Before I knew it, the game was over, with Cole’s team winning, and I was trying to find an excuse to spend more time with Dean. I wasn’t sure how long he was going to be in Boston, and I was leaving for a few away games myself.
“Did you enjoy the game, Dean?” Cole asked as he came out of the locker room to join us, his curls damp from a shower.
Dean nodded. “Sure did. Not sure how you manage to skate that fast and not take a header on that ice, but you make it look so easy. I’d probably break my neck. Great job, by the way. Are we still good to grab something to eat?”
“Thanks.” Cole beamed happily. “Please, Dad? I’m starving.”
Dean clapped his hands. “I could go for a giant cheeseburger and fries. Maybe a shake. My treat.”
“It’s a school night, Cole.” I raised my brows, knowing I was already going to cave.
Cole sighed and rolled his eyes. “Dad.”
“Yeah, Dad,” Dean mimicked.
The little shit. “Fine, just this once.” But I leaned down when Cole wasn’t looking so that my lips were against Dean’s ear. “You’ll pay for that later, Pink.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Dean smirked.
Chapter Nine
Dean
Iwas sitting in a booth with Cole as he asked me a million questions about Mulligan. Did we really all grow up together? Were we all still best friends? What kind of a brother was Maverick? What were my parents like? Did I like touring? What was it like living in California? I didn’t mind. Cole was a great kid. He reminded me a little of myself when I was his age. And now that he seemed to have gotten over his shyness, he wasn’t holding anything back.
“You and Maverick look like you could be twins,” Cole commented as he scrolled through my IG feed on his phone, occasionally stopping to take a sip of his soda. “Even more now that you dyed your hair back.”
I wondered if it would be weird if I followed him back. That would be something I’d have to talk to his father about. People might notice, and I didn’t want to bring any unwanted attention to either of us.
I smiled. “He’s two years older, but yeah. We look exactly like our mom.”
I didn’t talk much about my parents. That was something Mav and I both agreed on when the band blew up. To keep that part of our lives private. The religious shit that they shoved down our throats and what our father did to Maverick... Goosebumps broke out over my skin, and I rubbed my hands over my arms to push the memories out of my mind.
“We had a falling out, but we’re cool now. I hope we become as close as we used to be growing up. Maverick was the best brother.”
“That means you’ll be around more, right? Now that Jax and Maverick are together?” Cole chewed nervously on his bottom lip as he watched me with wide blue eyes. He looked a lot like Beau, but I saw a little of his mother in there, too.
I nodded. “I hope so. I’ve missed bonding time with him, and we have a lot to catch up on. I had no idea that he and Jax were a thing back then. But everything makes so much sense now.” Guilt niggled into my brain. If I had known, could I have helped my brother? Would he and Jax have been able to work things out? Would Maverick have been less angry?
“Cool, maybe we can hang out or something, too.” Cole blushed and glanced back at his phone. “So, uh, do you date much?”
Oh dear. I had a feeling Cole had some sort of crush on me. “Not really.” I glanced across the table to find Beau watching with a small smile on his lips. “I don’t really have time for it. Though I suppose if I find the right person, things could change.”
“That makes sense,” Cole agreed. “I’d like to find someone. I mean, when I’m older. You know, someone who’s a friend first. Someone who makes me laugh. Who I can be myself around. Who wants the same things in life that I want.”
I felt a foot rub over my shin, and I knew it was Beau. “Anyone at school you might have that with?”
“Nah, all my bros are already seeing someone. And the girls are just... I don’t know... They all want to hook up in hopes that they can hitch a ride on my coattails when I get drafted, you know? Or meet my dad.” Cole’s cheeks burned crimson as he reached for his glass. He took a long sip before he gave me a shy smile. “It’s fine. I’ll meet someone when the time is right.”
Beau nodded. “There’s plenty of time for that. You have your whole life ahead of you. But when you meet the right one, you’ll know.”
“Or maybe I’ll be like you, Dad, and be a bachelor for the rest of my life,” Cole teased.
I was happy when the waiter brought our food over, and we all dug in to eat. I wondered a lot what might have been if Helena hadn’t pushed me away. Would we have stayed together? Gotten married? She was happy now, too. She had met someone who truly loved her, and that was all I wanted. He seemed nice, and Helena deserved the world. But what about me? Didn’t I deserve the world, too?
“Dean?” I glanced over at Cole. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Great, perfect.”
