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“I didn’t say that.” Killian chewed on his bottom lip, casting his eyes down to his feet. “Can you keep a secret?”
Matthias pinched his side. “Don’t.”
“Don’t...what?” I asked before I realized what they were both talking about. “Beau bought him a ring, didn’t he?”
Killian shrugged. “I didn’t say that.” But when his baby blues met my greens, he broke out into a smile. “Asked me if I thought Dean would say yes. Guess he wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to punch him.”
“You’re a terrible secret keeper.” Matthias sighed and rolled his eyes.
Killian kissed him again as I turned to look at Tommy. “I never thought I would be like this again.”
“Like what, baby?” He dragged his thumb over my bottom lip.
I nipped him playfully. “Happy.”
“Get used to it. I plan to make you happy for the rest of your life,” Tommy promised.
Chapter Forty-Three
Tommy
Five Years Ago
My best friend-turned-boyfriend, came storming across the street toward me, and dread curdled my stomach. His hands were balled into fists as his side, his blond hair moved in the breeze. Even though he wore an angry expression on his face, he was still the most beautiful man I had ever seen. I had never seen Blake look so upset before, and I’d be a liar if I didn’t say it terrified me. I knew this moment was coming; I just thought I had more time to prepare. To plead my case.
I was supposed to tell Blake goodbye today. Just like he was supposed to tell me the same. His band, the one he was the bass player in, Mulligan Downtown, was going to be leaving for California. It was only a matter of time before they hit it big. After all the shows I had been to, the crowds that got bigger and bigger, my boyfriend was going to be a huge star. Canfield was always going to be too small for them. The crowds kept getting bigger, each show selling out, and it was time they spread their wings and moved to get that big record contract.
Just like it was too small for me.
I had my own dreams. Blake knew that. Dreams of making it as a professional hockey player in the footsteps of my big brother, the big-time NHL goalie. I wanted a forever with him. We worked together, and it made sense that our relationship had taken this turn. Best friends to boyfriends. The rock star and the hockey player. His cheesy jokes and my broody seriousness. It just wasn’t meant to be. Not now. Maybe not ever. Breaking his heart was not originally part of my plan, but I could see his chest was cracked wide open.
“What did you do?” Blake shoved at me with the palms of his hands. I didn’t budge. I outweighed him by at least fifty pounds. “Huh, Tommy, what the fuck did you do? I told you I was staying here, and you went behind my back, anyway.” His chin quivered as he stared at me with defiance in his green eyes. “Guess what? I’m not leaving, and she’s not going.”
I reached for one of his hands, only for him to slap me away. “Bug, don’t. She needs help.”
“She needs me, Tommy. Me.” Blake pressed a hand against his heart. “I’m the one who’s been taking care of her for the past four years.”
I nodded. “I know that. You’ve been doing great, but now it’s time for you to spread your wings. Chase your dreams. You can’t protect her forever.”
“No.” He shook his head, and I saw tears in his eyes. “No one knows her like I do, Tommy. Who’s going to know what she needs? She’s my mother. Not some stranger. I’m the one who washes her when she gets sick, cleans her sheets and blankets. Helps her up when she falls. Not some nurse in a rehab.”
“Please let me hug you, Blake.”
I needed to touch him. To let him know that I was still on his side and that I only did this because I loved him. I scrubbed a hand down my face. I truly loved Blake. I wasn’t sure if he was aware of that, but I did.
We’d met when he moved to Canfield when I was twelve and he was fourteen. Friends first, lovers second, and I don’t think he was aware he was into dick until I kissed him. He didn’t freak out, hit me, or try to end our friendship. No, Blake had run headfirst into our relationship like he did everything else. He was the most easy-going, laid-back person I had ever met. We were complete opposites, but we worked so well together. The thought of losing him made me want to crack open my chest and rip out my heart. I wasn’t sure I could function without Blake Duncan, but I was soon going to find out.
Blake pulled his lip between his teeth before he fell to his knees in front of the house. A loud sob escaped his throat, and he dropped his head. I knew how much he loved his mother. How he took care of her after every drunken episode, picked her up from the bars she frequented, and everything else that came with having an alcoholic parent. He never spoke about his mother, about the jobs she lost, the money he spent on food, and bills, the nights, and mornings he worried she would end up dead. But I saw it. And right now, he was screaming and crying on my parents’ front lawn like someone had died.
I sunk down next to him. “Bug, she agreed to this,” I murmured. “Your mom is going to get all the help she needs. This rebab is state-of-the-art. The doctors, nurses, and aides will take care of her just like you would. You won’t have to worry about her.”
“I should be taking care of her.” Blake stopped to look up at me, tears and snot covering his face.
I sat down on the grass and patted my legs. “Come here.” When he shook his head, I raised my brows. “I know you want to.”
“Gretzky, I’m mad at you.”
You’re going to be really mad at me when you find out how I convinced your mother to actually go to rehab. “Yeah, but you love me. And you love to cuddle.”
