21. Chapter 21
It’s days later, and I’m sitting at the kitchen island answering emails on my laptop when I hear the front door open and then slam shut.
“They signed me!” Cole yells from the foyer.
I jump off my stool and intercept him in the hallway. He swings me up into his arms, and we twirl around. We’re both smiling wide when he puts me down.
“So, I take it they made you a good offer?” I ask him.
“It was better than I had hoped for. They signed me for five years, with the option of adding two years after that. I’ll likely finish my career as an Ice Dragon in my hometown.”
His eyes are shining, and his cheeks are flushed with excitement. The grumpy Cole I’ve known the last few months has disappeared, and the sweet one from high school has been uncovered.
“We have to celebrate,” I tell him.
“My mom wants to have dinner tomorrow night, but tonight is ours.”
“Let’s go gather up the other two and get out of here.”
After dragging Talon away from the studio and Foster from the gym, we all get ready for a rare night out. We decide against a fancy dinner in favor of some yummy bar foods, which will be a splurge for Cole before he starts training camp soon.
We sit in a booth at the back of a dimly lit sports bar. As I slide in next to Talon, a thought occurs to me.
I lean into him, “Are you okay with this?” I ask him quietly.
He smiles at me and puts his arm around my back. “I’m good. I have my new favorite addiction here with me. Nothing else tempts me.”
He squeezes me, and I roll my eyes, “Such a sweet talker.”
Wings, mozzarella sticks, pickle chips, and onion rings are quickly brought to our table, and I munch on it all until I can barely breathe. I start people-watching while I sip my beer. It’s one of my favorite pastimes. We’re all relaxing when I catch a glimpse of the television that’s hanging closest to us. On it is a report about Cole’s contract with the Dragons. I reach across the table and nudge him, and all three guys look up. Foster and Talon whoop it up, attracting the attention of the patrons in the small bar.
A few girls around our age come up to the table, “Are you Cole Thorne?” the bravest one, a pretty blonde, asks.
“Yes,” he answers her but doesn’t encourage further conversation.
“Can I buy you a drink?” she persists, not taking his hint.
“No, thank you. I’m just celebrating with my friends tonight. Thanks for the offer, though. You all have a good night,” he said, giving them all a polite smile and returning to us.
The woman frowns but turns and joins her friends, who have been eying all of my guys. I put one hand on Talon’s shoulder, reach across the table, and grab Foster’s hand with my other one while looking them in their eyes. All the guys chuckle.
“That took balls for her to approach you. You could’ve just taken the drink,” I tell Cole.
“It rarely stops with one drink. Her gaggle of friends would have wormed their way over here, and then you would have had to swat them away from those two all night,” he tells me like he’s been through it a million times before—and he probably has.
Foster orders everyone except Talon a shot of tequila and encourages us to hold them up for a toast. “To Cole for becoming an Ice Dragon. Now to bring the Stanley Cup home!” We all yell and down our shots, most of everyone in the bar joining us.
We stayed at the bar for a couple more hours. People talked to Cole about the team and wished him luck in the upcoming season. No other women took their chance. It’s a fun evening but nothing over the top.
Talon drives us all home, and when we get there, he and Foster go off to their rooms, each having to get up early the next day. I should get to bed, too, but I feel too wired.
“Watch a movie with me?” I ask Cole.
“Sure.”
We settle into the living room and argue over what to watch before Cole agrees to one of my favorites. “You’ve seen this movie a hundred times, at least. How can you still watch it?” He asks me.
“It’s like hanging out with some of my favorite people again, every time. Now shut up before I miss a good part.”
He chuckles at me but sits silently through the movie. He laughs along with me at all the funny parts. My buzz is gone by the time it ends, and I’m exhausted. “I need to go to bed,” I tell Cole.
“Me too,” he says, but neither of us moves to get up. We turn to look at each other.
“I’m so proud of you, Cole. I’m sad that I’ve missed all of your career milestones.”
“That’s not your fault, it’s mine. I’m sorry I’ve been such an asshole to you. You did nothing to deserve that. My life is such a clusterfuck. I felt like I needed to push you away.” He gently touches my cheek, “Will you please come to my first game as an Ice Dragon? It would mean the world to me to have you there.”
“Of course I’ll be there,” I answer him, and then his lips are on mine. He puts gentle pressure against my mouth, and I press back, my tongue hesitantly sweeping over his bottom lip, but that’s as far as it goes before he pulls away.
We stare at each other, unsure what to make of our moment.
“I’m going to bed, goodnight Cole,” I whisper and retreat to my bedroom.
I can still feel that kiss on my lips. We haven’t discussed it. I’ve barely even seen Cole since then.
After an engagement shoot the following weekend, I pull into our driveway, and a silver BMW is blocking me from getting into the garage. I park my Jeep in front of the house to go inside and see what’s going on. I hear someone shrieking as soon as I open the front door. I rush back to the family room to find a furious woman pacing furiously around the room, throwing her arms around wildly. Cole sits on the couch, watching her with a blank look. He’s not trying to get a word in about whatever she’s squawking about.
“Cole, you have to make this right. My parents want us to get married as soon as possible,” she yells, her words nearly intelligible at that high pitch.
