Chapter 23
Colton
Sophie was in San Francisco for a photo shoot. They had stayed in touch since the breakup a few months ago, so Colton suggested they have lunch.
They met at a little outdoor café downtown and Colton asked the hostess to seat them at a table in the back corner of the café, to provide as much privacy as possible.
He ordered a beer and settled into his chair.
Sophie spotted Colton as she entered and waved, flashing a big, genuine smile.
He stood to greet her as she approached with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“Dean says hello! I was at his loft last night. He wishes he could see you, but he’s really busy planning his world tour.”
Sophie settled into her seat at the table. “Aww! I miss seeing him. Tell him I said hello.” She lifted an inquisitive eyebrow. “You two have been hanging out a lot, huh?”
Colton flashed a gigantic smile. “We have. It turns out, he’s a pretty interesting guy, and a lot of fun!
” He took a sip of beer. “So how have you been? I’ve seen your pictures everywhere lately.
And according to your Instagram, you’re in a different city every other day. You must be incredibly busy.”
Sophie smiled and shook her head. “It’s been insanely busy! I’ve got to stop saying yes to every designer and magazine that wants me.” She sipped her tea. “I think I need about a month’s vacation.”
“Well, you look fantastic! And you certainly deserve a vacation. Have you started seeing anyone?”
“I have been on a few dates with this one photographer. It’s too early to tell, but I think it could be promising.” Sophie shot a sly look at Colton. “I’d ask the same of you, but I know you’re not seeing anyone.”
“What do you mean by that? You have no idea if I’m seeing anyone or not!” Colton snipped.
“Are you seeing anyone?” Sophie lifted an eyebrow with a smirk.
“No.”
“See? I knew it!” She pointed her finger and grinned triumphantly.
“How could you know that?”
Sophie scoffed. “Because, Colton, you’re completely obsessed with Dean!”
Colton huffed, appalled, totally blindsided by her statement.
“What?! I am not! He’s my best friend.”
Sophie tilted her head and tucked her chin.
“Colton, c’mon…how long have we known each other?
I could tell all the way back at that first show.
You couldn’t keep your eyes off him. You barely looked at me once that whole night.
Not that I blame you, that man is fucking sexy!
And at Bayside Grooves, I thought you were gonna rip Wyatt’s arm off just because he was gushing over Dean.
Why do you think I wasn’t upset when you broke up with me? I already knew what was going on.”
“Sophie, that’s crazy!” Colton retorted a little too loudly, looking at the neighboring tables apologetically, feeling slightly embarrassed that his feelings about Wyatt had been that obvious.
“Colton, I follow your socials. You’re either posting pics of you and Dean or liking and sharing Dean’s posts. You two are always together. And when you’re not together, you’re talking about him constantly. You really don’t see that?”
“We do spend a lot of time together. But we’re best friends. What’s wrong with that?”
“I didn’t say anything was wrong with it.” Sophie leveled him with a glare. “I am simply stating a fact. It’s great that you’re spending so much time together.”
“Do you think I’m gay?” Colton nervously sipped his beer, afraid to hear her answer.
“No, I don’t think you’re gay, necessarily.
I feel like…you connect with another person’s heart and soul; it doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman.
” Sophie shifted in her chair and took a sip of tea.
“I think you two are soulmates. I could see it when you were together backstage after the show. Hell, I think everyone could! It was like a gravitational pull between the two of you.”
Colton thought back to that night. He knew that gravitational pull Sophie was talking about, but he had no idea it was so obvious to everyone else.
“And you are absolutely perfect for one another. You’re both good guys, kind and loyal. You have similar lifestyles, you’re both world famous, you’re both disgustingly hot, and he’s your same size, so you’ve doubled your wardrobe!” Sophie teased and waggled her eyebrows.
Colton barked out a laugh. “The man does have nice clothes! I do feel a deep connection with Dean. I’ve never really thought about it before. I have no idea what a soul mate is. Does it have to be romantic to be considered a soul mate? Can soul mates be best friends?”
Sophie pursed her lips to ponder, tilting her head side to side. “I guess you could be best friends with your soulmate, and that’s all. I don’t see why not.”
“Do you think Dean feels that way about me?”
“I can’t say. But I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He looks at you like you hung the moon. It seems to me that he’s just as smitten with you as you are with him. And, c’mon, why wouldn’t he be? You’re a fucking catch!”
Colton blushed and smiled, but the wheels were turning in Colton’s brain. He felt like a cartoon character with smoke billowing out of his ears.
Sophie leaned forward in her chair. “Look. I’m not trying to upset you. I’m just telling you what is pretty obvious to me. If you disagree, that’s totally fine.”
Colton slumped back into his chair, analyzing what he’d just heard.
“Just promise me you’ll think this through.
You deserve to be happy. You deserve someone fantastic like Dean.
Who gives a shit what the world will think of you?
Fuck them! Please, just take the time to think it through, weigh it all out, and make the decision that’s best for you, not what’s best for your team, the league, or your parents. ”
Colton thought back, processing. His heart warmed at the thought of Dean and all the time they had spent together over the last few months. The dinners, workouts, outings, competitive matches of golf, tennis, racquetball, even ping pong.
He sneered a little and looked off into the distance. “Well, I certainly didn’t expect this topic of conversation at lunch today.”
Sophie smiled and reached over the table, taking his hand.
“I love you, Colton. All I want is for you to be happy. It’s obvious to me that Dean makes you happy.
I see the twinkle in your eyes when you’re talking about him, I see the joy in your entire body when you’re around him.
I hope you take some time to figure this out.
It’s very rare in this world to actually find your soulmate.
You two are so fucking lucky! If you’re only interested in being friends with him, great.
” She leveled him with a serious stare. “But you’d better be damn sure.
Because if you love him, and you let him get away, you’ll never forgive yourself. Just promise me you’ll think about it?”
“Okay, I promise I’ll think about it.” Colton rolled his eyes. “Let’s get the check before you start planning our wedding!”
Sophie smacked his hand with a smile and reached over to give him a hug.