Page 31 of Three Pucks and a Baby

Theo nodded. “Since this is all about getting to know each other, we wanted you to get an up-close view of our world.”

“And after that, we’re going to do a little ice skating,” Grayson said.

I swallowed hard. “We are?”

Theo cocked his brows at me. “Don’t tell me you’ve never been ice skating?”

“Not exactly.”

“What does that mean?”

I sighed. “I did as a kid. Well, until I was around nine and sprained my ankle.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that because we’re not going to let anything bad happen to you,” Grayson said.

“You won’t?”

While he nodded, Theo said, “Can you imagine trying to fuck two men on crutches or in a cast?”

At my gasp of horror, Theo winked at me. “I’m just teasing you, Vivian.”

“I certainly hope so,” I huffed.

The guys chuckled as we pulled up to the back of the Ice Den, as it was known. I’d barely unbuckled my seatbelt when Grayson was opening the door for me.

As we walked to the entrance, I glanced around. To my surprise, it didn’t appear there were any other cars in the parking lot. “So, it’s just us?”

“Yep,” Theo replied as he unlocked the door.

“How did you guys swing that?”

“Coach likes all of us to have keys and alarm codes to the training rink in case we want to get in some work outside of practice hours.”

“And there’s no cleaning crew either?”

Theo cocked his brows at me. “What’s going on, Viv?”

With a shake of my head, I replied, “Nothing.”

“What did I say about lying?” Theo warned.

Sighing, I replied, “Fine. My best friend put a lot of ridiculous worries in my head about this date.”

Grayson furrowed her brows. “Like we were going to try to get you alone to take advantage of you?”

“More like getting me alone to kill me.”

“Jesus,” Theo muttered as Grayson’s eyes popped wide.

“I know. It’s crazy.I’mcrazy to even think that.” With a nervous laugh, I said, “Like what are you guys going to do? Run me over with a Zamboni? Hack me to death with a stick? Bludgeon me with a puck?”

While the corners of Theo’s lips quirked, Grayson merely stared at me in horror. “You think we could do that?”

“No. It’s just my nerves manifesting in ridiculous ways.”

Theo took my hand. “Tonight is all about building trust.” With a grin, he added, “And apparently, we have a hell of a long way to go.”

I held my hands up. “I do trust you.” At their expressions of disbelief, I said, “I swear.”

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