Chapter Forty-Three
Beau
Dean squeezed my hand as we stood on the front porch of his ex-girlfriend’s house.
I wasn’t convinced this was a great idea, but he hadn’t stopped smiling since I promised I would never hurt him again.
I meant that. I wanted to see that smile he was wearing right now.
The one that lit up his entire face, that caused crinkles to appear around his eyes and his entire body to glow with happiness.
If I wasn’t scared that my knees would give out, I would get down and beg him for my forgiveness.
“You ready for this?” Dean looked up at me. “Killian’s not going to be nice.”
He had warned me about his best friend. And I was determined to win the singer over. No matter how hard it was or how long it took. I was a likeable guy. I could get Killian Hampton to like me.
“Yeah, baby, I am,” I assured him.
The entire band was sitting around the living room when we walked inside, and the distinct growl I heard had to be coming from Killian.
When I locked eyes with him, he bared his teeth at me until his fiancé slapped playfully at his chest. Killian pouted as Jackson climbed to his feet, but not faster than the only woman in the room.
That had to be Helena. She was beautiful, with chestnut brown hair pulled back in a high ponytail and big blue eyes.
She would have been his perfect companion if Dean didn’t belong to me.
“You must be Beau.” She flipped her ponytail behind her shoulder. “I’m so excited to finally meet you.” The warning in her voice was more than obvious. She obviously took after her big brother. And I could respect that.
I let go of Dean, so I grasp both of her hands. “I finally get to meet the Helena. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“I’ve heard so much about you,” Killian mimicked under his breath. “I already hate him.”
He was going to be a tougher nut to crack than I thought. But I could handle him. I’d dealt with worse on the ice.
My gaze moved over to where Killian sat. “I can see winning you over is going to be a challenge.”
“Whatever gave you that idea. You broke my best friend’s heart,” Killian snapped.
Jackson clapped Beau on the back. “It’s good to see you. Ignore Killian. He can be a handful. I think Matty can keep him in line thought, right?”
“Yes.” Matthias held up a hand.
Maverick pulled his lip between his teeth as he went to his fiancé. “It’s good to see you again.” He greeted me, but I saw that look. The one that told me I was on his shit list, too. The one that said I trusted you to not hurt my brother. I warned you what would happen.
“I’m so happy for you and Jackson. You two truly deserve the best.” I leaned down to give him a quick hug.
“I’m watching you, Whitlock,” Maverick warned in a soft whisper, so that only I could hear. When we pulled apart, that shy smile was on his face again, his eyes wide and innocent.
Maybe this would be harder than I expected. “Introduce me to the rest of your friends, Pink. I’m excited to get to know Helena. I briefly met the broody one on the couch before, Killian.”
Killian rolled his eyes. “Please.”
“Killian, stop it. You’re being a dick. Are you jealous or something?” Dean begged.
“Dick is my middle name, and Matthias is the only one for me.” Killian folded his arms over his chest. “Babe, don’t look at me like that.”
Matthias narrowed his eyes. “You weren’t always good to me either, Killian, so stop being an asshole. Give Beau a chance.” He quickly got to his feet. “I’m Matthias. The dick’s fiancé. We met before, but I wasn’t sure if you remembered.”
That only seemed to make Killian scowl even harder.
“It’s good to see you again,” I told him just as spotted Tom Olson.
The scar on his face wasn’t as bad as it had been when the accident had first happened, and it certainly didn’t take away the fact that he had grown into a handsome young man.
“Look at you, little Olson.” I broke into a big smile.
“Holy shit, you’re almost as big as your brother.
” I threw my arms around him in a tight hug.
“Sorry about your face. You’re still better looking than Jax, though.
Oh, who’s your friend? Wait, you’re the bass player. Blake? Are you two together?”
“Blake Duncan’s my boyfriend.” Tom wrapped an arm around the blond man’s shoulders.
I held out my hand. “Sweet. Nice to meet you.” I saw the shock and surprise on Tom’s face. “Are you okay?”
He nodded. “I’m good, yeah.” He kissed Blake on the cheek, and I moved away to give them some space.
“Killian, stop.” Matthias’s voice was loud, and when we all turned to look, it seemed like he was trying to keep the singer away from me. He had both hands pressed to Killian’s shoulders.
