Chapter Seventeen
Cole
Ihadn’t expected Reed to show up while I was on the rink with Jackson and the other guys.
It had been kind of exciting to have my boyfriend watching me.
And then he waited while I changed into my regular clothes, I couldn’t help but smile with excitement.
This was happening. Reed and I were going to make this work.
Tonight, I wanted to talk to him about the things I had been thinking about.
Like switching schools so we could be closer together.
And possibly not signing with Boston if they picked me, maybe waiting for New York instead.
I wanted to be with him, and that was all that mattered.
“Hi,” I greeted Reed when I reached the seats where he was still sitting with Maverick and Ezra. “I’m so happy you’re here.” I leaned down to kiss him lightly, and Ezra and Maverick both squealed in unison.
Reed giggled. “They’re really happy for us.”
“I know.” I wrapped an arm around his waist. “Did you have fun? Did they behave?”
Ezra gasped. “Excuse me? When do I not behave?” He pressed a manicured hand against his chest in mock horror. “I swear, I’m so unappreciated around here. We invited your boyfriend to come out with us.”
“Really?” My brows shot up. “And who is us?” I wanted to protect my boyfriend as much as possible.
Maverick smiled. “Easy, Cole. It’s just the WAGs.”
“You’re inviting him to be one of the WAGs already?” I glanced down at Reed, who beamed up at me. “Is that what you want?”
He nodded. “I would like to see what it’s all about.” Reed leaned into me a little more, and I could feel him shaking from the cold. “Let’s get you outside where it’s warmer.”
I led him up the stairs and through the doors with Maverick and Ezra right behind us. I stopped when I saw Matthias Hampton, Holt Brooks, Saint Ripley, and Seth McCormick-Murray waiting by Maverick’s SUV. Guess they were doing this.
“Not everyone is available today, but these four are.” Ezra batted his lashes. “We’re going to take extra good care of your boyfriend, Cole, don’t you worry.” He placed his hands on Reed’s shoulder. “You ready, boo, or do you need a few minutes to say goodbye to your man?”
Reed turned to face me. “If you’re not okay with this—”
“Baby, I’m more than okay with this. I just want you to be.” I glanced at Ezra, who wiggled his red nails at me.
Reed slid his lips over mine. “I want to be included.” His voice was low, barely a whisper, but I heard him.
“I’ll miss you.” I cupped his cheek with my palms. “Go make some good memories with your new friends.” I kissed him again, not caring that they were watching us.
Reed grinned. “See you tonight?” He took both his hands and formed a heart against his chest.
“You will,” I assured him. “Be careful with him. That’s precious cargo,” I told Maverick and the others. “I want Reed back in one piece.”
Maverick clapped his hands. “You two are adorable. Come on, WAGs, let’s go.” He grabbed Reed’s wrist. “I’ll make sure he’s in top condition when we drop him off at home later, Cole.”
I DON’T KNOW WHY I was so worried. The few texts that Reed sent me assured me he was having fun.
He even included a few pictures, and the smile on his face rivaled the Cheshire cat.
Ezra could be a lot, and combined with the rest of his friends, Maverick included, I was scared that Reed would be overwhelmed.
Obviously, he fit right in, and I was happy for him.
He deserved to relax and enjoy himself today.
And I knew that Maverick would keep an eye out for Reed, especially if Ezra got a little carried away.
“You look lost,” Tate teased as he slid into the seat across from me. I had found myself at Bean on Main again, and he had happily supplied me with an energy drink and a muffin. The cranberry-blueberry flavor was to die for.
I huffed. “Is that you telling me you want me to leave? Am I holding you up?” I glanced around the little coffee shop and noticed how busy it was.
“What? No, I was just pulling your arm.” Tate leaned forward. “Everything okay? I mean, you look like someone just kicked your dog.”
I leaned back against the chair. “I’m good. Actually, I’m great. Reed and I are official.” I didn’t want to get into specifics, but by the way Tate’s eyes went wide and the blush that crept over his cheeks, he knew exactly what I meant.
“That’s great.” Tate dropped his eyes to the table.
I chuckled. “How are things with your new friend? Any more messages?”
“We’ve been talking.” Tate’s cheeks turned even pinker. “He’s nice.”
I bet. “Do you think you’ll see him again when Boston comes to North Carolina again? You know, hang out with him or whatever?”
“Oh. I don’t... Maybe. If he wants... I don’t know,” Tate stuttered. “I should probably go back and check on what’s in the oven.”
