Chapter Twenty-Two
Beau
Dean was sound asleep when my alarm went off the next morning.
I had managed to change the blanket after he’d messed it up last night, and he’d never woke up.
I didn’t bother dressing him, just put the clean blanket on and slid him underneath it and the sheets.
I took a second before showering to admire him in his sleep, the way his mouth was slightly open, and dragged my hand through his hair.
He was beautiful, kind, and sweet. I still wasn’t sure what I was doing with him, but that didn’t matter right now.
I pressed a kiss on his head, climbed from the bed, and went to the bathroom to get ready for practice.
Cole was in the kitchen when I walked in, his face buried in his phone. He smirked at me. “Is Dean staying long?”
“Don’t start.” I grabbed a travel cup to fill it with coffee.
He giggled softly. “Just remember I’m sixteen, Dad. You might want to keep it down.”
I wasn’t embarrassed. Well, maybe a little. I would have to remind Dean to be quiet again, but last night had been hot. The way he had begged me to let him come. How he had called me Daddy. And now I was getting hard as I was changing into my gear at practice. Not a good look.
“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 PRACTICE and 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 another before 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.”
“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.”