Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 131271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 656(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 656(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
I love Hayes for his quiet, unshakable steadiness, the way he’s my anchor when everything else feels like it’s spinning out of control. And Shawn, with his effortless humor and the way he can make me laugh when all I want to do is scream, reminds me that life can still be light and joyful, even in its heaviest moments.
These three men have become my entire world. I wouldn’t trade this love, this messy, complicated, beautiful thing we’ve built, for anything. But sometimes, it terrifies me how much of myself I’ve given to them, how much of my heart, my soul, my everything is wrapped up in theirs.
I pick up my phone and scroll through the dozens of unanswered texts from Imani and Katerina. They’re full of emojis and exclamation points, their unsubtle way of telling me they’re about ready to drag me out by my hair if I don’t come up for air soon.
Imani: RILEY!!! We need a girls’ night, or I’ll forget what you look like. Also, Katerina threatened to bake cookies without you, and you know how that went last time.
Katerina: Tell her you’re lying in a ditch somewhere because if your only excuse is “boys,” I’m going to throw a shoe at YOU.
I smile, but it’s tinged with guilt. They’re right. I’ve let myself disappear into the Draytons’ world, and while it’s been everything I’ve ever wanted, it’s not sustainable.
Lying in bed that night, I’m struck with the inspiration for a new episode. I roll over, grabbing my phone to text Imani.
Me: Okay, girls’ night tomorrow. Don’t let me bail.
Then I settle back into bed, pulling the covers up to my chin. Tomorrow, I’ll tackle everything—my channel, my friendships, my future. But tonight, I’ll savor the quiet, the warmth of my men, and the knowledge that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, for now.
EPISODE 266
ICING THE CAKE - THE HOCKEY CHANNEL WITH A SWEET BITE
[The video opens with the host at her kitchen counter, a hockey jersey hanging on the back of a chair and a beautifully arranged set of baking tools spread before her. She’s sipping coffee from a mug that says, “Bake it till you make it.”]
Anonymous Host:
“Hey there, cake crew and hockey fanatics! Welcome back to Icing the Cake, where we talk life lessons, love for the game, and, of course, baking up something sweet. Today’s topic? How to love something without losing yourself in it.”
[She sets the mug down and picks up a hockey stick leaning against the counter, spinning it once before placing it beside her.]
Anonymous Host:
“We all know the feeling, right? You find something you’re passionate about—whether it’s hockey, baking, your job, or even a relationship—and suddenly, it’s all-consuming. You eat, sleep, and breathe it. And while passion is awesome, there’s a fine line between dedication and losing sight of who you are outside of that thing.”
[She starts grabbing ingredients for a cake and setting them out on the counter.]
Anonymous Host:
“I’ve seen it happen to so many players. They dedicate their life to hockey—the training, the games, the wins, the losses. And somewhere along the way, the game becomes their whole identity. But what happens when you’re sidelined by an injury? Or the season ends? Or, dare I say it, you retire? If all you’ve ever been is ‘the hockey player,’ who are you without the game?”
[She cracks eggs into a bowl, whisking them with deliberate motions.]
Anonymous Host:
“It’s not just hockey, either. It happens with relationships, too. You fall so hard for someone, and you start reshaping your life around them. Or with work, where you throw every ounce of energy into climbing the ladder, and one day you wake up realizing you haven’t seen your friends in months. Loving something or someone is great, but not when it means deprioritizing yourself.”
[She adds sugar and butter to the eggs, mixing them into a creamy batter.]
Anonymous Host:
“So today’s bake is a little reminder to keep the balance: a Center Ice Cake. On the outside, it’s all about bold flavors… rich chocolate and espresso for the parts of life you’re passionate about. But at the heart of it, there’s a light, fluffy vanilla layer—
because that’s you. The sweet center that holds everything together.”
[She starts layering the batter into two pans, one with chocolate and one with vanilla.]
Anonymous Host:
“Here’s the thing: you’re allowed to love things deeply. Hockey, baking, your job, your partner, they’re all amazing parts of life. But you’re also allowed to say, ‘I need time for me.’ It’s okay to set boundaries, to step back, to prioritize your mental health and personal growth. Because the truth is, you’re more than the sum of the things you love. And when you take care of yourself, you show up even better for the things, and people, you care about.”
[Cut to Host pulling the cakes out of the oven and starting to assemble them.]