Cole placed his hand on the table. “You still love me? Why didn’t you talk to me instead of leaving? We could have figured something out.”
“I already told you why.”
“That’s fucking great.”
I dropped my gaze to the table, terrified of the tears that were threatening to fall. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, even though I knew it wouldn’t change anything.
“Well, I’m so glad you’re sorry for breaking my heart instead of talking to me instead. I was fucking heartbroken and depressed for months,” Cole told me. When I looked up again, his chin trembled. “That night we finally met in person, on the dock, when I scared you and you nearly fell into the water, I think I fell for you. You were everything I ever wanted.”
I snorted. “I was so tongue-tied. You were walking toward me, loosening your tie, and all I wanted to do was jump you.” I held his gaze as Cole’s eyes widened. “Please, you were hot as hell even back then.”
“Reed, could—”
“Oh my God, are you Cole Whitaker?” someone exclaimed, and then he was swarmed by a handful of fans asking for his autograph and selfies.
Cole was kind to them. He posed for pictures, signed everything they asked for, and I casually stood up to slip away. This was who Cole was now. A huge star who didn’t have time for me. My heart felt like it was going to leap out of my chest. He deserved this after working so hard. He didn’t need me.
I slowly backed toward the door of the café as Cole nodded and smiled politely. He wouldn’t miss me. He was happy doing this. We could continue to wonder what might have been. Whatcouldhave been. Only when he saw me trying to sneak out, he didn’t hesitate to move toward me and grab my arm.
“Please don’t run away again without saying goodbye,” Cole begged; his big hand wrapped around my wrist. “Come to the game tonight. My dads will be there. You can see the WAGs again.”
I noticed how he said dads. He loved Dean as much as his own father. “I shouldn’t.”
“Bring Zach if you want,” Cole suggested. “Please?”
I chewed on my lip as the crowd moved closer to us. “Can I think about it?”
“I can leave the tickets at the box office.” He leaned closer. “I hope you come, Reed.”
I nodded. “Sure.” But I had no intention of showing up.
Chapter Twenty-One
Reed
Zach stared at me; his arms crossed over his chest. “I’m sorry, but you want me to do what with you tonight? Since when have you ever been someone who watches sports?” He had been in the middle of going through his suitcase when I accosted him, and now it looked like everything he had brought to North Carolina was either on my bed or the floor. He never traveled lightly.
“Come to a hockey game with me tonight.” I tried to give him my best puppy-dog eyes while popping my bottom lip. “Please, Zach. You’re my best friend. I can’t go alone. I’m sure Beau hates me for what I did to Cole, and I can’t imagine sitting with him and his husband through three periods of hockey. They’ll probably toss me out onto the ice for hurting their precious son.”
Jesus, the WAGs were going to be there, too. They were going to chew me up and spit me out. Ezra and Maverick would murder me. They had invited me into their group, and I had ghosted them, too.
Zach rolled his eyes. “You’re being dramatic, Reed.” He sighed. “Wait, Dean Frost is going to be there? Hmmm, that might make it worth it.”
“It’s Frost-Whitaker, but yes. And he’s a married man now,” I reminded him. “Is that a yes?” I raised my brows in anticipation.
Zach grabbed his phone to turn down the Taylor Swift song before he shoved it in my face. “I want to meet him.” Heshowed me a picture of the Panthers backup goalie, Oscar Lane. “Tonight. After the game.”
“Uh, okay.” I didn’t know much about Oscar. He was quiet. Didn’t do much press and wasn’t known for hooking up as far as I knew. He had been traded from Boston to North Carolina the same year Cole had been drafted. “I’ll see what I can do. I can’t make any promises.”
Zach dropped his chin. “Then I’m afraid I can’t either, babe. Get your Cole to introduce me to Oscar.”
“He’s notmyCole. And what happened to Stephen What’s-His-Name you were seeing?”
Sometimes it was hard to keep track of the guys Zach brought back to our place. Not that I was shaming my best friend or anything, but he didn’t keep them around long. He didn’t like to stay tied down. I often found myself wishing I could be like that, but my heart already wanted someone else.
He shoved some of his clothes over on the bed to sit down. “He was fun, but that was so last week. Which is why I want to meet Oscar. He’s cute. I’ve never been with a hockey player before. I bet his cock is huge. It would tear me apart.”
“Zach.” I sighed. “You can’t sleep with one of Cole’s teammates.”