Page 12 of Three Hockey Hotties

It’s been that way ever since I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of ten and my entire world changed forever.

I’m grateful every single day for the second chance I’ve been given, but I never feel fully free of that past, and I’m a tiny bit risk-averse. Or maybe a lot, according to my best friend Sadie.

But gliding across the ice in the Mutts arena is truly exhilarating.

I’m not exactly going at the speed of a figure skater here, but with each slide I get bolder, and I’m going fast enough that my hair is flying backward over my shoulder and the cool air makes my eyes water.

I feel alive, and I love it.

Quite the difference from half an hour ago when I was wandering around the parking lot lost and fretting about letting my work team down.

I have two hot hockey players to thank for turning my day around.

Kane and Dash. Just their names make me shiver.

I can hear them talking to each other behind me, though I can’t hear what they’re saying.

It makes me too nervous to look because holy shit, they are both so sexy.

But in completely different ways.

And yet I am attracted to both of them.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by that because I think any woman would find them attractive, but I can’t say I’ve ever met two guys at the exact same time and felt a spark of…something with both of them.

There is the obvious fact that Kane is gorgeous, but it’s more than that. He made me feel instantly comfortable. Lost in the arena and admitting I didn't know much about hockey, he was sweet and reassuring.

The truth is that I don’t always know for certain when a guy is flirting with me.

Because I had cancer and treatment during what should have been my formative middle school years, I missed some crucial social steps. I spent more time in the hospital than I did learning how to read when a guy is interested in me, and that has definitely been a problem over the years.

But Kane is so obvious there is no misunderstanding his intention, and I like that.

He’s charming and funny with a great smile.

Then Dash walked up.

Dash is huge. Like the Beast to my Belle.

Growly and scowling and rough around the edges.

But then I looked into his eyes, and I saw nothing but kindness.

And maybe some of the same doubt and awkwardness that I feel from time to time.

Dash is not as classically handsome as Kane, but I feel a kinship with him—like we most likely enjoy the same things. Quiet nights at home and walks by the lake.

Immediately my next thought is that then we would have Kane to make sure we get out of the house and do something exciting once in a while.

Which is an insane thought.

How and why would it ever work like that?

“This is so fun!” I say to distract myself from the absolutely absurd direction my thoughts are suddenly running in.

I turn toward the guys, startled to see there is a third man with them.

My foot slips, but I manage to catch my balance.