Page 164 of Well That Happened

Hunter moves behind me, pulling me gently into his lap, strong arms wrapping around my middle like I might float away if he doesn’t anchor me.

His chin rests on my shoulder, lips brushing the side of my neck. “Tell us if anything hurts.”

“Except your pride,” Caleb adds, smirking.

Grayson rolls his eyes. “Let her breathe, Romeo.”

But none of them let go.

And I don’t want them to.

Because this—this quiet mess of cuddles and teasing and gentle hands and whispered praise—this is what love looks like in this house.

And I’ve never felt more taken care of.

Or moretheirs.

“Baby?” Caleb says around a yawn.

“Yeah?” I reach up, absently stroking the stubble on his jaw.

“Dibs on fucking your ass next.”

We all chuckle, and Grayson throws a pillow at him.

Grayson’s arm is slung over my waist, his breathing deep and steady behind me. Caleb’s in front, one leg thrown possessively over mine, his hand curled around my wrist like he needs to know I’m there. Hunter’s further back, not quite touching but close enough to radiate heat—and comfort. And I’m tangled between three bodies that feel like home.

It’s silent, except for the soft whir of the fan and the occasional shifting of blankets.

And in the quiet, my brain finally catches up to my heart.

This shouldn’t work. Three hockey players. One overworked nursing student. No guidebook. No roadmap. Just a mess of feelings and hormones and found-family chaos.

But somehow… it does.

They each care for me in wildly different ways—Grayson with his quiet steadiness, Caleb with his sunshine and sugar, Hunter with his rare, fierce tenderness that he only shows when no one’s looking.

I’ve never felt more seen.

More wanted.

More safe.

I nestle deeper into Caleb’s chest, sighing when Grayson shifts to hold me tighter. Hunter brushes a hand down my calf as he exhales like he’s finally relaxing.

It hits me, then.

I could love them.

Maybe I already do.

God help me.

Because this isn’t just lust.

This is something bigger.

And scarier.

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