Killian looked furious. “I don’t trust you,” he grunted at me.
“Well, it’s a good thing you don’t have to worry about that. Dean does. Is it really any of your business?” I didn’t have to take this from him. I knew that Killian and Dean were best friends, but that didn’t mean we had to be close.
“Dean, don’t do this,” Killian urged. “He’s not good for you. There are plenty of other men out there if you want to try dick.”
“That’s not what it’s about. You weren’t good for Matty either, Kill, but you changed. Beau’s going to do the same for me.” Dean raised his chin. “You can’t tell me what I can and can’t do.”
Killian gritted his teeth. “I want to talk to you. Alone. Without anyone to interfere.”
“Jesus, why are you so fired up about this?” Dean scoffed. “You jerked poor Matty around for years until you finally got your shit together. At least Beau isn’t flaunting women in front of me.” Point to my man.
“This isn’t about Matthias. This is about you. My best friend since we were kids. Please, Dean. Just hear me out,” Killian pleaded.
Dean shook his head. “No, Beau wants to give us a shot. We’re going to try to be a couple.”
“I saw him with someone else!” Killian exclaimed, and the whole room went quiet.
“Last night, when I went out to get firewood. I saw him. With a woman. Look, I didn’t want to say anything, because I didn’t know that he wasn’t going to just show up here today.
I had no idea you were in love with him.
He’s bad for you. You look like shit. You’re thinner than I’ve ever seen you, you’re not sleeping, you—” He stopped when Dean rushed out of the room.
Wait a second. Dean was in love with me?
Helena slapped her brother’s arm. “Nice job, asshole.”
“What? I’m just saying what everyone else won’t. Like I always do.” Killian looked around the room. “Why do you all look like I just said we should join a cult?”
Matthias sighed. “You just told Beau how Dean feels about him.”
“Oh.” Killian grimaced. “Shit.”
I took a step forward. “For what it’s worth, that was my sister, Sam. You’ll meet her at the wedding. She’s friends with Maverick.” Then I went out the door Dean had left through, calling his name. I found Dean sitting outside, his legs wrapped around his legs and face pressed into his knees.
“Leave me alone,” he whispered when I sat down next to him. Dean only hugged his legs tighter. “Please, I’m already embarrassed enough.”
I pushed back the loose hair that had fallen out of his ponytail.
“You want to know a secret, Pink baby?” When he didn’t answer, I sighed and stared out into the backyard.
“Somewhere between seeing you for the first time, kissing you, and getting to know you, I fell in love with you, too.” Dean turned his head to look at me.
“Maybe it was the way you called me Daddy. Or the way you treated my son. Or how you just seemed to slot perfectly into our life, Dean.”
He scrambled up onto my lap. “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
His pupils dilated.
“Fuck, I love you. And it’s scary as hell, because I’m terrified of losing you, but I can’t be without you. Not anymore.”
Dean smiled, leaned forward, and kissed me.
A soft sigh escaped his mouth as he opened for me, his fingers combing through my hair, and I got lost in the moment.
The feel of Dean’s smaller, muscular frame pressed against mine, the taste of lips, the feel of his tongue tangled with mine, and the warmth of skin.
Nothing had felt right with him gone from my life. Now I felt whole again.
“I love you, too,” Dean murmured.
I smiled. “Mm, I like the sound of that.” I nuzzled his neck. “Killian doesn’t like me all that much.”
“Killian doesn’t like anyone all that much.”
“Are you sure he isn’t jealous?”
Dean barked out a laugh. “Uh, no. He’s crazy about Matty. Actually, borderline obsessed, if I’m being honest. And I shouldn’t have said the things I did to him. I know they’ve made up and moved on, but he just needs to learn how to shut up sometimes.”
“He cares about you. It’s nice to have someone who does that for you.” I pulled the elastic out of his hair so that I could comb my fingers through it.
Dean melted against me before he sat back up. “Shit, I have to get ready for the rehearsal dinner.” He sprang to his feet. “I have to go. Can you give me a ride back to Blake’s place? I have to... Will you be my date?” He blushed and gave me that shy smile that I missed so much.
“I would be honored.” I stood up.
Dean beamed happily, and that smile was all I wanted to see on his face for the rest of my life.