Page 33 of Three Hockey Hotties

Sadie has texted me again. I glance at my phone.

OMG HAVE SO MUCH FUN.

She’s totally on board with me leaving with the guys. It makes me feel less crazy if both she and Magda think it’s fine.

“Should we order take-out or cook at home?” Benjamin asks. “Let’s take a vote.”

I remember that ages ago, when Dash first appeared in the hallway at the arena, he was hungry. He must be ready to pass out by now. “Take-out,” I say, glancing at Dash and smiling. “It’s faster.”

His expression softens. “Only if that’s what you want.”

“It is,” I say firmly.

He’s an enormous guy. He must need a zillion calories a day to even feel human.

“What kind of take-out?” Kane asks as he opens the door to the backseat for me. “Lady’s choice.”

“I don’t care,” I say, which is true. I’ve never been a picky eater.

After chemo and months of being nauseous all the time as a kid, I appreciate pretty much all cuisine.

“How about fajitas from that great Mexican place down the street?” Kane asks.

My stomach audibly growls.

I blush.

Kane laughs softly. “Fajitas it is then. Dash, can you order for us? You know what I like.”

“On it. Your usual, Benjamin?” he asks.

“Yeah, thanks,” Benjamin says as he pulls out of the parking lot. “We don’t have a long drive, Abby,” he assures me. “My house is just north on the lake.”

I nod, not really caring where the house is. I’m still in awe of how well they all seem to know each other. That closeness is enviable to me.

“When did you buy your house? Have you been there long?” It’s meant to be polite small talk but I’m also trying to get to the heart of some things I'm very curious about—like Benjamin’s age and how the dynamic between the three of them seems to work.

“Two years,” he says, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. “Since the boys here came to the Mutts. I’ve been with the organization for seven years, since I graduated law school. But I had an apartment the first five years. It wasn’t until I knew they were going to be around all the time that I wanted a bigger space so we can all spend time together.”

“Benjamin always has a well-stocked fridge,” Dash says. “We stay there a lot, especially in the summer. Kane and I do have an apartment but it’s more like a crash pad. It’s right by the arena.”

“And you’ve been friends for a long time? That’s very cool that you both wound up playing here.”

“Known them both almost all of my life. I can’t imagine not playing on a team with Kane.”

“Benjamin and I are actually stepbrothers,” Kane tells me, his knee brushing mine as he adjusts himself on the seat next to me. “That’s why he’s so damn old and I’m in my prime.”

Benjamin snorts. “Prime idiocy.”

Kane grins. Then he says, “But we’re family. Brothers. Plain and simple, even if we don’t share the same blood. Same with Dash.”

“That’s really wonderful,” I say softly.

I mean that.

I also realize that it means that whatever I’m feeling toward these three men needs to be kept under wraps. In no way do I want to be responsible for causing any kind of rift between them.

Their relationship is special. A true brotherhood.