Page 4 of Three Pucking Wedding Dates

“Trust me, I already did when I found them together,” Oakley says, a mix of pride and anger in her voice. “I punched him right in the face, so don’t bother going after him. He’s not worth your time.”

I can’t help the smirk that comes to my lips at the fact that she hit him. She’s always been sassy, but never violent. Who is this girl? She’s not the Oakley I remember, and I like that.

I move closer to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You deserve so much better than Dan, Oakley. You always have. You have other options, better options.”

Oakley bites her bottom lip. “Like you?”

I don’t hesitate. “Oakley, you know I’ve always wanted to be something more with you,” I confess, trying to keep my tone light and playful to mask the intensity of my emotions.

She rolls her eyes, clearly uncomfortable with the direction our conversation is taking. “Gray, you’re my best friend, but my answer is still the same. I can’t date you, because I can’t risk anything going wrong—can’t risk losing you or your brothers. You’re too important to me.”

Nothing would go wrong. I wouldn’t let it, but I don’t bother to say the words out loud.

The sting of her words is sharp, but I swallow down my disappointment, recognizing that now isn’t the time to push her on this topic. Instead, I shift gears and offer an alternative. “How about coming back home with me for a while? We could all use some time together, and it might help take your mind off things.”

“Home with you?” she echoes, confusion furrowing her brow. “To New York? Why?”

“Because it would be fun to have the gang back together, especially with the Stanley Cup approaching,” I explain, a smile tugging at my lips. “Theo and Reid haven’t seen you in ages, and they miss you. Besides, the big city might help you take your mind off everything going on with your family.”

I watch as she chews her bottom lip, clearly torn between wanting a distraction from her troubles and the uncertainty of leaving her familiar surroundings. “I don’t know, Gray. It sounds nice, but?—”

“Trust me, Oakley. You need this,” I insist gently, placing a hand on her arm.

She hesitates for another moment. “I appreciate the offer, but I have work?—”

“And I know you have weeks of vacation time stored up, that you never use,” I interrupt, unable to let her slip away so easily. “I booked your ticket last night. You deserve a break, Oakley.”

Her eyes widen in disbelief, clearly caught off guard by my bold move. “You did what?” Her voice is a mix of shock and amusement.

“Yep. We fly back tonight—we need to leave for the airport in about an hour.” I flash a cheeky grin, hoping my determination will sway her. “So, you don’t really have a choice, because it’s too late to get a refund, and you wouldn’t want me wasting money, right?”

Oakley bursts into laughter, shaking her head at my persistence. “You’re unbelievable, Gray,” she says, her green eyes sparkling with mirth. “And apparently rich, if you can afford to buy tickets on a whim.”

“Hey, it’s all part of being an NHL player,” I reply, shrugging modestly. Then, my voice takes on a more earnest tone. “But seriously, Oakley, we need you there. You’ve always been our lucky charm, and we have some important games coming up. The championship game is actually the day before the wedding. So, if you want us as your dates, well…it’s only fair that you do something for us too, right?”

She bites her lip, considering my words. I hold my breath, praying that my charisma will win her over. After a moment, she sighs and rolls her eyes playfully. “Alright, fine. I can’t believeI’m agreeing to this, but you’ve always been impossible to say no to.”

“Thank goodness for that,” I chuckle, relieved that she’s finally given in.

She rushes to her laptop to quickly ask for the time off, grinning at her own spontaneity as she emails her work and fills out a PTO form. But my smile falters as Oakley begins to gather a few of her things. I watch her move around the apartment, grabbing clothes and toiletries with an air of determination. A flicker of doubt tugs at my heart, reminding me that she’s always rejected me where it matters most.

But things are different now.

3

OAKLEY

The fluorescent lights of the airport terminal buzz above my seat, my leg bouncing uncontrollably. My eyes dart between the clock on the wall and the gate to our flight, waiting for the inevitable call to board the plane. Anxiety gnaws at the pit of my stomach, my fingernails finding their way to my mouth as I chew on them.

“Hey, Oakley.” Gray’s voice draws my attention away from my nervous habit. He stands before me, holding a small bag of food with a gentle smile. “I got you some snacks. Thought you might be hungry.”

“Thanks, Gray.” I force a smile, trying to keep up appearances. I glance at the offered food but politely decline. “I’m not really hungry right now.”

His warm brown eyes study me for a moment, his concern evident. “You sure? You seem a little off.”

I sigh, hesitating before answering. “It’s just…I’m not a big fan of flying, you know?”

Somehow, I’d completely forgotten the fear back at my apartment when he invited me to come…

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