Page 91 of Next Thing You Know

“He was probably just being nice when he asked for my number.”

My brows shot up. “Wait a second. Bryant asked for your number? Cole, that’s huge. I bet he’s at home with his family right now, thinking the same thing you are. ‘What if Cole doesn’t really like me? What if he was just being nice when I asked for his number? He was the cutest boy there.’”

“I wish.” Cole giggled. “I have more pictures.” He gave me that shy smile again. “If you want to see them.”

I nodded. “I’d love to.”

“And, uh, you could sit down with me or whatever. You don’t have to stand there.” Cole patted the bed next to him.

My heart swelled with delight. I climbed up onto the bed and stretched out next to him, then he held out his phone again. This time it was just Bryant, laughing at something, his head thrown back and his eyes pinched shut.

“You spent a lot of time with him.”

“We were roommates,” Cole whispered.

Oh.OH. “Cole, did you do anything other than kiss Bryant?” I wasn’t sure if I should ask that or not, but I was curious.

“No.” He blushed again as he shook his head. “We kissed a lot, though.”

I didn’t push for more. Only because it wasn’t really up to me to do that, and if Cole wanted to tell me more, he would. He was a teenage boy, after all. He had to have some secrets that he kept to himself. Maybe shared with his friends. Certainly not with his father’s boyfriend.

“What about the pen pal you were talking to?”

“We’re still talking, but honestly, Reed is just a friend. He lives in North Carolina. That’s kind of far. Bryant lives in Portland, Maine, and that’s not that bad.” Cole sighed softly. “I don’t know. This is all so new to me.”

I nodded. “You know, Killian lives in North Carolina and is friends with Hutch, Reed’s father. I’ll be visiting him if you want to come with me sometime. You could meet Reed and see how that goes. And honestly, North Carolina isn’t as far away as you think it is.”

“I think Reed’s mad at me.” Cole chewed on the inside of his cheek.

I tilted my head. “Why do you think that?”

“I messaged him about Bryant, just because I wanted to talk to someone who would understand, and he didn’t respond to me. He read the message, but that was it. Maybe I said something that upset or offended him.”

Or, I thought to myself,Reed likes you more than a friend and might be a little jealous. “Maybe he’s busy.”

“Maybe.” Cole let out a long breath just as there was a knock on his bedroom door. “Come in, Dad.”

Beau opened the door and stepped into the room. “I was going to order pizza...” His eyes went wide when he saw us. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to interrupt.”

“You’re not,” Cole assured him. “There’s room for you, too, if you want.”

Beau’s lips twitched, then he let the smile spread over his face. “I think I’d like that.” He quickly climbed up on the other side of his son, so he was between the two of us.

The three of us lay there for a few minutes, and I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t enjoy it. It made me feel like we were all a one big happy family. And it might be too soon to think something like that, but I didn’t care.

“You said something about pizza?” Cole broke the silence just as his stomach growled. “I can’t help it. I’m a growing boy and all.”

Beau caught my eye before he answered. “I did mention pizza. Any kind you want.”

“You know I’ll eat anything on my pizza. Well, expect anchovies. That’s just nasty,” Cole said. He smiled as he looked between the two of us.

I snorted. “I’m with Cole on that one.”

“No anchovies, got it.” Beau grinned.

Cole sat up. “I think I’m going to like this. Having us all here together like one big, happy family. I’m so glad you and Dad are back together.”

That would make the two of us.