Plot Summary

One Night in Seattle

A chance encounter changes everything

Rachel Price, a sports medicine doctor with a famous rock star father and a history of running from the spotlight, meets a magnetic stranger in a Seattle hotel bar. Their chemistry is instant and explosive, leading to a night of passion that leaves both changed. Rachel leaves before dawn, not knowing his name, convinced it was a one-time thing. But the memory lingers, haunting her dreams and shaping her desires for something more.

The Unexpected Fellowship

Rachel's career takes a wild turn

Back home, Rachel's life is in limbo after missing out on a prestigious sports medicine fellowship. Suddenly, she's called off the bench: a last-minute opening places her with the Jacksonville Rays, a brand-new NHL team. She's thrust into a world of elite athletes, high expectations, and a fresh start in a city she's never known. The opportunity is thrilling, but the pressure to prove herself is immense.

Airport Chaos and Tentacles

First impressions are unforgettable

Rachel's arrival in Jacksonville is a comedy of errors: lost luggage, a broken bag, and a mortifying encounter with Caleb Sanford, the team's equipment manager, who discovers her tentacle-shaped sex toy. Caleb, gruff and guarded, is both neighbor and reluctant guide. Their awkward, electric introduction sets the tone for a relationship that will oscillate between friction and deep connection.

New City, New Neighbors

Building a life, finding a tribe

Rachel settles into her new apartment, only to discover Caleb is her next-door neighbor. Their dynamic is a push-pull of banter, boundaries, and unexpected vulnerability. As Rachel navigates her first days with the Rays, she meets the team's colorful cast—players, coaches, and support staff—each with their own quirks and secrets. The city, the team, and her new friendships begin to feel like home.

Locked Out, Let In

Barriers fall, intimacy grows

A mishap leaves Rachel stranded on her balcony in her underwear, forcing her to rely on Caleb for rescue. The physical closeness and emotional rawness of the moment break down walls between them. Their connection deepens, hinting at a chemistry neither is ready to acknowledge. Meanwhile, Rachel's mysterious one-night stand remains a secret longing, complicating her feelings as she tries to focus on her career.

First Impressions, First Game

Thrown into the fire, Rachel finds her footing

Rachel's first day with the Rays is a whirlwind: medical exams, team hazing, and her first look at the enigmatic goalie, Ilmari Kinnunen. The team is a mix of personalities—Jake Compton, the charismatic defenseman; Caleb, the wounded ex-player; and Ilmari, the stoic Finnish star. Rachel's expertise is quickly tested as she navigates injuries, egos, and the unspoken rules of hockey culture.

Team Dynamics Unveiled

Chemistry on and off the ice

Rachel's relationships with the team deepen. She's drawn to Jake's warmth and humor, Caleb's intensity, and Ilmari's quiet strength. The trio of men orbit her, each offering something she craves: Jake's joy, Caleb's comfort, Ilmari's peace. The lines between professional and personal blur as flirtation, friendship, and longing intertwine. The team's own secrets—past traumas, hidden desires—bubble to the surface.

Past Wounds, Present Tensions

Old scars shape new bonds

Caleb's career-ending injury and Jake's guilt over it cast a shadow over their friendship. Ilmari's relentless drive hides a deep loneliness and a complicated family history. Rachel's own baggage—her family's fame, her fear of the spotlight, her history of running—threatens to sabotage her happiness. As the team faces challenges on the ice, the four are forced to confront their vulnerabilities and the ways they hurt and heal each other.

Mystery Boy Revealed

Fate brings lovers face to face

In a twist of fate, Rachel discovers her one-night stand is none other than Jake Compton, the Rays' star defenseman. The revelation is electric and destabilizing. Their chemistry is undeniable, but professional boundaries and personal fears keep them apart. The secret of their past night together simmers beneath the surface, complicating every interaction and drawing Caleb and Ilmari into a web of desire and jealousy.

Lines Crossed, Hearts Tangled

Desire explodes, rules are rewritten

The tension between Rachel, Jake, and Caleb erupts into passion. What begins as flirtation becomes a tangled, polyamorous relationship—one that defies convention and challenges each of them to confront what they truly want. Ilmari, drawn in by Rachel's compassion and the trio's magnetic energy, becomes the fourth point in their unconventional love story. Together, they explore boundaries, pleasure, and the meaning of family.

The Three Become Four

A new kind of love, a new kind of team

As the foursome's relationship deepens, they must navigate jealousy, insecurity, and the logistics of loving more than one person. Their connection is tested by secrets, misunderstandings, and the ever-present threat of public exposure. Yet, in their private world, they find joy, healing, and a sense of belonging none have ever known. Their love becomes a team effort—each supporting, challenging, and cherishing the others.

