Cole opened and shut his mouth before he finally spoke. “I missed you, you know. Coming home was never the same after that.”
“Tell me about it,” I whispered. “I haven’t been here in five years.”
He nodded. “I’m aware. Every single time I was visiting my dad’s, I hoped you would come home. That you would appear at the door and tell me you loved me. That you were sorry, and that you wanted to work things out. But that’s never going to happen, is it?”
“Would you have forgiven me? Would you have accepted me with open arms? I’m all sorts of fucked up, Cole. Even more than I was before.” I tried to stop the tears that slipped down my cheeks, but there were too many. I brushed the wetness from my face, only for more to appear.
Cole took a step closer. “Yes, I would have forgiven you. I would have made you tell me what happened, but I would have hugged you so tightly that our bodies became one. You’re perfect, Reed. You’re the only person I’ve ever loved.”
“Trust me, I’m not perfect.” My entire body wouldn’t stop shaking as I stared at the man that had consumed my being since I was sixteen years old. Since the first hello, I had wanted him. And now, maybe, he was going to let me back in. I wasn’t worthy.
Cole’s sky-blue eyes burned with heat. “Can I kiss you? Please, I really just want—”
I pressed my mouth to his before he could finish, and when Cole’s tongue probed my lips, I moaned softly. He pushed me back against the car to press his thick, muscled body against mine as the kiss deepened. I sucked hungrily on his tongue while Cole’s hands roamed over my body. This was what had been missing from my life. This man. The way he made me feel. I would do anything to make him happy. Only I had fucked thatup. I ripped my mouth away and tried to untangle myself from Cole, but he held strong.
“I can’t do this.”
“Yes, you can.”
I shook my head. “Cole, I fucking can’t.” I pushed at his chest and let out a long sigh when he stepped away from me. “It doesn’t mean I don’t want you.”
“Well, it fucking feels like it. I shouldn’t have come here. I should have just let you wallow in whatever the hell this is and forget that you existed. Find someone else who can love me the way I deserve. Someone who loves me the way I love you,” he snapped.
The cruel worm of jealousy shifted inside me. “Maybe you should.” I didn’t even recognize my own voice.
“Yeah, maybe I fucking should. I can’t do this anymore, Reed. I can’t love you while you punish me and yourself. Maybe your leaving was for the better. And I can finally move on now that you’ve told me the reason. Have a nice life.” Cole’s nostrils flared as he gritted his teeth. His eyes roamed over my body, then he turned and left me standing alone in the garage, slamming the door behind him.
I was sobbing on the floor when my father found me. He didn’t say anything as he sat down and hauled me into his lap like I was still a little kid. That scared little boy who was terrified no one at school was going to want to be my friend. Dad didn’t say anything, just rocked me back and forth while I cried against him. When I was finished, Dad pushed the hair out of my eyes and gave me a soft smile.
I sniffed as more tears flooded my eyes. “I love him.”
“I know you do.” He tugged me closer and held me as I tried to gather my thoughts together. “Why don’t we go do something? Just the two of us,” Dad suggested.
That actually sounded nice. “Okay.” I tried to smile but couldn’t force it. “I’m sorry I’m not the son you wanted. That I chose dancing over racing and that I don’t know anything about cars. I can’t change a tire to save my life.”
“I’m fucking proud of you, Reed. Don’t ever forget that. For everything you’ve done and everything you’ve become. I love you with all my heart and soul. No one can take that away from me. I never wanted you to be anything other than yourself. Watching you dance is the most beautiful thing,” Dad whispered.
I dropped my chin. “I love you, too, Dad.”
“Get up, come on,” he instructed. When I did, he climbed to his feet. “Let’s go get some breakfast. I’ll go grab the car keys.”
I nodded. “I should freshen up.”
“Do you want to invite Zach to come along?” Dad asked as I followed him into the house.
I shook my head. “No, I want it to just be the two of us.”
“Me, too, kid.” Dad playfully ruffled my hair. “I’ll meet you at the car.”
I gave him a hug before I went upstairs. “Thanks, Dad,” I murmured and rushed upstairs to my bedroom.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Cole
Ishoved the Colorado player away as he tried to come for me. Fuck him if he thought he was going to take the puck. I was exhausted, still nursing a hangover from the night before, and felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest. But the Stanley Cup was ours, and I’d be damned if anyone was going to take that away. All my other dreams were gone. I needed one to pan out the way I had hoped.
I glided across the ice, pumping my legs as fast as they would take me, lifted my arm, whipped my stick, and watched as the puck went over the goalie’s head. The lamp lit up, and the roar of the crowd behind me was deafening. Wyatt grabbed me in a hug. One of wingers, Liam Richards, tapped the top of my helmet with his own. We were already up two before my goal, and this was just the first period.