Page 30 of Three Pucking Wedding Dates

“Take it easy,” Gray advises, his hand hovering near my elbow as if ready to catch me should I stumble. “You’ll get the hang of it again in no time.”

“Right.” With a deep breath, I follow Gray and Reid onto the ice, my heart pounding in my chest. It’s been years since I last skated, and I can’t help but wonder if I still have what it takes to glide gracefully across the ice like I used to.

“Ready?” Reid asks, holding out his hand for support.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply, taking his hand and stepping onto the ice with more determination than I feel.

The cold air stings my cheeks as I step onto the ice, feeling the familiar weight of the skates on my feet. My heart clenches, and I blink back tears that threaten to spill over. The memories come rushing back—the early mornings at the rink, the smell of the ice, the sound of laughter echoing through the air.

“Hey, you okay?” Reid’s voice pulls me from my thoughts, concern etched on his handsome face.

“Yeah,” I whisper, sniffling and brushing away a stray tear. “Just…a lot of memories.”

Reid nods, understanding in his eyes, and offers his hand. “Let’s get you back into the swing of things, huh?”

I hesitate for a moment before wrapping my fingers around his strong, warm hand. As we set off together, I feel my legs wobble beneath me, unsteady after all these years.

“Easy there,” Reid chuckles softly, steadying me with a firm grip on my waist. “It’ll come back to you, Oakley. Just take it slow.”

“Right.” I take a deep breath, focusing on the sensation of the blades cutting through the ice beneath me. With each shaky stride, I feel my confidence returning, and Reid’s reassuring presence bolsters me further.

“See? You’re getting the hang of it already.” Reid grins, his green eyes shining with pride.

Warmth floods my chest as I realize how much I’ve missed this feeling.

“Look at you go, Oakley!” Gray exclaims, his warm brown eyes filled with admiration.

“Thanks,” I reply, a grin stretching across my face. The more I skate, the more I feel that sense of lightness, freedom, and happiness I haven’t experienced in years. It’s breathtaking, intoxicating even, and I find myself laughing from sheer joy.

“Alright, try this,” Reid challenges, playfully nudging my shoulder before taking off at a swift pace.

“Hey, wait up!” I call out, picking up speed as I chase after him. Gray follows closely behind, and our laughter echoes through the cold air.

“Can’t catch me!” Reid teases, looking back at me over his shoulder, his wavy blond hair whipping around his face.

“Is that so?” I shoot back, determination fueling my strides. My heart races with adrenaline.

“Almost got you!” Gray chimes in, making a daring leap to close the gap between himself and Reid, their competitive spirits igniting.

My inner thoughts bubble up as we continue to skate together. “I can’t believe how much I’ve missed this,” For a moment, I allow myself to forget the pain of recent events.

“Okay, okay, truce!” Reid finally relents, slowing down and raising his hands in mock surrender. We all come to a stop, panting and grinning like children.

“See? I told you we’d catch you,” I tease, nudging Reid with my elbow.

“Only because you had Gray’s help,” he retorts playfully before pulling me into a one-armed hug.

“Hey, what can I say? Teamwork makes the dream work,” Gray chuckles, patting Reid on the back.

“Indeed it does,” I agree, feeling a swell of gratitude and happiness in my chest.

I glance around the rink and spot Theo, leaning against the railing on the sidelines, his eyes locked on Reid and Gray as they skate. The sight tugs at my heartstrings—it’s not like him to be so distant…or, at least, it wasn’t always.

“Hey, Theo!” I call out, skating toward him, feeling the ice beneath me as if it were a second skin. “Why don’t you come join us? It’s more fun than it looks!”

He turns to face me, his blue eyes icy and distant. “I’m fine right here,” he replies curtly, his tone colder than the air surrounding us.

“Come on, don’t be such a killjoy,” I push, giving him a teasing smile in hopes of breaking through that wall he’s built around himself. “You know you want to.”

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