The little shit.
SAM WAS ALMOST WORSEthan Cole when it came to questioning me about Dean. If Cole hadn’t brought up the wholepen pal thing, I was terrified she wouldn’t ever stop talking. I sank onto the couch in relief, a beer in my hand, and listened as Sam asked a million questions about Reed.
“He’s my age, but we’re just friends. That’s all this whole thing is meant to be,” Cole answered. He pushed her hand away when she tried to ruffle his curls. “Stop.”
My sister smiled. “Sorry, you just need a cut, that’s all. Unless you’re growing it out.” She glanced over at me. “You okay? You look tired.”
“Thanks for pointing that out.”
I felt more than tired. I was exhausted. And I felt it deep in my bones. It had me thinking more and more about retiring these days. I knew I couldn’t play hockey forever, even if I wanted to. I was terrified of an injury that might take me out. Or worse.
Sam dropped onto the sofa next to me. “And how are things with your guitar player?”
“Things are fine.” Which was true, but what I really wanted to say was that I missed him. I wanted Dean to come home. South Korea seemed so far away, and the time difference was horrible. When he called me, I was sleeping, and vice versa.
Cole shoved his phone in my face. “He did some talk show with a popular K-Pop band.” I had no idea what that even meant. “Look.”
Dean was sitting on the couch with a handsome Asian man, both of them smiling at one another. The green monster of jealousy crawled inside my brain.
“And?” I growled. “It’s his job to do stuff like this.”
“They weren’t following one another on IG before. Now they are. They did a photoshoot together, too.”
Cole wasn’t trying to start anything, I knew that. He was just pointing things out, but it still bothered me. I was too old to care about things like this. And this is why I shouldn’t get involvedwith Dean. He was a huge star, and I was just me. I could walk down the street without getting mobbed, while Dean would get noticed in a heartbeat. Only it was too late to let him go now. I liked him. And so did Cole. He was a part of our lives. Not just mine.
Sam slapped playfully at Cole’s shoulder. “Don’t start rumors. They’re both musicians. It’s probably in their contracts. Must follow one another on social media.” She nudged my arm. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Of course it doesn’t,” I assured her, but it didn’t stop me from opening my own phone and scrolling through the K-Pop star’s account.
He was cute, with purple hair and big dark eyes. He wasn’t my type, but maybe Dean wanted someone like that? Someone younger, closer to his age. He had posted a picture of the two of them backstage at the show, their shoulders pushed together and bright smiles on their faces. Their cheeks were flushed, and they looked happy. But since the caption was written in Korean, I couldn’t read what it said without translation.
“Don’t do that to yourself, Beau,” Sam whispered. “Dean likes you. I saw it in the way he watched you with hearts in his eyes. He’s just being nice.”
I nodded but didn’t take my eyes off the picture. I should break it off now before it got out of hand. It was part of why I didn’t date anymore in the first place. That, and Cole. That way, neither one of us would end up getting hurt.
“We should go,” I announced. “It’s a school night, and we both have an early practice in the morning.” I climbed to my feet. “Thanks for dinner,” I told my sister.
Sam wrapped her arms around me. “I’m here if you need to talk,” she said. “About anything.”
But by the time I fell asleep that night, I had convinced myself I should break it off with Dean.
Chapter Nineteen
Dean
Iloved Korea. It was a beautiful country, full of kind, friendly people, and I always enjoyed coming here. Mulligan had been lucky enough to tour here twice, and both times had been amazing. The first time, Killian had almost ruined it. He had started a fight with someone, gotten black-out drunk, and then passed out in his hotel room after he had destroyed it. The second time, Maverick had refused to leave his hotel room, and we’d nearly missed the show. But despite those ugly memories, Blake and I had managed to find time to enjoy ourselves. Just like we were right now.
“Who do you keep texting?” His brows were raised when I met his gaze. “Helena?”
I chuckled. “Uh, no. That ship has sailed, my friend.” I felt a flush creep up my neck and over my face.
“Someone new? Have you been holding out on us? Is the person who left the hickeys on your neck?” Blake leaned back in his chair and took a sip of his coffee.
I put down my phone. “It’s...” I wasn’t sure if I should tell him. I hadn’t even told Killian yet. “It’s very new, and I don’t want to jinx it yet.” Which is exactly what I was afraid I was doing.
I hadn’t heard back from Beau since yesterday. I wasn’t sure if it was the time difference, or maybe he was just busy, but my messages had gone unread. And it was starting to bother me. I knew he had a lot going on with hockey, Cole, and life in general, but when he didn’t call me this morning like he usually did, Iwondered if maybe he had just finally decided to cut ties. The thought made my stomach twist into knots.
“Okay, I can respect that.” Blake grinned as he glanced around the room. “But I hope it works out.”
