Page 9 of Starting Over with You (Beer League Belles #2)

CHAPTER

SIX

Dean

Fable Cook has a wide grin on her face as she comes toward me, bundled up in what I assume is her husband’s Ice Thistle hoodie since it’s ten sizes too big on her.

I smile back as I give her a kind side hug that I’m sure will still piss Jett off.

He doesn’t like anyone touching or being near his wife, not that I blame him.

She’s a knockout, but also, he’s waited twenty years for her, and he won’t lose her again.

He told me that last night because she smiled at Liam.

Dude is obsessed.

I hate how jealous that makes me.

Fable’s green eyes are animated as we part. “She landed her axel today, and I may have cried.”

My chest puffs with pride as I cross my arms over my chest, the air of the rink exceptionally cold since it’s warm out. “Did you get video?”

“I did. She has it to send to you.”

“Fantastic. She’s thriving, and it’s all thanks to you. ”

Fable looks a bit shy, but we both know she’s amazing at what she does.

She was a gold medalist for years and then moved to coaching.

I doubt she thought she’d be coaching when she ended up in Thistlebrook, but not only is she killing it, she’s growing the program like crazy.

We have kids coming from other rural communities just to skate with her.

She has started a cheer skating team for the high schools, and everybody is so very proud.

I know I am—of her and of Skyye.

“I think she might try out for captain,” she says with a wink, and my lips curve up. “Which I think she’ll do wonderfully at.”

Don’t get me wrong; I wanted my baby to be the next Chelsea Cutler.

Go on to play for some awesome women’s hockey program.

But my girl wasn’t really into it. Now she’s a full-time figure skater with dreams of skating for Disney on Ice, and she’s also helping with the tiny tots classes, making her own money, and always smiling.

I think that’s my favorite part.

“I’m excited to see it all play out.”

“She’s a great girl, good head on her shoulders.”

I smile proudly. “Yeah, Missy and I were hellions, but we did right with her.”

Fable beams, but her smile falls seconds before Jett moves between us, pushing me in the process.

I can only laugh. The guy used to hate everyone, and I swear he didn’t know how to smile before Fable came back.

Now, he smiles for no reason. Or there is a reason, and I sure as hell don’t want to know it. “I saw you hug her.”

Fable groans in annoyance as I laugh. She smacks his bicep but cuddles in close. “Pretty boy, you can’t keep watching me on the cameras.”

“Who said?” he asks with a straight face that has me laughing even harder.

“I do,” she throws back, but he just grins.

“You really don’t want me to watch my perfect wife prance around and make me proud? ”

Fable’s eyes light up as she smiles. “You’re obsessed, and I’m going nowhere. I’m yours.”

“Fucking right, I am, and that won’t ever change.” He takes her cheeks in his hands, kissing her deeply as if there is no one else in the room. I look away since all this does is remind me how fucking lonely I am, and find my daughter walking toward me.

She rolls her eyes, and I laugh. “Thanks, Fable. I paid you on my way in.”

She gives me a thumbs-up but doesn’t stop kissing her husband. I fall into step with Skyye as she looks back at them, her face in a scowl. “I swear his lips are always attached to hers.”

I chuckle at that, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “They’re newlyweds.”

She side-eyes me. “Mom and Nyle aren’t like that.” She pauses. “But Aunt Sadie and Matt are.”

I nod. “And they’ve been married what, seventeen years now?”

“Yeah, but Jett is, like, obsessed with Fable.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” I say with a wink. “Don’t settle for less.”

She beams up at me. “Dad, be real. No man will ever live up to you, so I’ll probably be single for my whole life.”

“Thank sweet baby Jesus.”

We both laugh at that as I hug her in tighter, and we talk about practice while we make our way out of the Ice Thistle.

She’s excited about landing her axel, and I love how happy this sport is making her.

When we walk out the sliding doors, she looks up at me with an arched brow after seeing the fire truck in the parking lot. “Were you on a call?”

I shake my head as Wagner gives me a bored look, hanging out the side of the truck. “I’m your knight in firefighting gear. Had to bring my chariot.”

She cackles as she shakes her head. “See, Dad? What guy will do that?”

Pray God, none, but I know in my heart one will come along. I just hope he knows my baby won’t settle for anything but the best.

Most of Thistlebrook’s homes are single-story log houses.

Or at least, on this side of town, they are.

The other side holds the bigger, more lavish houses made of stone with iron gates; it’s where most of the community leaders and old-money townsfolk live.

This side of town, my side, is where the working class lives.

I think we have the better views of the mountains, which is why I’d never move.

I could hit the lottery and be able to afford one of those fancy homes, but no way would I give up what I have.

Missy’s home is a bit smaller than mine but still stunningly gorgeous.

It’s a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath single-story that has a massive backyard and an awesome front porch that currently has evidence of my sister and Missy being out there.

They told me they weren’t drinking, but I see a half-empty bottle of Fireball.

I swear, those two.

As I walk up with Skyye, I take in the beauty of Missy’s home.

Missy used a bonus she got from work to replace all the logs on her house, so now they’re bright and shiny in the sun.

She has dark green shutters with an oak door.