Secrets, Scandals, and Sacrifice

The outside world closes in

Rumors swirl as the press and the hockey world catch wind of the unconventional relationships at the heart of the Rays. Rachel's past as a celebrity's daughter, Jake and Caleb's deepening bond, and Ilmari's Olympic ambitions all come under scrutiny. The team faces internal strife, and Rachel's career is threatened by accusations of impropriety. The foursome must decide what they're willing to risk for love—and what they're willing to lose.

The Price of Love

Loss, loyalty, and the fight for belonging

Rachel is suspended, her future with the Rays in jeopardy. The team rallies around her, threatening to walk if she's not reinstated. Letters of support pour in from players, staff, and even former patients. The men she loves refuse to let her go, each making sacrifices to keep their family together. The cost of love is high, but the reward—a chosen family, a place to belong—is worth every risk.

Coming Out, Coming Together

No more hiding, no more shame

The foursome decides to go public, embracing their love and defying the stigma of polyamory and queerness in professional sports. The team, the fans, and even Rachel's family rally behind them. Their story becomes a beacon of hope and acceptance, challenging stereotypes and inspiring others. Together, they face the world, stronger for having chosen each other.

Family, Fame, and Fallout

The past meets the present, and the future is forged

Rachel's family, once a source of pain and pressure, becomes a pillar of support. The men navigate their own families, careers, and the demands of fame. Together, they weather the storms of public scrutiny, professional setbacks, and personal growth. Their love, once a secret, becomes a source of pride and strength.

The Storm Breaks

Crisis, confrontation, and catharsis

A final scandal threatens to tear everything apart. Rachel's job, Ilmari's Olympic dreams, and Jake and Caleb's careers hang in the balance. But the team, the fans, and their families unite to fight for them. Through honesty, vulnerability, and unwavering loyalty, they weather the storm and emerge stronger, their bonds unbreakable.

Team Price Rises

Victory on and off the ice

Rachel is reinstated, the Rays thrive, and Ilmari secures his place on the Finnish Olympic team. The foursome's love story becomes legend, celebrated by fans and embraced by the hockey world. Together, they build a home, a family, and a future—one defined not by convention, but by the courage to love without limits.

Gold Medals and New Beginnings

A new chapter, a new legacy

A year later, the family gathers in Canada to watch Ilmari play for Olympic gold. Their love has weathered every storm, and now they stand together—partners, teammates, and soulmates. As Ilmari scores the winning goal and the crowd erupts, Rachel knows they have built something extraordinary. Their story is one of courage, joy, and the power of chosen family—a love that endures, no matter the odds.

Characters

Rachel Price

Wounded healer, searching for belonging

Rachel is a sports medicine doctor with a famous rock star father and a history of running from the spotlight. Intelligent, intuitive, and deeply empathetic, she's spent her life trying to prove her worth outside her family's fame. Her past is marked by trauma, addiction, and a fear of being seen. Rachel's journey is one of self-acceptance: learning to embrace her desires, her unconventional love, and her right to happiness. She is the emotional center of the foursome, the glue that binds them, and the storm that shakes them all awake.

Jake Compton

Golden retriever, heart-on-sleeve lover

Jake is the Rays' star defenseman—charismatic, loyal, and endlessly optimistic. He's haunted by guilt over Caleb's injury and struggles with the pressure of being a public figure. Jake's love for Rachel is instant and all-consuming, but his journey is about learning to love more than one person—and to accept love in return. His bisexual awakening, his deepening bond with Caleb, and his willingness to fight for his family make him the emotional engine of the group. Jake's vulnerability and joy are infectious, and his growth is a testament to the power of chosen love.

Caleb Sanford

Wounded warrior, reluctant romantic

Caleb is the Rays' equipment manager and a former hockey prodigy whose career was cut short by injury. Guarded, gruff, and fiercely independent, he hides a tender heart behind layers of sarcasm and self-protection. Caleb's journey is one of healing: learning to trust, to let others in, and to accept that he is worthy of love. His relationship with Jake is a slow-burn revelation, and his devotion to Rachel is unwavering. Caleb's queerness, his struggle with vulnerability, and his eventual embrace of polyamory make him the group's anchor and protector.

Ilmari Kinnunen

Stoic giant, lonely soul, secret romantic

Ilmari is the Rays' Finnish goalie—a man of few words, immense talent, and deep loneliness. Haunted by family estrangement and the pressure of legacy, he finds solace in routine and the solitude of the net. Ilmari's connection with Rachel is transformative, awakening a longing for intimacy and belonging. His journey is about learning to trust, to share, and to accept love in all its forms. Ilmari's quiet strength, his vulnerability, and his eventual embrace of the foursome's unconventional family make him the group's safe harbor.