I grabbed his hand when he climbed to his feet. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Tate. I was just curious. You don’t have to see Oscar in person if that makes you uncomfortable. Online friends are good, too.”
“I’ve...I’ve never been with anyone. What if Oscar wants that?”
“You mean sex?”
Tate swallowed hard. “Not just that, everything else. I’ve never kissed anyone or held someone’s hand. Oscar’s this hot hockey goaltender, who has been with hundreds if not thousands of people, and I’m just...I’m just me. I’m no one special.”
“First off, you’re not just you. You’re an amazing catch. Anyone would be lucky to have you, Oscar included. What I think, if you two want to take this new relationship to the next level, is to be honest with him. Tell him what you just told me.” I squeezed his hand in reassurance.
Tate chewed on his bottom lip. “You want me to tell Oscar I’m a virgin?”
“I mean, not in those words, but yes.” I could see the wheels begin to turn in his head. “Only if things progress. If you’re just going to be friends, he doesn’t need to know.”
Tate sighed. “I told you.”
“And I will keep your secret safe until the day I die.” I made a cross over my heart.
Tate glanced over at the register, where the new hire who had just started was helping a customer.
“I think you’re probably my best friend right now, Cole.
I just thought I would tell you that. I’m glad that you came to North Carolina for the summer and we got the chance to become friends.
It’s okay if you don’t think of me like that way. ”
“I don’t really have a best friend.” I thought about my friends back in Boston. Sure, they were fun, and I enjoyed hanging out with them, but I didn’t trust them. Not really. “Until you.”
Tate’s lips curved into a big smile. “Thank you, Cole. For listening and helping me. I hope that you and Reed have a happy life together.” This time I let him stand up. “I should go help Penny with some of the orders.”
“Of course.” I looked back down at my phone to find a new notification from Reed.
Reed: What do you think? Too much?
I gawked at the picture he had included. He was dressed in a tight sundress that clung to his body. All the blood in my body rushed south. The color matched his eyes perfectly, but the way his shoulders and arms looked had me nearly coming in my pants.
Cole: Buy it.
Reed: Ezra made this. He said I could have it. I don’t know. I’m not sure if it’s me or not. I’ve never been into dresses or anything.
Cole: Trust me when I tell you that you look sexy AF in that dress, baby. I want to peel it from your body while I devour that sinful mouth.
When he didn’t text me back right away, I glanced up to find Asher smirking down at me. “Am I interrupting?”
“What? No, I was texting my dad.” I flipped my phone over so the notifications wouldn’t pop up. “Have a seat.” I motioned for him to sit down.
Asher snorted. “Do you normally blush when you text your father?”
“Fuck off, Andrews, I wasn’t blushing,” I grunted. I totally was.
He threw back his head and laughed. “Okay, Little Whitaker.” He banged his knuckles against the table. “You’re good, you know. At hockey.”
“Th—Thank you.” I tried to play it cool, but I was screaming internally. Asher Andrews thought I was a good hockey player. Asher fucking Andrews. He was one of the most respected players of the game from Boston. I knew his number would hang from the rafters someday.
He took a sip of his iced coffee. “You skated circles around most of us today. Whatever you’re doing back in Boston is working. Keep it up.”
“Uh, thank you. Again.” I wasn’t sure what else I could say. “What are you going to do now that you’ve retired?”
Asher glanced at his own cell briefly, then answered me.
“I’m coaching a local high school team. I’m not sure if I’ll be good at it, but I don’t care.
I get to come home to Saint every day, and that’s all that matters.
The roadies won’t be like they used to be.
” He jutted his chin toward my phone when it went off.
“You can check that. I’m sure it’s Reed. The WAGs are having a field day today.”
I flipped my phone over and nearly swallowed my own tongue at the picture Reed sent me this time. He was wearing a pair of black panties and nothing else. Holy fuck. My boyfriend was hot.
Cole: Keep that one.
Reed: Already planned on it.
When I looked back at Asher, he was smiling at me. “You’re serious about him.”
“Like a heart attack.” I locked my phone.
His face grew serious. “Don’t fuck it up, okay? Take good care of Reed. Because I didn’t do that with Saint, and I nearly lost him. I love him more than life, and I would die if I hurt him again. He’s everything to me.”
“Reed is everything to me, too, Asher. I plan to keep him for as long as he’ll have me.
” My throat grew tight as I thought about what my life would be like without him now that he’d been a huge part of these past few weeks.
“I’ll love him until he tells me to stop. ” Which I hoped would never happen.