Page 100 of Three Hockey Hotties

That almost makes me chuckle.

“I’ve lost my parents, obviously,” she continues. “Since I’m old as hell. I lost Mick, my first husband. He died of a brain tumor at twenty-five. Shit luck that was. I loved that man and it was horrible, but I don’t regret a day I spent with him, even the really hard ones when he couldn’t even talk anymore.”

I suck in a breath. “Magda, oh my god, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

“Thank you. It was terrible.”

Sadie reaches out and squeezes Magda’s hand.

“The thing is that life is meant for living. Instead of worrying about the end, whether it’s sickness or death or a breakup or divorce, just enjoy what you have today. Take it from a golden girl. Just take a deep breath and allow yourself some happiness with these guys who clearly adore you.”

She’s right. “You’re right. I just don’t want to ruin their friendship or hurt them in any way.”

“They’re grown men. Let them decide what they feel, hon.”

“Amen to that. I fail to see the problem, honestly,” Sadie says, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “Three hotties all ready to do anything for you…overwhelming? Sure. Awesome and enviable? Absolutely.”

I smile and it’s genuine. Relief courses through me.

My guys readily agreed for me to have space tonight. To come to this apartment Benjamin has rented for me, across the hall from the apartment he’s rented for Magda. They support me spending time with my friends and support my passion I have for working at a nonprofit.

They know their own minds and what they want and to my delight what they want is me.

“Just enjoy today,” I say, raising my own glass up. “Cheers to that.”

“Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

We all tap glasses and Magda chugs her Long Island iced tea like it’s ‘88 and she’s pregaming before a Bon Jovi concert. She’s actually wearing a Bon Jovi T-shirt with leopard print leggings, and I have the perfect image of what she looked like in the eighties. I probably would have been afraid to be friends with her if we were the same age.

That’s something I need to unpack. Process. It’s time to put fear behind me.

I can’t change the fact that my sister doesn’t want a relationship with me.

But I shouldn’t punish everyone else who does because of it.

“Magda, what were the eighties like?” I ask, grabbing the charcuterie board and heading toward the sofa.

Time to get comfy. I set the board on the coffee table and sit on the sofa. Sadie jumps into a cushy club chair. Magda joins me on the sofa.

“That’s a random question,” she says.

I gesture to her shirt. “Big hair fascinates me.”

“You know what big things fascinate me?” Sadie quips.

This time I do laugh. “I know you’re not talking about any of my boyfriends. Girl code and all that.”

Sadie sits up straight. “Oooh, you said boyfriends! I knew it!” She kicks her legs out. “Yes, yes, yes!”

I take a sip of my wine to hide the fact that I’m grinning ear-to-ear. “It sounds good, doesn’t it?”

“Hell yes, it does,” is Magda’s opinion.

I’m still scared.

But I know if there is one place I want to be when I am scared, it’s in the arms of Kane, Dash, and Benjamin.