1. Britt

Britt

one

Twenty Months Later

"Ican't believe this is really happening. We are going to be living and working together."

I can't keep the smile off my face as I look at my best friend, Teagan, over the large pile of moving boxes in our new living room. Teagan and I have been roommates for the last three years, ever since we started college. I even transferred with her to State College last year so she could live out her dream of playing on an all-male college hockey team.

Her dream came true, and then some. Teagan is the first female drafted to play on an NHL team, the Minnesota Norse. Her uncle Colt may be one of the owners of the team, but Teagan earned her spot playing in the big leagues with her grit and determination.

Colt hired me to be the team's new social media manager. The season doesn't start for another few weeks, so we have plenty of time to unpack and get to know our new city, and I can't wait.

I've moved to a new city, taken a new job, and become a whole new Britt. I've even signed up for a dating app to jump-start my love life. I'm finally living a grown-up life, and I need to get over my crushes and live a little.

"So, about that."

I snap my gaze to Teagan. By the way she is worrying her lower lip between her teeth; this can't be good.

"I'm going to live with the guys at their house."

The guys, meaning her boyfriends Fin, Royal, and Coulter, who all play for the Minnesota Norse. Teagan met them when they played on the same college hockey team last season.

"What about us? I already posted a notice for two roommates to share our four-bedroom house." I throw my arms out and spin around the room, motioning to our great new place. It has a hot tub on the back deck and everything. How could she not want to live here?

But of course, I know the answer. Teagan is completely and utterly in love with all three of her boyfriends. It's a little unconventional, but to see the four of them together is truly magical on and off the ice.

"Don't worry. I already took care of finding my replacement and two more roommates. I think you're really going to like them."

I frown at her words, not convinced that I'll like the roommates she picked out. We got lucky with Kelsey and Ashley as our college roommates, but this is different. We're adults now with real jobs, not a bunch of college girls with zero responsibilities.

The doorbell rings, dragging me out of my thoughts.

"That must be them." Teagan rushes across the room and jerks open the front door. Standing on the other side of the door are Teagan's three identical triplet brothers—aka my secret crushes—Talen, Torin, and Tarek.

I'm too stunned to notice right away when they walk by me that they are each carrying a cardboard box with the word bedroom on each one. I watch as they set their boxes down by the staircase. I blink at each one of Teagan's brothers, still not understanding why they are here carrying moving boxes. I know those aren't my boxes, and if Teagan is moving in with her boyfriends, those wouldn't be hers either.

Torin, Talen, and Tarek make their way to my side, "Hey, roomy." they say as one as they engulf me in a group hug, their large bodies making me feel safe in the privacy of their arms.

There's no way this can happen. They can't be my new roommates. What are they doing in Minnesota, anyway? They play for the Iowa Poseidon. I know because I pathetically watch every single one of their games, imagining it's me they make love to after the game instead of some random puck bunny.

There is no way I can watch as they bring puck bunny after puck bunny here to my safe haven. I can't sit back, knowing they're giving someone else the same pleasure they once gave me. Even if they didn't know it was me they gave it to.

Anger bubbles inside me. "Oh, hell no."

The guys step back, giving me a chance to gather my thoughts. Their matching violet eyes follow me as I step around them and move over to stand beside Teagan. "What are they doing here?" I ask, pulling Teagan into the kitchen and away from their prying eyes.

"So, Uncle Colt was going to tell you at your weekly meeting, but my brothers arrived earlier than planned." She pauses, and it takes everything in me not to shake her until she tells me the rest of the story. Teagan is my best friend, and I love her like a sister, but right now, I'm not very fond of her.

"And?" I prod.

"Torin, Talen, and Tarek are the newest members of the Minnesota Norse Hockey Team." Teagan beams. "I get to play on the same team as my boyfriends and my brothers."

My heart thumps wildly in my chest. "Your brothers are going to be playing for the Norse?"

She nods with a smile.

"And living here?"

"Yes! Isn't that great?" Her smile widens, and my heart beats faster. "Mom and Dad are thinking about buying a condo in town. We'll all be together again."

"Yay, great." I try to sound enthusiastic, but how can I move on with my life if I'm living with the men of my dreams while they go about their normal routine, oblivious to our one night of passion?

"Come on, let's get you all settled in." Teagan grabs my hand and leads me back to the living room.

My eyes move to Torin. He's the oldest of the triplets. They may all have the same violet eyes, rich dark brown hair, and matching beards, but that's where the similarities end. Torin is the serious one. Always protecting those he loves. He's the only one who calls me by my full name. When he was deep inside me that fateful night and called me Brittany, I was in Heaven until I realized he didn't know my real name and was just calling me Brittney, as in Brittney Spears, who I was dressed up as for the Halloween party.

Then there's Talen. My eyes shift to where he's sitting by the fireplace, looking through the books I've already stacked on the bookshelf. He seems like the shy, quiet type, but when we were together that night, his dirty talk had me coming so hard that I thought I saw stars. Who knew being called a dirty little slut would be such a turn-on?

Finally, there's Tarek, the youngest of the three. I let my eyes roam over his body as I remember how he made me laugh during our one time together, easing my nerves to help me go through with my plan that night. Who knew sex could be so fun? He's the jokester of the family. Always playing tricks on everyone.

They are perfect for the Minnesota Norse. Torin is Odin. Talen is Thor. And Tarek is Loki. I laugh at the thought, feeling some of the weight lift off my shoulders. These are Teagan's brothers. I've known them my whole life. I'll figure out a way to live with them without embarrassing myself.

