Chapter Fifty
Dean
Maverick: Hey, just checking in on you. Wanted to make sure you were okay.
Dean: I’m fine. Just got back with Cole after his game. Waiting on Beau to come home. How are things in North Carolina?
Maverick: You didn’t see it.
Dean: See what?
I stared at my phone as I watched the bubbles appear and disappear. Then a picture emerged of Beau sitting in a booth across from another man. He was handsome, that other guy, with a big smile on his face.
Maverick: That’s Kingston Smith. He was traded to Boston. I’m sure you heard Wyatt was sent here.
Dean: Mav, Beau is the captain of the team. It’s his job to go out and celebrate with them after they win.
Maverick: They lost tonight.
Wait, what? I hadn’t checked the results, but I was used to Beau going out with the guys after when they won. Normally, he would text or call me on his way home if they lost.
Maverick: I’m sorry, it’s probably nothing.
Dean: What are you trying to say right now? Are you trying to start something?
My phone began to ring. “Mav, it’s fine. I know how you feel about Beau.”
“Dean, no. That’s not why I’m showing this to you. I’m just... Isn’t it strange? They lost their game, and he’s not with you or didn’t even tell you?” Maverick sounded like he was at a party, with all the noise in the background. “Maybe it’s nothing.”
I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn’t see me. “Because it is nothing.” But Beau hadn’t told me Wyatt was traded? That was kind of weird.
“Mav, who is that? Come hang with me, your bestie.” I heard someone call out to him. “CC, stop!” Loud laughter followed.
I was glad that my brother was making new friends. He had told me about Andy going out on his first date and a new guy, Ezra, who had attached himself to his hip. I assumed that was him declaring Maverick his bestie. Sometimes, Mav had a hard time opening up to new people.
I sighed. “Thanks for worrying about me, but it’s not what you think.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I just want you to be happy. I know you love Beau, and he feels the same way about you. I should let you go. But text me tomorrow. I miss you,” Maverick said.
I smiled. “I miss you, too.”
“Everything okay?” I glanced up to find Cole watching me once I ended the call.
Shit, I hope he hadn’t heard any of that conversation. “Everything’s great. You need to get to bed, though. You have school in the morning.”
“That was Maverick, right?” Cole asked casually.
I nodded. “Yeah, he was just checking on me. He invited us down for Christmas.” I groaned inwardly at the lie that slipped from my lips. I was planning on asking him if we could come visit; it just hadn’t come up yet.
“Cool. Well, I’m off to bed.” Cole moved in to hug me. “Thanks for coming to my game, Dean. I love you,” he murmured.
Tears stung my eyes, and my throat grew tight. “I love you, too, kiddo.”
I wasn’t even sure how I was able to speak. I meant every word. I did love him. So much. I was honored to be a part of Cole’s life and that he let me be in it. He was a great kid.
He flashed a smile before he disappeared into his room, and I took a second to gather myself. I was lucky to have this. A man who loved me and his son who did, too. A great life like the one I had always wanted. A family.
Speaking of Beau... I pulled him up on my phone and hit call on his phone only for it to go straight to voicemail. Huh, well, I knew he was busy. But when I looked at the picture Maverick sent me, I couldn’t help that little doubt of worry that crept into my brain.
Dean: You didn’t tell me that Wyatt was traded? Everything good? Just checking in.
My message went unread and unanswered. It shouldn’t have upset me as much as it did, but things with Beau had been good.
Better than good. I hadn’t worried about us since I had come to stay with him, and now I was starting to get pissed.
I huffed as I went to our room, flopped down on the bed, and stared up at the ceiling.
I waited for Beau to come home. I wanted him to tell me that I was overreacting. I would gladly accept that from him. I wanted him to tell me that. Then we could laugh about it later and just go back to the way we were. Happy and in love.
I WOKE UP SOMETIME later, the light still on, and the other side of the bed empty.
I sat up as my heartbeat widely against my chest. Had something happened?
