Page 85 of Three Pucking Wedding Dates

Afew days after returning to New York, I step inside the stadium toward the end of a practice, the air cool and crisp. Excitement bubbles in my chest as I scan the ice, searching for Theo amongst the players practicing. There he is, his chiseled features and powerful frame unmistakable even from a distance.

“Go get ’em, Theo!” I shout, my voice lost in the cacophony of grunts, whistles, and the crashing of bodies against one another. I can’t help but grin as I watch him weave through his teammates, his movements fluid and precise like a well-oiled machine.

I sit on the edge of the stadium’s steps, then pull out my phone and dial Iris’s number once again, sighing when it goes straight to voicemail. “Come on, Iris,” I mutter under my breath, my frustration growing.

“Hey, it’s Iris! Sorry I can’t take your call right now, but leave a message and I’ll get back to you ASAP!” her bubbly voice echoes through the speaker, clashing with my current mood.

“Hey, Iris, it’s Oakley. Again.” My fingers tap against the screen as I continue, “I’m just wondering why you’ve been avoiding me lately. Hope you’re okay. Call me back, please.”

I end the call and shove the phone back into my pocket, trying to push away the negative thoughts swirling in my head.Maybe she’s just busy, I tell myself. But the sinking feeling in my stomach won’t go away.

Needing a distraction, I pull up the text conversation between Theo and me about the dance class.I promise we’ll be back before the championships, I had written, the words jumping off the screen as if to reassure me.

Count on it, Theo had replied. His short, direct response should have been enough to quell my worries, but I can’t help but think about the commitment we made to each other. Things between all four of us since Hawaii have been…good. Really good. But there’s a sense that we’re heading toward having to make some hard decisions.

“Oakley?” a familiar voice calls out, cutting through my thoughts.

I look up to see Theo approaching, his tall, athletic figure casting a long shadow across the field. The sunlight catches the edges of his dark hair, making him look ethereal despite the brooding expression on his face.

“Hey,” I manage, offering him a small smile. “I was just thinking about our plans for the dance class.”

“Are you sure about this?” he asks, concern flickering in his piercing blue eyes. “We don’t have to go if you’re not comfortable.”

As the practice winds down, I lean against the railing, taking in the sights and sounds around me. The air buzzes with energy, making my skin tingle with anticipation. Soon enough, the boys will be competing in the championships, and I’ll be right there cheering them on.

When the final whistle blows, signaling the end of practice, I make my way to the locker rooms, ready to congratulate Theo and the others on their hard work. But as the players flood out, something seems off. They’re avoiding eye contact, whispering amongst themselves, and giving me a wide berth.

“Hey, Reid, Gray,” I call out, spotting the pair emerging from the locker room. “What’s going on? Why is everyone acting so weird?”

Reid scratches the back of his neck, his bright green eyes darting between me and the other players. “Well, Oakley,” he begins, hesitating slightly. “We didn’t say anything, I swear. But I think they’re starting to get the sense that you’re with us…all of us.

“They haven’t said anything directly or caused any problems,” Gray hastens to reassure me, “and we’d set them straight if they did, but I they’re just starting to think our relationship with you is a little…unusual.”

“Unusual or not,” I retort, my determination resurfacing, “I’m not going anywhere. They’ll just have to get used to it.”

“Spoken like a true badass,” Reid chuckles, and I can’t help but smile back.

I laugh. “If anything, it’s kind of amusing.”

“Really?” Gray raises an eyebrow, clearly not expecting this response.

“Sure, why not?” I shrug. “It’s not like I’m going to let their gossip get to me. Besides, I have something else on my mind.” My excitement bubbles up, and I can’t help but share the news with them. “Theo and I are going to practice dancing at a class back in our hometown before the championships!”

“Wait, what?” Gray’s surprise is evident, his warm brown eyes widening. Reid looks equally taken aback, his mouth hanging open slightly.

“Yup!” I nod, unable to contain my enthusiasm. “I mentioned it to Theo earlier, and he volunteered to go with me.”

Gray frowns, looking slightly hurt. “Why didn’t you ask me? I could’ve gone with you.”

“Gray, it wasn’t that I didn’t want you there,” I explain, trying to reassure him. “Theo offered, and I figured it would be good for both of us to have some extra practice. He’ll be the one dancing with me in the opening dance at the wedding reception.”

Lowering my voice, I add, “Plus, I think it’s important for Theo and me to work on our friendship and trust, especially after everything that’s happened between us.”

Gray sighs, his expression softening as he nods in understanding. “Alright, I get it. Just promise me you’ll have fun and enjoy yourself, okay?”

“Of course!” I grin, giving his arm a light punch. “And don’t worry, I won’t forget about my favorite dance partner back here.”

“Good.” Gray smiles, clearly relieved. “Just make sure you come back even better than before, so we can show them what we’re made of.”

---