Page 112 of The Triple Play

“Thanks, Dan.” My heart thudded heavier than usual in my chest as I slipped in.

The hallway lights flickered overhead, and I followed the familiar path down toward the rink, the soles of my boots echoing with each step. The air was colder the closer I got, the sharp smell of ice and sweat crawling into my lungs.

I pulled open the heavy door to the rink and blinked into the darkness.

What the hell?

Only the glow of a few red EXIT signs cut through the black. The door shut behind me, and I pulled out my phone, flicking on the flashlight and pulling up the location app. Three little dots — Colton, Xavi, Cole. They were still in the building. Still here.

“Guys?” I called out, stepping forward slowly, the sound of my voice eaten by the cavernous space. I walked up to the boards, leaning over the side exit. “This isn’t funny if you’re trying to be creepy.”

Still nothing.

I held up my phone, casting a glow over a few feet of ice, the boards, the empty stands behind me. “Okay, seriously, if one of you jumps out in a mask, I won’t hesitate to punch you in the throat.”

Something flickered behind me, and?—

I nearly tripped backward from the blinding light that assaulted my senses. Every single stadium light burst on at once as if we were at a game, harsh and blindingly bright. I recoiled, shielding my eyes, everything far too white. I blinked hard, lashes fluttering against the sting, until the white-hot blur finally started to shape itself into things I could make sense of.

Ice.

Boards.

Movement.

Movement?

Colton stepped out onto the rink from the far entrance, gliding with that easy, obnoxious grace he always had on skates. His dimple was out and proud, that crooked smirk meaning I was either going to be very flustered or very annoyed.

“Don’t freak out,” he said casually, holding up his hands in a mock surrender. “Okay, sweetheart?”

My eyes narrowed at him. “What are you?—”

Another blur of motion from the other side of the rink had my head turning.

Xavi coasted out slowly, arms behind his back like he was trying to pretend he wasn’t vibrating with something. His hair was messier than usual, like he’d been running his hands through it too many times. He didn’t smile, but he wasn’t frowning, either — just that casual, intense gaze as he skated near me, his eyes piercing mine.

“Hi, Annie,” he said softly. “We’ve been thinking a lot about what the best course of action is… for you and for the baby. In terms of security.”

Security?

“What—”

And then Cole appeared. He didn’t bother pretending like he wasn’t excited for whatever this was. His grin was all teeth, something he normally didn’t sport unless someone had made him laugh hard enough to crack through that outer layer, and he gave me a wave like this was all completely normal, just an average Tuesday.

“If we’re being totally honest, darling, we’re just kind of crazy about you. But also,” he made a face and shrugged, “you desperately need better insurance, and we’ve got some of the best.”

I just stared at the three of them, my mouth dry, my heart somewhere between my ribs and the ceiling. “What the hell is going on?” I asked, my voice cracking a little.

They didn’t answer. They moved instead, forming up some kind of carefully choreographed triangle on the ice. Colton at the front, standing closest to me, with Xavi and Cole sliding in right behind him, each flanking his sides.

Colton was rocking on his skates, shifting his weight back and forth like he couldn’t stand still.

Xavi’s eyes hadn’t left me once, his jaw a little tight like he was barely holding it together.

Cole looked like he was trying not to laugh from nerves.

“Guys,” I pressed.

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