“A trap?” Dean popped a brow at me as we broke apart. He walked over to the sandwiches I had made. “Can I have one of these? I kind of missed breakfast.”
I nodded. “Of course. Why do you think I made two?” I watched as he took a bite. “Maverick doesn’t seem to like me much at the moment.”
“This is really good,” Dean said as he sat down at the table. “Mav is just looking out for me. He always has.” He smiled when I joined him at the table.
I had questions about that. “Your parents weren’t good to you.”
“No.” He dropped his gaze. “They were shitty. Our father...” Dean shook his head. “I’d rather not talk about that, if it’s okay with you.”
I reached over to grip his chin. “You don’t have to if it makes you uncomfortable, Pink, but I’d like to know everything about you. Including your terrible parents and horrible childhood. Only when you’re ready.”
“Our father beat him,” Dean whispered, and tears welled in his eyes. “A couple of times it was so bad he couldn’t get out of bed. He took the brunt of everything, so that I wouldn’t have to. Mom and Dad convinced Maverick that being gay was so horrible that when Mom caught him with Jackson, he chose me over the man he loved. Mav was so scared they would hurt me. It changed him.”
Tears slipped down Dean’s face, and before I could stop myself, I hauled him into my lap. “It’s not your fault. Hey, Pink baby, they were horrible people. You and Maverick aren’t bad. They are.” I wrapped my arms around him. “It’s okay. Let it out.”
Dean sobbed softly against me, his tears soaking my shirt. “Maverick was so angry for so long. I didn’t know why. He hated everyone. And now that I know the truth, it makes so much sense. I hate them.” He pulled back. “Our parents. They shoved this religious shit down our throats. I did therapy for years to get my head on straight, but I lost my brother even when he gave up the love of his life for me. I thought I had done something wrong, but it was them all along.”
“I know.” I dragged my thumbs over his cheeks to dry his tears.
He sniffed softly. “I didn’t mean to bring the mood down.”
“I’m glad you told me. It helps me to understand things better. And why Maverick is the way he is. Why he wants to protect you. I shouldn’t be so hard on him. He loves you.” I cupped his cheek. “You’re lucky to have such a good brother.”
Dean gave me a small smile. “I know. And I’m lucky to have him back in my life again.” He blushed, then he spoke again. “Do you think you could eat my ass again?”
“If you finish your sandwich.” I slid my lips over his. But when he tried to move off my lap, I held him tightly. “You can stay here.”
He laughed happily. “Okay, Daddy.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dean
Dinner at Maverick and Jackson’s was nothing short of amazing. I wasn’t sure why I thought it would be any less. Maverick had always been a fantastic cook. When we were on tour and forced to be on that horrible bus, he had enjoyed cooking for the band. He had insisted it was because it was healthy, but deep down, I had always wondered if it was because he had liked it. If it had given him a sense of having a family. Something neither one of us had had growing up.
Watching Maverick with Jackson was like something out of a romance book. The long glances. The soft touches. The way my brother blushed when Jackson whispered into his ear, telling him things only Maverick could hear. I loved seeing my brother so happy and open again. The way I always remembered him. But it was Maverick’s giggles of happiness that made me realize that Jackson was what really had been missing from his life. What Maverick needed.
“I won’t need to eat again for a week.” Sam patted her stomach as we all moved from the kitchen table to the couch. “Allen, your cooking is out of this world. If this drumming thing doesn’t work out, you should open your own restaurant.”
I wasn’t sure why Beau’s sister insisted on calling Maverick by his middle name. There was definitely a story there.
Maverick blushed. “Thank you.” He leaned into Jackson on the couch.
“I have to agree with Sam. That roast was perfect. I’m not sure I could eat anything else.” Beau nodded in agreement.
Maverick gave him a tight smile. He was trying his hardest to be nice tonight after I had begged him to be. Told him how much I liked Beau and wanted this thing between us to work out. He hadn’t promised he would, but Mav was trying, and that was all that mattered.
“Thank you. I hope you all saved room, though. There’s dessert.”
“I could eat dessert.” Cole looked up from his phone and blushed when Maverick chuckled. “I mean, you made it, so it would be a shame for it to go to waste, right?”
Maverick climbed to his feet. “Come on, kiddo. I hope you like strawberry shortcake.”
We watched them go and then Jackson let out a long sigh. “Well, I think Maverick wanted to be the one to tell you this.”
“Don’t you dare!” he hollered from the other room. “Wait for me, Goose. We have to tell them together. You promised.”
My eyes went wide. What was going on? “Is everything okay?” I reached for Beau’s hand without even realizing it and linked our fingers together.
