The Goal They Didn't Plan For (Book #5 Reapers & Roses Series)

Sophie 39 stories

Story Notes

Summary

Damon Rourke and Ethan Stone have spent six years loving each other in the shadows. In a league where scrutiny is ruthless and fans can be cruel, the pressure of professional hockey—and the fear of homophobia—kept their relationship a secret. Quiet moments stolen. Promises whispered. A love that had to survive without being seen. Then everything changed. Ethan’s fourth head injury ended his career—and altered his world forever. Now living with prosopagnosia, faces blur together, days feel disorienting, and the future he once imagined is gone. Through it all, Damon stays. Steady. Devoted. Certain. But love, they’ve learned, doesn’t always look the way you expect. For years, they’ve invited a third into their bed—temporary, uncomplicated, safe. This time, they want something real. Enter Riley Carlisle. Chaotic. Creative. Always running late. An artist who carries the echoes of her own past abuse and quiet coping mechanisms to keep the nightmares at bay. Riley has watched every woman in her support group fall in love with hockey players and build something solid. She never imagined falling for two. But Damon’s grounding presence, Ethan’s gentle resilience, and the space they offer her—to be seen, wanted, and chosen—ignite something Riley has always craved. She’s always wanted to be the center of attention. She just never expected to find it here.