Was Beau hurt and in the hospital? I grabbed my phone, but there were no missed calls or text messages.
I climbed from the bed and stalked to the living room, only to find Beau there, on the couch, sleeping.
“Wake up,” I hissed. When nothing happened, I shoved at his shoulder, angry that he caused me to worry. “Hey.” I shook him.
He snorted and blinked at me in confusion, then a smile spread over his handsome face. “Pink baby.” He reached for me.
“No.” I shook my head. “Where the fuck were you? Why are you out here on the couch instead of in the bed with me? What happened? You couldn’t text or call? Did you fuck him?”
Beau blinked in surprise as he sat up. “Fuck... Do you mean King? What, no. I didn’t.
.. Where is this coming from?” He dragged a hand through his dark hair.
“First off, I left my phone at the rink so I couldn’t call you.
” His brows dipped. “Wyatt was traded last minute, and we absolutely sucked ass last night. It’s not easy being the new guy, so we went out to get a drink.
I slept out here because I was drunk and didn’t want to wake you. ”
“I bet.”
“Are you jealous? Is that what this is? Because I don’t like it.”
I snorted angrily. “You don’t like it? Well, that’s too damn bad.
You know what I don’t like? Seeing pictures of my boyfriend out with another man.
Finding out that you lost a game while I’m out with your son at his game, and then you come home late and sleep on the couch because ‘you’re drunk.
’” I used air quotes around the last part. “I don’t believe you.”
“You don’t believe me?” Beau blinked in confusion. “Pink, I love you. I wouldn’t cheat on you. Not ever. I see our future. I want to get married and spend forever with you. I want to retire, move to North Carolina, and just be happy together with you.”
My vision blurred because I wanted that, too, but right now it hurt too much to think about that. Because Beau should have told me where he was last night. Right? This wasn’t me acting like a jealous idiot.
“I have to go. I can’t breathe. I need... I need to get out of here.”
“Are you breaking up with me? I think you’re overeating.” he asked.
I shook my head. “No.”
I rushed back to the bedroom and started throwing things into a bag. I could go stay with my brother for a few days. For Christmas. Although I was looking forward to spending the first one with Beau and Cole. I had gotten some cool things for the kid. Or I had thought they were cool.
“Pink, don’t leave.” Beau was suddenly in the doorway. “Baby, please, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I couldn’t look at him. If I did, my resolve would break, and I would stay. But I was mad, and this was just... “I have to.”
“You’re leaving me.”
“I’m just going to stay with Maverick.”
Beau barked out a laugh. “He’s going to convince you to leave me. Your brother hates me.”
“I’m not leaving you. I just need a minute to get my shit together,” I told him, and against my better judgement, I looked up. Beau looked absolutely heartbroken. “I love you. That hasn’t changed. And Mav doesn’t hate you.”
“Please, Dean,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”
That would make two of us. “I know you are. I know you didn’t mean to upset me. I just need a few days to get my head together. That doesn’t mean we’re breaking up, or that I’m leaving you. Just let me do this, okay?”
“Will you call me?” Beau asked.
I nodded. “Of course.”
“And text?” He took a step toward me.
Suddenly leaving sounded like a terrible idea, but I knew I had to do. Maybe moving in with him had been too quick. Too sudden. “Yes.”
“I can’t convince you that this is a terrible, horrible idea, can I?” Beau reached for my hand.
I shook my head. “No, babe, you can’t. I have to do this. I just need to figure a few things out.”
“Will you marry me?” he whispered. I didn’t miss the tears that swam in his blue eyes. “Please? Say you will.”
My mouth dropped open. “You’re asking me to marry you? Now, after we just... Beau, you can’t be serious right now. This is not the place or time. We just had a huge fight, and I just told you that I need a few days to get my shit together.”
“I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Dean. Please, just... Just think about it. Don’t give me an answer. Just know that you’re all I want.” He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.
My throat grew tight. You’re all I want, too, but those words wouldn’t come. Instead, I nodded and pushed past Beau to get out of the bedroom.