Page 68 of Three Pucking Wedding Dates

His sudden appearance catches me off guard, and I blink at him in surprise. What does he know about my struggles with my wicked stepmother? And why would he even care?

“Wow, do you actually care?” I blurt out, a mix of surprise and snarkiness coloring my tone.

Theo’s eyes soften, and he gives me a small, almost hesitant smile. “Yeah, Oakley, I do.”

His sincerity catches me off guard, and I find myself at a loss for words. I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure. “Well, it went well, thanks to Iris,” I admit, glancing toward my red-haired friend who’s currently laughing with Reid by the water.

“Are we going to talk about earlier?” I ask tentatively, curiosity getting the best of me. But before Theo can answer, I notice Avery approaching us with a grin on her face, and I quickly change my tune. “Never mind, now isn’t the time,” I say, nodding toward our friend.

Theo’s sigh seems to echo my own thoughts as the tension shifts, and he turns to walk away without another word. I watch him go, his tall figure retreating toward the shoreline where Reid and Gray are splashing about in the water.

“Men, am I right?” Avery says with a smirk, and I can’t help but laugh at her attempt to lighten the mood. She’s always been good at sensing when things are getting too heavy and finding a way to bring us back to earth.

“Totally,” I reply, my eyes lingering on Theo for just a moment longer before turning back to her. “Anyway, I’m just here to relax and read. No need to get caught up in all that…whatever it was.”

“Sounds like a plan!” Avery agrees, settling down beside me on the warm sand. The sun is high in the sky now, casting a golden glow over everything, and I take a deep breath, letting the salty sea air fill my lungs.

I reach for my book, fingers tracing the worn cover as I open it to the page I’d dog-eared earlier. The words pull me in, my mind quickly becoming lost in the steamy romance unfolding on the pages. For now, I push aside any lingering thoughts of Theo and the confusing emotions his presence stirs within me.

36

GRAY

“Hey, Gray!” Iris calls out, her red curls bouncing as she swims closer to me. Her hazel eyes sparkle with mischief, always ready for the next adventure. “Avery and I are heading back, but you should stay and enjoy the water as long as you want.”

I glance over at Avery, who offers a friendly wave before starting to gather their belongings from the sand.

“Have fun, you two!” I call out as they make their way out of the water.

As they leave, I turn my attention back to the water, letting the waves carry away any lingering stress or worries. The beach has always been a sanctuary for me, a place where I can find solace amidst the chaos of life.

“Hey, Gray, you planning on staying here?” Reid’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.

“Maybe for a little while longer,” I reply, my gaze wandering back toward the shore. That’s when I spot Oakley, sitting on the sand, engrossed in a book. The sight of her in that two-piece swimsuit makes my heart race, her natural elegance on full display. She looks so peaceful, her wavy brown hair cascading down her back as the sea breeze teases at its ends.

“Go get her, tiger,” Reid teases, his tone light and flirtatious.

A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth as I start making my way toward the shoreline.

The warm sand shifts beneath my feet as I approach Oakley, mulling over Reid’s playful suggestion. A mischievous idea forms in my mind, and I decide to surprise her. I tread lightly across the beach, careful not to attract her attention.

“Ah!” Oakley jumps as I snatch the book from her hands, her startled green eyes meeting mine. “Gray! What the hell?”

“Sorry, couldn’t resist,” I grin, holding the book out of her reach. “What have we got here?” I ask, flipping through the pages.

“Give it back,” she demands, her voice laced with sass. She reaches for the book, but I keep it just beyond her grasp.

“Let’s see…” I say, feigning interest in her reading material. My eyes land on a particularly steamy passage, and I can’t help but tease her. “Oh, wow, Oakley, I didn’t know you were into this kind of romance.” I read a few lines aloud, making sure to emphasize the more explicit parts.

“Gray!” Oakley exclaims, her face turning an even deeper shade of red. “Stop it!”

“Who knew you had such…tastes?” I chuckle, thoroughly enjoying her flustered reaction.

“Shut up,” she grumbles, attempting to snatch the book away again. “You’re just jealous because you don’t have time to read anything other than hockey stats.”

“Maybe you’re right,” I admit, feigning defeat. “Or maybe I’m just curious about what gets Oakley Price all hot and bothered.”

“Ugh, you’re insufferable,” she huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. “Now give me my book back.”

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