Page 112 of Three Hockey Hotties

“I’m at my parents’,” she says.

I swear inwardly and shake my head at the guys.

They both scowl.

“You won’t be at the game tonight?” I ask.

“I will be here for a few days. I called and took a couple of days off from work,” she says.

I don’t like this at all. “We’re not trying to pressure you, sweetheart,” I say, finally letting my voice get gruff with emotion. “We know you’re really hurting. We want to be there for you.”

She takes a shaky breath. “I am. And I needed to be with people who know how this feels.”

I shove a hand through my hair. “Explain it to us Abby. We want to understand.”

“I can’t do that to you,” she says, her voice shaky. “I don’t want to do that to you. You guys make me so happy.”

“We love you,” I say.

“I know.”

At least there’s that.

“Loving someone means being there even when they’re sad, baby,” I say, my throat feeling tight. “It’s not just happy and light all the time.”

Kane and Benjamin are staring at me. I know it’s killing them a little not to be able to hear her, see her, or say anything.

I would give anything to have this conversation in person. With them helping.

But there is a very good chance she ran to her parents in part because she knew she couldn’t resist us and that we would eventually show up on her doorstep.

“We’re just so new,” she finally says. “I don’t think we’re to the point of in sickness and in health.”

I frown. “Don’t forget that Benjamin and Kane have been through this with Angie,” I say.

She’s quiet for a moment. “Oh God. Right. You’re right. I’m sorry. I just…” She takes a breath. “I don’t know how to feel.”

“However you’re feeling is the right way to feel,” I say.

She gives a soft laugh and my chest squeezes.

“That’s what my mom said,” she tells me softly.

Well, that makes me feel good. “Abby,” I say firmly, but gently. “We are to the point of in sickness and in health. We can handle anything. Together.”

She doesn’t say anything. But she also doesn’t hang up.

“No matter what happens, we are four strong. Yeah, things might be hard sometimes, and shit is going to happen, but I can tell you from experience that if one of us is having a hard time handling something, there is at least one other who will be able to step up and be perfect. You’ve got three of us to lean on.”

She’s quiet for another long moment, then says, “And three of you to disappoint and hurt.”

I feel like she just punched me in the gut.

“Abby—”

“I have to go,” she says quickly. “I’ll let you know when I’m back in Willow Bay.”

“This is not goodbye,” I tell her firmly. “This is not over.”