Page 118 of Three Hockey Hotties

It’s my own fault. I know that. I didn’t have to run away. I didn’t have to leave. I could have been right there with them, through it all, like I should have been.

And now I know.

I want to be with Kane, Dash, and Benjamin no matter what. Even when things are bad and painful and scary.

Especially then.

And now I have to get there.

I didn’t call my dad and beg him to come home to drive me to Willow Bay. That felt dramatic. It felt like an overreaction. Benjamin said that Kane is fine and I trust him.

But the second my parents step into the kitchen, laughing about something, I open my mouth to speak…and burst into tears.

I love them so much. I don’t know what I would have done without them. They loved me through something most kids and families don’t have to go through and something no one should have to go through.

We are closer because of my cancer. We are a stronger unit because of it.

Yes, things fractured with my sister. We haven’t spoken in years. Cancer didn’t just almost take my life. It took my relationship with my sister. And we all have regrets about that. I know Emily does, too, but she chose not to work on repairing things with us after I got better.

But I realize since meeting Benjamin, Dash, and Kane, that even after the illness, the mistakes, the pain, and the fear, there is hope and a chance for a new start.

Once Kane is back on his feet, I’m going to call my sister and try again.

It’s up to her if she accepts my olive branch, but I’m going to extend it.

Then, if she doesn’t want to fix things between us, I can be at peace with that.

“Abby!” My mom is next to me, wrapping her arms around me in a second. “What happened? What’s going on?”

“Abigail?” My dad is there too, his arms squeezing me. “What’s wrong?”

I take a deep breath, trying to make this make sense, but what comes out of my mouth is, “I have to go back to Willow Bay, right now. Will you please drive me? Now. Kane’s hurt. I have to be there. Benjamin and Dash are there and I know they’re handling it, but I just really want to be with them. And I think they want me to be there too. We’re just all so much better together. And even though there’s nothing we can really do for Kane—the doctors are probably good, I don’t know. No, they are. Benjamin would be sure. He would make them do everything. But I think all of us being there together will make him feel better. And we’re just so good together. The four of us belong together. Even if we were just there holding each other and telling each other that we love each other.”

It’s just one big, long ramble. All of the words tumble out in just a few seconds, and both of my parents just stand there, watching me.

But also listening.

This morning at breakfast I told them about my three boyfriends.

All they said was they were so glad that I found people who realized how special and amazing I am to love me.

“How did he get hurt?” my mom finally asks when she’s sure I’m done.

She steps back and starts re-wrapping her scarf around her neck.

My dad picks his keys up off of the counter where he had just put them down.

“In the game. A concussion. He’s in the hospital.”

My mom takes my jacket from the back of one of the chairs and holds it up for me. My dad notices my suitcase, sitting next to the table, and grabs it.

“What did Benjamin say?” Mom asks, her voice calm.

I let her help me into my jacket as I take a deep breath. “He says he’s okay. They are going to let him go home tonight as long as someone is there to check on him regularly.”

My mom turns me toward the door leading to the garage. She opens it and nudges me through it.

“Well obviously, that won’t be a problem,” my dad says.