The windows were replaced when the logs were, by me, and I love how they look.

I knew when I got my floor-to-ceiling windows, she’d want the same, and I wasn’t wrong.

It’s a good home, and I’m proud of how far my tormentor of a baby mama has come.

She has worked hard to give Skyye everything she needs, and I’m thankful for that.

When the screen door opens, I look up to find Nyle standing in the doorway.

I try not to sigh in annoyance at the sight of him, but he just annoys the shit out of me.

He’s not an ugly dude. He’s okay—a good face and a trim body.

He’s shorter than me, but not many people are my height.

He has bright blond hair with light-blue eyes.

He is the total opposite of me, which only proves how off the mark Missy and I were for each other.

But I just don’t know why she chose this guy.

“Hey there, Skyye. ”

My daughter smiles sweetly as she waves. “Hey, Nyle.”

He gives her a small side hug. “Sorry for not coming and getting you. Your mom has been running me ragged all day.”

Skyye gives me a look to say, He had all week to do what mom asked.

I shrug. Let him be.

She rolls her eyes and then comes to me for a hug, and I kiss her temple. She tickles my beard and flashes me a grin. “Need to shave, Dad. Your lip sweater is getting lost in the sauce.”

I snort as I run my forefinger and thumb along the thick hair on my top lip. I haven’t shaved in a couple days, so my beard is getting a little out of control. “I thought you hated my stache.”

She shrugs. “I’d rather that than your bushy cheeks.” I push her playfully as her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Love you, Dad.”

I send a wave to Nyle, but he stops me. “Actually, can I talk to you real fast?”

Skyye looks between us, and I hook my thumb to the fire truck. “I gotta get back to the station.”

“It’ll take five minutes, tops.” He holds the door for Skyye. “Head on in.”

Skyye looks to me, and I nod. “Love you, miss you, mean it,” she says softly.

I squeeze her shoulder. “Love you, miss you, meant it,” I repeat back, my heart swelling a bit.

My granny used to say that to us when we were younger, and every time I dropped Skyye off to Missy, I’d say it to her.

It’s stuck, and now it’s something we always say whenever we leave each other.

She heads into the house, and the door slams shut with a loud thwack.

Nyle’s blue eyes meet mine, and I cross my arms over my wide chest. “What’s up? ”

He clears his throat before coming to a stop before me. “I’m sorry about today.”

I just blink. “Thanks?”

Nyle holds my gaze, tucking his hands into his pockets. “I know you weren’t happy with me marrying Missy, but I promise I’m trying to do right by her. ”

I don’t know what the hell is happening right now. “I’m not sure where this is coming from, but as long as Missy and Skyye are happy, I’m good.”

He nods, but something tells me he isn’t satisfied with my response. “I know you have history with Missy, but I’m her husband now?—”

I hold up my hand. “Let me stop you real fast.” I take a step forward and lower my voice since I know Wagner is behind me and I just saw Skyye in the window.

“You don’t need to puff up your chest and go all ‘she is my wife’ on me.

Bro, I don’t care. Missy is my friend, has been my friend since I was like four.

I love her as the mother of my child. That’s it.

You have her heart, something that was never mine or something I wanted. ”

He doesn’t seem convinced. “But she’s always Dean this, Dean that.”

I shrug. “Because I am a pillar in her life. But there is no competition between us.” I leave out that he isn’t even in the same league as me since I don’t need that drama. “As long as you’re good to my daughter and treat Missy with respect, you won’t hear anything from me.”

He slowly nods. “So, you’re not in love with her?”

I scoff. “Not even kinda, buddy.”

He searches my eyes, and I hope he sees the truth. I don’t like the guy, but I won’t ruin Missy’s happiness. If this is who she chooses, I support her. He seems satisfied with that, but then he grimaces. “I know you don’t like me.” When I bring in my brows, he adds, “You kicked my ass in school.”

“You touched my sister’s ass, and I had to defend her honor. But surely you’ve grown from that.”

He nods. “I have. I learned my lesson.”

“Then we’re good.”

“I want us to be on the same team here. The end goal is giving Skyye everything she needs, and I want to be a part of that.”

I wouldn’t put this guy on my E League team, and we don’t even have an E League, but I don’t say that. “Skyye is everything,” I remind him. “One thing about me, Nyle, is as long as the women I love are respected, I don’t have issues. I don’t hold grudges like my sister.”

He rolls his eyes. “Think you can do something about your sister busting my balls?”

“Not at all.” I laugh a bit, shaking my head. “Hell, I don’t think there is anyone in this world who can do something about my sister.”

Nyle looks stricken. “Do you think it’s gonna be like how it was, now with Kenni coming back?”

Now, I’m fully grinning. “I sure as hell hope time has helped those three grow out of their wild ways, but I’m not holding my breath.”

“Great,” he mutters, and I wave as I head to the truck, my grin still in place.

While I have similar sentiments as his since I’m unsure what kind of hell is about to be unleashed by Shenanigans Inc.

, I can’t help but feel the same kind of excitement I’d feel from hoisting the Beer League Cup above my head.

I don’t feel that way often, but knowing I’m about to see Kenni again…

Yeah, I’m excited.