and cross my arms. “Plus, it sounds like she’s juggling more than just you two.”

Alex and Lukas exchange a loaded glance. An unspoken understanding passes between them.

“Maybe,” Alex allows. “But I’m telling you, Slade, there’s just something about this girl. I can’t shake the feeling that she could be…more, you know?”

I do know. As much as I hate to admit it, I’m intrigued by Emma Collins. The brief encounters we’ve had have left me wanting to unravel the enticing contradictions of her—the bold confidence warring with an underlying vulnerability. The razor-sharp mind and that lush, tempting body…

Lukas drains the last of his coffee and sets the mug in the sink with a resolute clink. “Look, Slade, we’ve made up our minds. We’re going to see where this thing with Emma leads.” His gaze bore into mine, unwavering. “But we could really use your help.”

I raise an eyebrow. “What do you need me to do?”

Alex leans forward, his expression grave. “We need you to talk to Ryan.”

A sinking feeling starts to churn in my gut. “Ryan? What’s he got to do with this?”

“At the hospital, we found out that Ryan’s been seeing Emma too,” Alex reveals, looking decidedly uncomfortable.

“And you know how Ryan is,” Lukas adds. “The guy’s not exactly the sharing type.”

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