Page 117 of Three Hockey Hotties

“Then maybe don’t kiss a wall next time,” Dash says, giving him a grin.

“Fuck you.”

Dash claps Kane on the leg. “No, seriously, bro, you need to stay here. We’ll go get Abby. If it’s any consolation you getting your brains scrambled is the reason Abby has realized she should be here with us.”

Kane reflects on this. “Then I’m a fucking hero. Go get our girl, boys. Bring her home.”

“We’re on it. I’ll tell the staff we’re leaving, and I’ll call one of the other players to be on standby to pick you up if we’re not back before you’re discharged. You cool with that? Unless you want Dash to stay with you.”

“Hell, no. I’m fine by myself. Just go.”

I pat his leg, feeling the best I’ve felt all day.

Kane is fine.

And Abby wants to be here, with us.

“Let’s do this,” Dash says. “I can’t stand the idea that Abby is upset.”

“Not for long.”

CHAPTER 25

ABBY

I don’t know how many times I have paced back and forth across my parents’ kitchen since Benjamin’s phone call, but by the time I hear their garage door going up, I want to sob with relief. I swear the two hours that have passed have felt like two years.

I realize that I asked to come and stay with no notice, and my mom did invite me to join them at their best friends’ home for dinner tonight, but I wasn’t in the mood for socializing, so I declined and planned to eat something healthy, read a book, and just enjoy some alone time.

Instead, I’d eaten ice cream straight from the carton while watching a rom-com, and realized that sitting on a couch, eating ice cream, and watching someone else fall in love—even fictionally—really sucks compared to cuddling on a couch, eating ice cream, and actually living the rom-com that has become my real life. Watching TV and eating ice cream alone has now been ruined forever because I fell in love.

I’d thought about how much I should ask for my couch when I sold it online and what I would eat instead of ice cream for the rest of my life.

And then I’d realized I was being stupid.

Really, really stupid.

Why would I give up sitting on couches and eating ice cream with the three best men I’ve ever known? Three men who have become some of my best friends as well as my lovers and three people who love and support and want me no matter what?

I’m not sick now.

I might never get sick again.

Or I might.

But if I do, where do I want to be? Who do I want to be with? Who do I trust to be there with me, for me, taking care of me, loving me?

Kane, Dash, and Benjamin. No question.

Would it be hard on them?

Of course.

But they would want to be there with me. And they’d have each other to help them through it.

So I’d been putting my ice cream away and getting ready to call them when Benjamin had called me.

And now I’ve been sitting here—well, pacing here—alone for two hours when all I want is to be with them.