I shook my head. “No, it’s fine. I get it. You have a family, and you don’t... I understand now.”
The sound of the front door opening had us both turning toward it, and when Cole walked in, I felt my stomach drop. This was bad. So very, very bad.
His eyes lit up when he saw me, a flush creeping up his neck and cheeks. Then his face split into a giant smile.
“Oh, my goodness. Dean Frost.” He squeaked out as he took a step toward me. His blue eyes were as big as saucers.
Beau coughed softly next to me. “You did say you wanted to meet him.”
Wait, what? What was happening right now?
“Yeah, I did. Oh wow.” Cole’s entire face was cherry red as he stared at me, and if I didn’t know better, I might think he had a crush on me. “I’m a big fan.” I mean, that was kind of sweet.
I smiled. “It’s great to meet you, Cole.” I stuck out my fist, and he bumped it with his own.
“Wow, this is so fire. Your hair is white. I like it, though. Very fire. You look a lot like your brother. Hey, do you want to see my room? I have a huge Mulligan poster on my wall.” His eyes were wide as he stared down at me, and when I nodded, Cole’s smile grew even bigger. “Cool.”
I followed behind him as he led me down the hall, and when I glanced over my shoulder at Beau, he gave me a little wave.
Chapter Eight
Beau
Ileaned against the doorframe of Cole’s room and watched as he spoke a mile a minute, Dean nodding his head as he listened. Occasionally, Cole would stop to ask him a question, which Dean would answer, or vice versa. Sometimes they would both laugh together, Cole blushing or shaking his head, the crush he had more than obvious.
It wasn’t that I was embarrassed or ashamed of my sexuality, I just didn’t want it to be something else Cole had to worry about. I was already gone a lot from his life; on the road while he stayed here with his grandparents. I didn’t want to have to worry about him getting bullied about me dating men on top of everything else he dealt with. Not that he couldn’t handle himself. He was bigger than most of the kids in his class.
“Hi, Dad.” Cole caught me watching and flashed a smile.
I nodded. “Just wanted to make sure the two of you were getting a long all right.”
“We are,” Dean answered, and I swear the smile on my son’s face grew ten times wider. I had never seen him so happy.
Cole nodded. “Yeah, look! Dean signed my poster.” He pointed the silver signature right under where Dean stood between his brother and best friend.
“That’s an oldie of us. Look how pissed Killian looks. He’s happier now that he has Matty.” Dean grinned. “He doesn’t scowl quite so hard these days.”
Cole chuckled softly. “I, uh, I’m bisexual.”
His confession surprised me. I knew he had told a few people. Me, his grandparents, and his best friend, but admitting it to someone that who was a complete stranger was something I hadn’t expected.
“Really?” Dean clapped a hand on his shoulder. “That’s great, man. Me, too. I mean, I think I am. My brother is. I think. I don’t know. This whole figuring out my sexuality thing is kind of new to me, but right on.” He leaned forward. “Is it okay that I called you man?”
Cole’s cheeks burned pink. “Yeah, it’s cool.”
“Cool.” Dean glanced over at me, and I couldn’t stop the smile that spread over my own face.
I wasn’t sure why I had been so worried about this. Dean was a pretty awesome guy, and even if I never came out publicly, and we weren’t officially ever a couple, I hoped we could remain friends.
“Well, I should head out.”
“Do you have to?” Cole asked. “I have a game tonight, and it would be really awesome if you came to watch. I’m sure Dad wouldn’t mind, right? Unless you have plans. Do you have plans? I don’t want to force you. Oh, do you like hockey? I didn’t even think about that.”
Oh boy. “Cole,” I warned, not wanting my son to come across as a little bit of a stage five clinger. I hadn’t realized my son had such a big crush on Dean.
“I do like hockey. I’ve been watching it since I was a kid with Jackson and all. I would love to come to your game.” Dean grinned. “I mean, I was just going to hang with my brother, and I’m sure he’d like a little privacy with his fiancé.” He turned to look at me. “What do you say,Dad? You want some company tonight?”
Cole giggled and covered his mouth as that flush on his face grew even darker. This might be a problem. I didn’t want my sonto get upset when he found out something was going on between Dean and me.
