Page 69 of They All Puck Me

Ethan crosses his arms, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "You mean the one with the overpriced coffee?"

"Yeah, that one," Liam says dryly. "Noah, you text her."

I pull out my phone and type a quick message to Olivia, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and nerves.

"Hey Liv,

Can we meet tomorrow at Jitters Café? Around 10 AM? There's something important we need to talk about."

I hit send and look up at Liam and Ethan. "Done. Now we just have to hope she says yes."

Liam gives me a reassuring nod while Ethan claps me on the shoulder. "She will," he says with surprising confidence.

"You know," I say with a grin, feeling lighter than I have in weeks, "this might just be the start of something good."

Liam claps me on the shoulder while Ethan smirks in agreement.

We leave the rink together, our steps echoing in unison down the empty corridors. As we reach the parking lot, I feel a sense of camaraderie with these two men who have become more than just teammates—they're part of something bigger now.

27

OLIVIA

Isit in my favorite coffee shop, nervously tapping my pen against my notebook. The completed article on the Northstar Wolves is spread out in front of me, freshly published and still warm from the printer. The café is bustling, but I’m too lost in my thoughts to notice the clatter of dishes or the murmur of conversations around me.

The bell above the door jingles, and I look up instinctively. My heart skips a beat as I see Liam, Noah, and Ethan walk in together. They spot me almost immediately and start heading in my direction. Confusion and hope battle for dominance within me as they approach.

As they approach my table, I notice something different about their dynamic. The usual tension is gone, replaced by a sense of unity that both intrigues and unnerves me. I straighten in my chair, trying to brace myself for whatever they’re about to say.

"It's good to see you Olivia," Noah says with a smile as he pulls out a chair in front of him. He always has a way of putting me at ease. Even If I feel like I'm going to vomit in my coffee mug at any minute.

They sit down, forming a semicircle around me. The sight of them so close makes my heart race. Ethan graces me with a small smile, that is quickly replaced by her serious face. The one I know just masks all the goodness he has inside.

Liam speaks first, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of nervousness. "Olivia, we need to talk to you about something important."

"Uhm, okay?" I respond, my knees knocking against each other under the table because I'm so fucking nervous.

Noah leans across the table and grabs my hand. "We know this might sound crazy," he begins, his brown eyes earnest. "But we've been talking, and... we have a proposal for you."

I swallow hard, glancing at each of them in turn. "A proposal," I say cautiously. "You have the floor."

Liam leans forward, his blue eyes locking onto mine. "We’ve realized that this situation between us is... unique," he says slowly. "And it’s clear we all care about you deeply."

Ethan nods, his usually guarded expression surprisingly open. "We’ve decided that instead of fighting over you, we want to try something different," he says.

My mind races with possibilities, none of them making any sense. "What are you suggesting?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Noah squeezes my hand gently before letting go. "We’re suggesting that we try to make this work... together," he says.

I blink at him, trying to process what he’s saying. "You mean... all three of you? And me?"

Liam nods. "Exactly," he says firmly. "We know it’s unconventional, but we think it could work if we’re all honest and open with each other."

I look at Ethan, searching for any sign of doubt in his dark eyes. Instead, I find determination. "We’re willing to give it a shot if you are," he says quietly.

My head spins as I try to wrap my mind around their proposal. This kind of arrangement isn’t exactly something I’d ever considered possible, let alone practical. But as I look at each of them—Liam’s steadfast gaze, Noah’s hopeful smile, Ethan’s quiet intensity—I realize that they’re serious.

“You guys have really thought this through?” I ask, my voice tinged with disbelief.

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