“Everything is fine.” Maverick walked back in, with Cole behind him, carrying a giant plate covered in whipped cream. I assumed there were strawberries beneath it somewhere. He smiled at me. “We’ve been talking about fostering a child.”
Jackson nodded happily. “There’s a lot of paperwork and red tape to get through first. Go on, Sweetheart, tell them.”
“Back when I was still trying to get my head out of my butt, and we had a fight, I met this boy, Andy. Sam, do you remember him?” Maverick glanced over at her.
She nodded. “The one at the coffee shop?”
“That would be him. Apparently, he’s in a foster home now, and they reached out to me to see if I could help him with giving drum lessons.” Maverick’s face grew into a bright smile. “He’ssuch a good kid. After a few lessons, I couldn’t help but hope that we could help him.”
My throat grew tight as I saw the love that beamed from my brother. I could see Maverick being a father. I could see him with a house full of kids who he loved and took care of. He had so much love to give. “That’s amazing, Mav.”
“You think so? I just... I want to help him so much. Andy is talented, funny, and kind. We want to give him a home.” Maverick smiled up at Jackson.
Beau squeezed my hand. “You’re doing a great thing. Both of you.”
“And, Cole, he’s only a couple of years younger than you are,” Maverick added. “If things work out, maybe the two of you could be friends.”
Cole nodded, his face back in his phone as he shoveled strawberries into his mouth. “Cool, yeah, sure.”
“He’s got a boyfriend.” Beau chuckled softly.
I nudged him playfully. “It’s not a boyfriend. It’s a pen pal thing through school, remember?” Cole had told me all about Reed and how they had instantly clicked. They were talking online as well as their snail mail letters. I thought it was kind of cool.
“How come no one told me any of this?” Sam asked as she leaned down to try to read over Cole’s shoulder. “Reed, huh? He’s a dancer?”
Cole blushed and yanked his phone away. “That’s private. You shouldn’t read someone’s messages like that without asking.”
“It’s also rude to ignore everyone,” Beau said sternly. “You can put your phone away until we go home.”
Cole nodded. “Yes, Dad. Sorry.”
“Have the two of you set a wedding date yet?” Sam asked, and just like that, conversation changed to wedding bells and summer flowers.
I tucked myself comfortably next to Beau as we all laughed and enjoyed ourselves. I wondered if I could live here in Boston. Would that be something Beau wanted? Not with him, of course, but I could be closer to my brother, too. Be there if he needed me. I could find my own apartment.
“You awake, Pink?” Beau’s voice was soft in my ear. “We can go if you want.”
I hadn’t even realized I had fallen asleep. “Okay.”
“I take it you’re staying with Beau now,” Maverick teased. He climbed up next to me on the couch and hugged me. “I love you, Dean. Thank you for being the best brother.”
Where had that come from? “I love you, too, Mav,” I assured him.
“We’ll have lunch tomorrow, okay?” He squeezed me again before he let me go, and then Beau was leading me upstairs to his apartment, putting me back in his clothes, and helping me to bed.
BEAU HAD PRACTICE INthe morning, followed by some interviews and photo shoots that were contract agreements. It felt a little strange to be in his apartment alone, drinking coffee at his table. But when there was a knock at the door, and I found Maverick standing there, it felt right. Like I belonged here.
“So.” Maverick wiggled his brows at me after he hugged me. “Are you in love with him? Do you want to have like a million of his babies? Is Cole going to call you Daddy?”
I rolled my eyes. “Stop it.” But the blush that crept up my neck and face was hard to ignore. I was suddenly sweatingdespite wearing one of Beau’s oversized T-shirts. I dragged a hand through my hair. “It’s only been a couple of months.”
“Holy shit.” Maverick stared at me with wide, green eyes. I tried to walk away, but he grabbed my hand. “I was kidding, but you are, aren’t you? In love with him, I mean.”
Was I? I thought about the way my heart thumped loudly whenever Beau was in the room. Or how my stomach filled with butterflies when I saw him. Or how good it felt when he kissed me. Touched me. Hell, whenever he did anything to me. I had enjoyed being with Helena, and maybe things might have been different between us, but Beau? He made me feel alive for the first time in my life.
I swallowed nervously. “I’m terrified of whatever this feeling is, Mav.”
“Oh, Dean, don’t be.” He tugged on my hand and pulled me into a hug. “Love is amazing. It’s scary, sure, but it’s so worth the fall.” Maverick squeezed me tight. “I’m so happy you found someone.”
