“You look happy this morning.” Jackson grinned at me. “I can only assume that things with Dean are better.”
I nodded. “He’s forgiven me.”
“Good.” Jax sat down on the bench next to me. He stared at me for a little too long for that to be the only thing he had to say.
I shook my head. “I know you have more to say to that. Maybe Maverick asked you to warn me about something else. Like he’s going to skin me alive or slit me from balls to taint. Don’t look at me like that, Jax. Your fiancé is very intimidating when he wants to be. Doesn’t matter that he’s tiny.”
“Mavs means well. He loves his brother. If it was Sam, wouldn’t you do the same thing? If she was dating Wyatt or whatever, you’d be protective of her, too,” Jackson pointed out.
I chuckled. “Well, she’s not, because Wyatt is gay, and she knows that ship has sailed.”
I glanced over to where Wyatt sat with Asher, their heads close together as they talked in hushed tones. Whatever was going on between the two of them was going to crash and burn. When Wyatt caught me looking, he pulled back and smoothed down the front of his jersey. I could smell that disaster a mile away.
“Maverick wants you to come for dinner tonight.” And there it was. My invitation for my burning at the stake.
I gritted my teeth. “So, he can continue to grill me? Make me feel even more guilty than I already do?”
“You can say no.” Jackson stood up. He already towered over me at six foot six, but his skates added even more height. “And he wants to get to know you if you’re going to continue to date Dean. Mav is an amazing cook, too. I’m going to gain so much weight because of that.” He patted his flat stomach with a grin on his face.
I knew I wouldn’t have a choice. Dean would want to see his brother. “Fine.” I sighed. I had a feeling I might regret this.
“I mean, don’t make me twist your arm or anything.” Jackson chuckled. “Cole and Sam are invited, too.”
I nodded. “That might ease some of the awkwardness. Just keep Maverick on a tight leash.”
“As if I could.” Jackson slapped my back when I climbed to my feet.
And then we headed out to practice with the rest of the team.
AFTER AN EASY PRACTICEand a heavy workout, I headed home to find Dean still sleeping in my bed. Still in the same spot I had left him in, the blanket wrapped tightly around his small frame. I knew he had to be exhausted from his trip home from Korea, then the flight to Boston. I let him rest and went to make lunch. When I finished, I turned to find him watching me, his green hair a tousled mess, sleep still in his eyes. He was dressed in a pair of my sweats, which hung from his slim hips, and one of my Boston hoodies. My heart thumped against my chest at how much I liked Dean in my clothes. How normal it felt to have him in my apartment.
“What time is it?” he grumbled, his voice rough from sleep. He dragged a hand through his hair. “I swear I slept like the dead. I should have you eat my ass every night if that’s how it’s going to be.” His face heated when he realized what he had said.
I took several steps toward him, cupped his head in my hands, and kissed him. “It’s almost two o’clock.”
“Mm.” Dean leaned up onto his toes to chase after my mouth. “Do that again, please.”
So, I did. I slipped my tongue between his lips to find his. Dean melted against me, his body slotting against mine like it was meant to be there.
“I like you in my clothes, Pink.” I stroked the back of his head. “I like having you here in my place. Waiting for me when I get home.”
“I like it, too.” He nuzzled into my chest, his hands tangled in the back of my shirt. He sighed happily as we held one anotherbefore he pulled back to look up at me. “I really like you. And I know that you’re not ready for anything serious. Or coming out. And that’s okay. You don’t have to. I just wanted you to know. I don’t plan on being with anyone else while we’re doing this.”
“Pink.”
“If you wanted to or needed, that’s okay.”
“Pink.”
“I just like you.”
I kissed him again to stop him from rambling. I didn’t want to be with anyone else. Just Dean. I wasn’t sure what we were doing, or where this thing between us was going, but I needed him to know that I felt exactly the same way.
“I like you, too,” I murmured. “And there won’t be anyone else. Not while we’re doing this.”
“Good.” Dean slipped a hand up the back of my shirt. “Because I might have to sic Maverick on them.”
I snorted. “Speaking of your brother, we’re invited to dinner tonight. Despite it feeling like a trap, I told Jackson we’d be there.”