I study her. She looks vaguely familiar with her long, straight dark hair and delicate face. It’s Cole’s ex, Hannah, and I want no part of whatever this is. Unfortunately, I make a noise they hear between her ranting, and they both turn and spot me before I can escape. Cole looks up at me. Panic is written on his face before it goes blank.
“Who’s this?” Hannah demands, looking pissed now.
“My roommates’ girlfriend,” Cole answers her coldly.
I try to back out of the room, “I’m gonna–”
She moves closer, “Isn’t she your ex? The pathetic girl from that ice rink so long ago?”
Cole sighs, knowing this will cause more trouble. “Yes,” he answers her honestly.
“You need to leave. This conversation is private,” she tells me.
“I was just going up to go to my room,” I turn to leave but she stops me again.
“You live here?” she screeches.
I am getting sick of this woman’s voice.
“Yes, she does. I think you need to leave Hannah,” Cole says calmly.
“Cole, you cannot be living in a house with your ex-girlfriend. I can’t allow that. It makes me look bad.”
“Good thing I don’t need your permission. Go. Now,” he affirms, gently taking her arm and leading her past me towards the front of the house.
“Why are you acting like this?” she whines down the hall.
I am planted on the spot as Cole finally gets her out the front door and walks back towards me.
“Sorry about all that,” he says, collapsing back on the couch.
“No problem. I’m sorry for you. That was…a lot.”
He looks up at me and grins, “Don’t be sorry. I’m pretty sure she’s my karma.”
I smile back, “Well, I’d say you’ve more than paid your penance. She’s not taking no for an answer?” I ask.
“Something like that. She thinks I should be grateful because her dad put in a good word for me with the team.”
“That’s bullshit. You’re a great player, and I’m sure they recognized that more than a silly recommendation. You two were engaged before, right? Why did you never make it down the aisle?”
“Weve been engaged twice. I broke it off both times before the wedding planning got too serious. She wanted to move to the next step, and as you can see, she has her brand of persuasion. I caved, quickly came to my senses, and bailed not too long after…twice.”
“Why?” I ask, still feeling like I’m missing too many pieces to this puzzle.
He gets off the stool and walks over to me, “Because I knew I didn’t love her, not in the way I should have to take that step.” His hands come up to bracket my face. “She wasn’t you.”
His lips are on mine, and I’m melting into a puddle at his feet.
The sound of clapping behind me has us pulling apart and facing my two boyfriends.
“Oh no, don’t stop for us. I don’t mind watching, do you, Foster?” Talon asks as he stalks into the kitchen and sits on the couch.
“Nope, anything with Blake is my favorite show,” Foster adds as he leans against the wall.
Neither of them looks angry, but my cheeks are flaming. How can I be so greedy again that I want them all? Haven’t I learned?
“I’m so–” I start, but Talon cuts me off.
“Don’t you apologize. We all knew this was inevitable,” he says, gesturing between Cole and me.
I look at Foster, and he nods. “It started with the four of us, and it’s meant to end that way.”
“Hold up, it was just a kiss. That doesn’t mean Cole even wants to be involved in all of this,” I tell them before this talk goes any further. Cole has repeatedly said to me that he doesn’t want a relationship.
“So, bro, are you in or out?” Foster comes out and asks him.
“He doesn’t need you guys pressuring–”
This time Cole, who cuts me off. “I’m in,” he says, looking down at me. “But, I need to go slow. Like a snail’s pace slow.” He points to the door, “You’ve seen what I’m dealing with right now, and I don’t want you anywhere near that. You don’t deserve to have to deal with my mistakes.”
“And you’re okay with this four-way relationship?” I ask him.
“Do I want to share you? Not really. But I know I’m the last one at this party this time around. I can’t just sweep in and steal you from them. If this is how I get to have you, I’m good with it. I can be okay with these two, but can we make it just the three of us? No more new boyfriends.”
Foster pushes off the wall and slaps Cole on the shoulder. “Gee, thanks, buddy. You’re not too bad yourself,” he snarks, making me giggle.
“Just you three,” I affirm, then get uncomfortable. “I know it sounds hypocritical, but I’d prefer no other women in this arrangement.”
“You’re the only one for me, Bumblebee. I could never want anyone else when I have you,” Cole agrees, making my heart flutter with the use of my childhood nickname.
“Bumblebee? How sweet is that?” Foster says.
“It’s a childhood nickname. Don’t you start, Fozzie Bear.” I tell him, making the other two guys laugh.
“Oh, pretty girl, that was supposed to be our little secret.”
“That secret was revealed when your parents came over,” Talon reminds him.
After the talk, we all settle in for a movie night. Foster gets the popcorn, and Talon the drinks. Cole takes me to the couch to reserve one of the spots next to me.
“You’re sure that you’re sure about this?” I ask him one more time.
He smiles at me and lays a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Absolutely. Don’t worry. You’ve done enough of that in your life. Just enjoy and trust us to be adults and take care of our own shit.”
I nod and lay my head on his muscled thigh. Talon passes us each a bottle of water and takes the spot to my left. He plops my feet in his lap and begins to rub them. Foster comes in a minute later with the bowl of popcorn and sets it in my lap. He plops down on the floor in front of me. I sift my fingers through his hair and rub his scalp. As we all unwind, I get lost in the vision of doing this with them for the rest of our lives.