“And their response?”
Cole brushed the hair from his eyes as he met my gaze. “They were cool about it. They asked me if I had a boyfriend, and if I was practicing safe sex.”
“Yikes.” I chuckled softly. “Jax is engaged.” Cole knew that some of my teammates were gay, but he knew nothing about me or my bisexuality. I knew how kids his age could be, even if being queer had become more accepted. “He proposed to Maverick after our last game.”
Cole nodded his head. “Cool.” He stood up. “Does that mean I get to meet Mulligan Downtown sometime? I mean, two members have come out; so it might be fun to talk to them about it.”
“I can ask. I’m not making any promises, though. I met the rest of them.” I watched Cole’s eyes grow wide. “You still have a crush on Killian?”
He shook his head. “Nah, not anymore.”
“He seems like an interesting guy.” I added.
Cole had been over-the-moon excited when Killian had come out as bisexual. There had been posters of him and the rest of the band plastered all over his bedroom, along with the hockey players he idolized.
Cole folded his arms over his chest. “What about Dean? Did you meet him? He’s hot with all those tattoos and the nipple piercings. Plus, I dig the green hair. Sexy.”
“Uh, he was there.” I was too busy trying to wrap my head around the fact that I had touched Dean Frost and that my son thought he was hot.
Cole’s brows shot up. “Did you talk to him? What is he like? He has serious rizz. Do you think you could introduce me to him? I mean, if they ever come around here again. I’d be low-key about it.” His entire face had gone red, his pupils blown wide.
“Sure.” I had no idea what he had just said to me. Kids these days had their own way of talking. I tried not to think about how I had made out with Dean. Among other things.
He grinned. “Thanks, Dad. I’m going to bed.” He headed back to his room. “Glad you’re home,” he called and then I heard the sound of his door close.
I grabbed my bag from the floor and decided to take a quick shower before I went to bed.
WHEN I GOT UP THE NEXTmorning, Cole had already left for school, and the apartment was eerily quiet. I sipped my coffee at the kitchen table, scrolling mindlessly through my phone before I opened Instagram. Which is how I found myself creeping on Dean’s profile. Being a popular hockey player had its perks, but he had double the followers I had. Apparently, being a Grammy-winning musician had way more perks.
There were younger pictures of Dean with Maverick, fresh faced and free of tattoos. Beaming at the camera. Dean behind his guitar, another with him with his arm around a dark-haired girl whom I assumed was Helena, and some of the band. Some, where Killian scowled with anger in his blue eyes, Maverick withice in his fake smile, and Blake with his arms folded over his chest like he’d rather be anywhere else. Where the four of them looked less than brothers and more like strangers forced to be together. Yet they had still put out music that had changed the rock world.
I scrolled to the top to find a few newer ones. One post a couple of days ago of Dean and Maverick, their heads pressed together as they sat on someone’s front porch talking. They were both smiling and obviously happy.
The last one was posted a couple of hours ago. Dean with his newly dyed hair, a shy smile on his face. He had a Terrier’s shirt on that he must have gotten from Jax, but I couldn’t help but puff out my chest. Dean wasn’t mine, but I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if he was. Would he want to be? It was the one-word caption beneath it, Pink,that had me doing something stupid. I liked the photo, started to follow him, and waited. It took nearly five minutes, like he was on his phone or just anticipating my move.
Dean:Creeping on me now?
Beau:Just admiring my handy work.
Dean:Is that so?
Beau:Your fans seem to like it.
Dean: It doesn’t matter what they think.
Beau:Isn’t it always about them? What does PR think?
Dean:Lou freaks out about everything. She’ll be fine. At least I didn’t publicly announce my bisexuality and that I had a boyfriend all at once.
Beau:Yeah, Killian likes to draw attention to himself, huh?
Dean:He loves it. He’s an attention whore. But then again, he’s the lead singer. They’re sort of known for that.
Beau: How’s your brother?
Dean:Maverick is going to be okay. He has Jackson, and I can hear them laughing together right now. That’s really all that matters.
Beau:Are you still in North Carolina?