Tess Owens

Fierce best friend, comic relief, voice of reason

Tess is Rachel's best friend and former roommate—a curvy, confident, and unapologetically wild woman. She provides comic relief, tough love, and unwavering support. Tess is the first to call Rachel on her bullshit and the last to let her give up. Her own romantic adventures and her loyalty to Rachel add depth and levity to the story.

Harrison Price

Protective twin, family anchor

Harrison is Rachel's twin brother—a celebrity chef with a sharp tongue and a soft heart. He is fiercely protective of Rachel, always ready to rally the Price family in times of crisis. Harrison's presence grounds Rachel, reminding her of her roots and the importance of chosen family.

Poppy St. James

PR mastermind, Southern dynamo

Poppy is the Rays' head of PR—a whirlwind of energy, charm, and strategic brilliance. She manages the team's image, navigates scandals, and becomes an unexpected ally to Rachel and the foursome. Poppy's own anxieties and honesty make her a relatable, lovable presence.

Mark Talbot

Pragmatic leader, reluctant ally

Talbot is the Rays' General Manager—a man caught between tradition and progress. Initially skeptical of Rachel and the team's unconventional relationships, he is ultimately swayed by loyalty, teamwork, and the undeniable results of Rachel's care. His willingness to listen and adapt is key to the group's survival.

Doctor Halla

Estranged father, secret mentor

Ilmari's biological father and Rachel's former mentor, Halla is a complex figure—brilliant, emotionally distant, and haunted by regret. His relationship with Ilmari is fraught, but his eventual support and reconciliation are crucial to Ilmari's healing and the group's acceptance.

Lukas Novikov (Novy)

Comic relief, loyal teammate

Novy is a defenseman on the Rays—a jokester, a playboy, and a steadfast friend. His support for Rachel and the group, his willingness to stand up to bullies, and his own journey toward maturity add depth and humor to the team dynamic.

Plot Devices

Why-Choose Polyamory

Love without limits, family by choice

The central device is the "why-choose" romance: Rachel does not have to pick one partner, and the men do not have to compete. Instead, they build a polyamorous family, each relationship unique and essential. This structure allows for deep exploration of jealousy, compersion, and the logistics of loving more than one person. The narrative challenges monogamy as the default, offering a vision of love that is abundant, negotiated, and fiercely loyal.

Found Family and Healing

Broken people, mended together

Each character is wounded—by family, by trauma, by loss. The plot uses the trope of "found family" to show how love, trust, and vulnerability can heal even the deepest wounds. The group's journey is one of mutual rescue: they save each other from loneliness, shame, and self-doubt.

Sports as Metaphor

Teamwork, risk, and resilience

Hockey is more than a backdrop; it's a metaphor for the relationships at the story's heart. The language of teamwork, strategy, and risk-taking mirrors the foursome's navigation of love and life. Injuries, victories, and defeats on the ice parallel the emotional highs and lows of their journey.

Scandal and Public Scrutiny

The cost of authenticity

The threat of exposure, scandal, and public judgment is ever-present. The plot uses media scrutiny, rumors, and professional risk to heighten stakes and force the characters to choose between safety and authenticity. The eventual decision to go public is a triumph of self-acceptance and solidarity.

Alternating POV and Intimate Voice

Multiple perspectives, deep immersion

The story is told through alternating first-person perspectives, giving readers intimate access to each character's thoughts, fears, and desires. This device deepens empathy, reveals misunderstandings, and allows for rich, layered storytelling.

Symbolism and Motifs

Jerseys, rings, and names

Symbols—team jerseys, wedding rings, the name "Price"—are used to mark belonging, commitment, and transformation. The act of wearing a partner's jersey, the exchange of rings, and the choice to take a new name all become rituals of love and family.

Narrative Structure and Foreshadowing

From chaos to harmony

The book's structure mirrors the journey from chaos (Rachel's arrival, the tangled relationships, the threat of scandal) to harmony (the formation of Team Price, public acceptance, and Olympic victory). Early hints—Rachel's fear of the spotlight, Jake's guilt, Ilmari's loneliness—foreshadow the challenges and triumphs to come.

Analysis

Pucking Around is a bold, exuberant celebration of love in all its messy, unconventional glory. At its core, the novel is about the courage to choose happiness on your own terms, even when the world tells you it's impossible. Through the lens of hockey—a sport built on teamwork, risk, and resilience—the story explores the power of found family, the necessity of vulnerability, and the beauty of loving without limits. The polyamorous structure is not just a titillating twist, but a thoughtful exploration of compersion, jealousy, and the logistics of building a life with more than one partner. The book challenges the reader to question assumptions about monogamy, masculinity, and what it means to belong. In a world obsessed with scandal and conformity, Pucking Around offers a vision of radical authenticity, where love is abundant, chosen, and fiercely defended. The ultimate message is clear: happiness is not found in playing by someone else's rules, but in writing your own—and finding the people brave enough to play alongside you.

Last updated: June 14, 2025

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