Page 39 of Pucking Tangled

THIRTY-EIGHT

Mia

Mia stared at the view of herself on screen.

It had been fifteen hours since those photos went viral. Eleven since she cried into Casey’s chest while the rest of the guys flanked her like she might crumble without them. Eight since Luca climbed into bed beside her, just to hold her while she slept.

Now it was morning.

And she was done hiding.

Someone had shut her phone off overnight, and alerts were still rolling in now that she’d turned it back on, but she was studiously ignoring them until she said what she had to say.

The guys weren’t hovering—not quite—but they were nearby.

Casey was leaning in the doorway, his arms crossed.

Owen was pacing, pretending to read something on his phone.

Luca sat across from her, a mug of tea going cold in his hands.

Waylon stood with his back to the counter, watching her with eyes that missed nothing .

They didn’t say anything when she opened her laptop.

And they didn’t stop her when she pressed record.

“I wasn’t going to say anything because assholes aren’t worth the waste of breath. But since the entire world knows my name, I felt it was time you knew the real me.

My name is Mia Abbott. I’m a law student studying entertainment and sports law. I live with and love four men who play professional hockey.

Yes, we’re in a relationship. Yes, I mean all of us.

No, this isn’t casual. And it certainly wasn’t calculated. And it sure as hell isn’t something to be ashamed of.

What we have together is built on honesty, communication, respect, and choice.

The only difference between our relationship and anyone else’s is that ours is expansive and without limits.

So if you came here expecting scandal, I’m sorry to disappoint you.

And if that makes you uncomfortable, ask yourself why love offends you more than cruelty does.

I won’t explain myself or my relationship again.

May you all have the day you deserve.”

She resisted the urge to flip the middle finger and hit post.

Her hands shook a little, but her chest felt lighter. Her breath came easier. She didn’t look up right away—but she didn’t need to.

Because the second she clicked the button, Casey’s hand landed on her shoulder, grounding and warm.

“Proud of you,” he said, his voice rough.

Waylon stepped forward, leaned down, and kissed the crown of her head. “That’s our girl.”

Owen took her hand and squeezed it. “You didn’t just reclaim the story,” he murmured. “You rewrote it. ”

“We have something you’re going to want to see,” Luca said, taking her hand.

They all walked into the living room with her.

Waylon sat on the sofa and tugged her into his lap.

Luca sat right next to them and pulled her feet onto his thighs.

Owen and Casey sat on the opposite end, with Casey in Owen’s lap. Owen grabbed the remote and turned on the tv.

“Should I be nervous?” she teased, feeling slightly uneasy. Honestly, she wasn’t sure she’d feel easy about anything for quite some while.

The screen blinked to life, and then paused on a video of Luca sitting in his room, his face unreadable to Mia, but also so achingly familiar in a way that made her heart lurch.

“What is this?”

Instead of anyone answering, Owen simply pressed play.

“Hey. It’s Luca Blackford. You all know me as the rookie defenseman for the Barn Raisers…”

It didn’t take long for her to figure it out.

Her hands covered her mouth. Tears filled her eyes.

“Luca,” she glanced over at him.

“Keep watching.” He nodded toward the TV.

Owen’s face filled the screen next.

“If you came here for gossip, I’ve got nothing for you. But if you’re looking for a man who’ll protect the people that he loves, you found him.”

“When did you…” she trailed off, unable to finish her question.

“We couldn’t wait for the world to figure out how wrong they were,” Waylon said as he popped up on the screen next.

Mia laughed through a sob. “Of course, you’re shirtless.” She playfully smacked his chest. He kissed her cheek.

He also looked like he was about to climb through the screen and kick anyone’s ass who dared to disrespect what they had.

His voice echoed from the speakers:

“What’s wild is the way she loves all of us without ever making any of us feel like less.”

“You’re mine,” he muttered. “Ours. And I’d burn the whole damn internet down to make sure they know it.”

Then came Casey.

“I’ve been in love with Mia Abbott since I was thirteen years old…”

She reached for Casey before the video even ended, squashing Luca and Waylon between them as she pulled him into her arms.

“You did this for me?” she whispered.

“For us ,” he whispered back. “But mostly for you.”

Their statements weren’t lost on her at all. She knew what Casey had gone through. The struggle he faced when he came out with Owen. But he faced this one head on and without hesitation.

All at once, realization hit her.

They hadn’t waited for her to ask.

They didn't make her go through this alone, though she could imagine a world in which professional athletes would have distanced themselves from the scandal or asked for her to wait for it to die down.

They didn’t hide behind her bravery, waiting for her to make the first move.

They showed up and matched her bravery.

Each in their own way.

Each voice added to hers .

Not because she needed saving, but because they believed she deserved defending .

She looked at all four of them, her breath caught in her chest.

“You beat me to it,” she said, smiling through her tears.

Waylon smirked. “Yeah, but you had the better mic drop.”