Page 198 of The Pucking Coach's Daughter

“Only if we’re all in it,” Penn counters. “Ollie?”

Oliver’s slowly gotten paler since we left the house. “And tell whoever attacked us exactly where we are? No, thanks.”

I exhale. “He’s right.”

“Okay, fine.” Penn pauses. “Truth, then.”

My stomach somersaults. “How would you feel about… me not picking?”

“Picking what?” He narrows his eyes. “Your seat?”

“Between the three of you.”

It’s a conversation Penn, Carter, and I have had before. In Michigan. But Oliver wasn’t part of it, and now I watch for his reaction to my question.

Oliver laughs. Groans at the following pain. “Mi nena, you don’t have to pick right now.”

“That’s the problem,” I say before I can stop. “The more time I spend with all three of you, the less I want to pick at all. So what if I can’t? Are two of you going to… leave?”

Oliver shifts so he can face me without twisting. His brows furrow. His eyes are more warm brown than green today, although when the light catches them, the inner circles are all green-gold.

“What are you saying, Sydney?”

Penn wets his lips. He looks equally interested in what I’m about to say.

“Do you think the four of us could be happy together?” I immediately bury my face in my legs. “Don’t answer that if it’s a no.”

“I don’t think either of us are going to say no to you, princess,” Penn whispers. “Oliver?”

“I—” He cuts himself off. “Maybe.”

Maybe is better than no.

My heart flutters, and I slowly peek up at them. “The thought of choosing makes me sick inside.”

“Then don’t,” Penn advises. “Ollie. Truth or dare?”

Oliver frowns. “Dare.”

“I dare you to call Carter some obnoxious nickname during his first shift tonight. Something better than baby or sweetheart. Something that will make that man blush.”

They’re both so serious, staring at each other—I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of me. And then it’s like a dam breaks, and I can’t contain it anymore. I laugh until my eyes water and tears leak out of the corners. I laugh until my stomach hurts.

When I finally stop, I look at them through my blurred vision, blinking away the last of the tears and swiping them off my cheeks.

They’re both staring.

“What?” My tone immediately shifts to defensive.

Oliver shakes his head.

“Just the most goddamn attractive girl on the face of the earth,” Penn says under his breath.

Oh.

Oliver nods.

Oh.