"Hey, Britt, where do you want this box?" It takes a second for Tarek's words to sink in. When they finally do, I realize too late that he is crouched down with his hands on the flaps of a cardboard box—a box I specifically marked as bathroom so as not to raise any suspicions.

I watch in slow motion as he opens the flaps. His eyes move from the contents of the box to mine and back. A huge grin crosses his face, and I want to crawl into a hole.

I plead with my eyes for him not to say anything about what's inside that box.

He takes pity on me and tucks the flaps back in place, closing the box. I sag in relief, hoping my secret is safe with him. How do I explain to everyone that the box holds ten vibrators, each used once?

In my quest to forget about Torin, Talen, and Tarek, I tried to replace them by searching for the perfect vibrator. After almost two years, none have even come close.

My relief is short-lived when Tarek says, "I'll take care of these for you. Just knock on my door when you need one." He sets my box on top of his that's labeled bedroom. Lifting them both, he glances backward to give me a sly smile before he strolls up the stairs.

With my heart racing, I glance around the room to find Talen and Torin engaged in a conversation with Teagan on the far side of the room—far enough that I don't think they heard or saw my interaction with Tarek.

A vision of me wearing only a sheer, sexy nightgown and knocking on Tarek's bedroom door to ask for one of my vibrators flashes through my mind.

Yeah, like that's ever going to happen. I'll always be their little sister's best friend, not the sexy temptress from the Halloween party.

The sound of Tarek running down the stairs pulls me out of my thoughts.

"If the four of us are going to live together, we need to have some ground rules." I cross my arms over my chest, clinging to the last of my dignity. I refuse to beg them not to bring puck bunnies or their latest fuck buddy home with them, but I'm going to make it clear that if that's what they're going to do, then so am I.

"I think that's my cue to leave." Teagan's out the door in a flash, leaving the four of us alone for the first time ever.

"I'll order some pizza." Torin pulls his phone from his back pocket and scrolls through it, not asking what kind of pizza everyone wants. Not because he's inconsiderate, just the opposite. He knows exactly what everyone likes, even me.

I've spent more weekends than I can count traveling with Teagan and her family to hockey tournaments all over the country. I'm an only child of an older couple, and my parents were more than happy to let me go with Teagan and her family any chance they could.

I guess when you're set in your ways and a surprise baby comes along that you never wanted it's easier to pawn the child off on someone else than to deal with her yourself. Don't get me wrong. I love my parents. We're just not very close. I'm actually closer to Teagan's parents than my own.

After years on the road with Teagan's family, we pretty much know everything there is to know about each other, so Torin knowing what my favorite pizza is isn't a stretch.

Once the pizza order is placed, Torin takes a seat next to Talen, who is sitting on the couch next to Tarek. It should be alarming to have three identical faces staring at me, but it's not. I love having their eyes on me. It reminds me of our night together when they each looked at me like I was the center of their world—well, not me exactly, but their mystery girl that night.

"If we're going to be roommates, there have to be some ground rules." My words come out in a rush. I need to get this all off my chest while I still have the nerve.

"First rule, no nudity in the house."

Three identical confused faces look back at me.

"I mean, no walking around the house in only a towel or completely naked. Everyone needs to be fully clothed in the common area."

"Pity," I think I hear Tarek say, but it was so low I could have misunderstood. I blink at him, waiting to see if he will repeat himself. Instead, his eyes twinkle, and a hint of a smile touches the corner of his mouth.

"Second rule." I pause, knowing this is a bogus rule I'm throwing in to stall for time for the final rule. "No fighting. We are adults, and if we have a problem with something or someone, we talk about it." I know that won't be a problem since I've never seen them fight over anything in all the years I've known them.

They shrug their shoulders in mutual agreement.

I stare down at my hands. My stomach rolling at the thought of the final rule

Here goes nothing.

"Last, but not least, no over night guests. If you want to hook up with someone either do it at their place or a hotel and I'll do the same." What a lie. I haven't thought of having another guy besides the three of them touch me in almost two years, that's not going to change anytime soon, but I can't let them know how pathetic I am, lusting after something I can't have.

"No fucking way!" The unexpected outburst comes from Talen.

My head snaps up at the anger in his words. His eyes are ablaze with fury I've never seen from him. I swing my gaze to Tarek, who looks as equally pissed off, then to Torin, who looks just as mad. I wasn't expecting such a visceral response from them, and it only breaks my heart even more.

Are they really that upset I asked them not to bring their puck bunnies into my home? Living with them is going to be harder than I thought.

I open my mouth to defend the final rule when the doorbell rings.

Torin pushes himself off the couch to answer the door. "That should be the pizza delivery guy. We'll finish this discussion once we've eaten," Torin says before opening the door to the pizza delivery guy holding four boxes of pizzas because, of course, Torin never does anything small. He's ordered us each a large pizza, just like I'm one of his siblings.

My only response is a slight nod of my head as my shoulders drop in defeat.

If their reaction to the final rule is any indication that they still think of me only as their little sister's best friend instead of a woman who is desperately in love with them, then I'm a fool for thinking it could ever be anything more.

We sit in awkward silence as we eat the pizza, me taking small bites, my mind not even registering the delicious taste of the cheesy pepperoni slice as I swallow it. While they take large, angry mouthfuls of their slices.

Just when I think I can't take any more of the deafening silence, my phone vibrates in my pocket. "I've got to take this." I jump out of my chair and run up the stairs to my room, slamming the door shut behind me. I hit ignore on my phone then throw it on my bed and flop down next to it. I've never been so happy to see a spam call in my life.