Page 31 of Three Pucking Wedding Dates

“Oakley,” he snaps, his voice laced with irritation, “I’m not interested in doing anything with you, alright? I’m just here for my brothers.”

His words sting, slicing through me like the sharp edge of a skate. For a moment, I stand there in shock, unable to process what he’s just said. Is this really the same man who once held me close and whispered sweet nothings in my ear?

“Fine,” I mutter under my breath, swallowing the lump of hurt that’s suddenly formed in my throat. “I was just trying to be nice.”

“Maybe it’s time you stopped,” Theo retorts, his expression unreadable.

My chest tightens as I force back the tears threatening to spill over. Turning away from him, I skate back toward Reid and Gray, determined to not let Theo’s cruel dismissal ruin an otherwise magical evening. Every glide and spin seems to echo my rising emotions, and I can’t help but wonder how things went so wrong between us.

Reid’s strong arms encircle my waist. “Hey,” he says, his voice gentle and warm, like a soothing balm for my wounded heart. “Remember how I used to throw you when we were younger?”

I blink back the tears that threaten to spill from my eyes, forcing a smile onto my face as I nod. “Yeah, I remember. You’d toss me into the air like I weighed nothing at all.” A faint laugh escapes my lips, the sound hollow and unconvincing. Still, it seems to do the trick, as Reid’s eyes light up with excitement.

“Think we can still pull it off?” he asks, an impish grin playing on his lips.

“Are you kidding?” I retort, momentarily forgetting my hurt as I arch an eyebrow at him. “You’ve been lifting weights since then, and I haven’t gained that much weight. We should be able to do it.”

“Alright then,” Reid replies, his green eyes sparkling with determination. “Let’s give it a shot.”

I hesitantly place my hands on Reid’s shoulders, feeling the solid muscles tense beneath my fingers. My pulse quickens as we lock eyes, and for a moment, I’m transported back to our carefree days on the ice. “Ready?” I ask, my voice barely more than a whisper.

“Always,” he replies, his grip tightening around my waist. “Are you?”

“I have no idea.”

With a deep breath, I brace myself for what’s about to happen. First Reid begins to spin us, and then Reid releases me and I soar through the air.

Time seems to slow as I rotate in midair, my body instinctively knowing what to do even after all these years. And when Reid catches me, our bodies melding together seamlessly as we land back on the ice, I can’t help but let out a whoop of joy.

“See?” Reid grins as he sets me down, his breath hot against my ear. “Told you we still had it.”

I laugh. “You were right,” I admit, feeling the warmth of his embrace chase away the chill that Theo’s cold words left behind. “We still make a great team.”

“It’s been so long since I’ve done anything like that.”

“Are you having fun?” Gray asks, his voice soft with genuine concern.

“Actually…yes,” I admit, surprised by the words even as they leave my lips. “I didn’t expect to enjoy this so much.”

“Good,” he says, squeezing my hand gently. “You deserve to have fun, Oakley.”

My chest tightens with emotion as I gaze into his sincere eyes. It’s hard to believe that just a short time ago, my world felt shattered and bleak. But now, surrounded by these men who care for me, I feel a glimmer of hope.

“Thank you, Gray,” I whisper, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. “For everything.”

“Anytime, Oakley,” he replies, pulling me into a warm embrace. “We’re here for you, no matter what.”

As we hug, I steal a glance at Reid, who’s watching us with a tender smile, and Theo, who still stands apart, his expression inscrutable. Despite the lingering hostility from Theo, I can’t deny the powerful connection I share with these men—a bond that grows stronger with each passing moment.

“Come on,” Gray says, releasing me from his embrace and taking my hand. “Let’s keep skating.”

“Okay,” I agree, my heart swelling with gratitude as we skate away, our laughter mingling with the crisp winter air.

15

OAKLEY

Surprisingly enough, the ice rink is even more breathtaking at night, the twinkling lights casting a magical glow over the slick surface. A few couples continue to glide gracefully around the rink, their laughter echoing through the air. I lean against the railing, my ice skates dangling from my fingers as I gaze up at the moon, its silvery light reflected on the ice below.

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