his. “That’s a topic for another day.”
“I don’t understand about the talking behind your back thing,” Stella said. “When did we say you couldn’t cut it in a four-year degree? Obviously you can. You can do whatever you want, Tay. I mean, you play pro hockey. How many others couldn’t cut it in the NHL, huh?”
Poking at his pasta salad, he shoved a twirly noodle in his mouth. “It was a couple of years ago at Sunday brunch before I started my program. You were talking in the kitchen and I overheard you.”
“I don’t remember that.” Stella looked to Anna for confirmation.
Anna shook her head. “Me neither.”
Oh good. They didn’t remember a conversation that had cut him off at the knees and shaped so much of his determination to succeed in his classes. Appetite gone, Tay scrubbed his hands over his face.
“Whether or not we remember saying it isn’t the point,” Anna said, correctly interpreting Tay’s frustration. “We shouldn’t have said it. Shit, we shouldn’t have thought it. Someone who can make it to the NHL can certainly make it through such an intense program. I’m sorry, Tay.”
“Me too,” Stella added.
They sounded so sincere, and what was Tay supposed to do? Hold a grudge for the rest of his life? That wasn’t who he was, nor who he wanted to be. Plus, it’d make for awkward family get-togethers. He believed them when they said they wanted to be there for him now. Whether he let them was up to him.
Attempting to meet them halfway, he said, “Thank you for the apology. And I’m sorry I’ve been blind to the fact that you’ve really been trying the last several months.” He could see it now as he remembered them asking about his art, and how, a few minutes ago, Anna had offered to help. And Stella’s quip about him actually being bisexual? And the other one about Tay making Dakota up? She’d been teasing, only he hadn’t realized it at the time, too mired in his own history to notice.
Anna snorted a laugh. “In your defense, we could’ve been more obvious about it.”
“Yeah, guys don’t get subtlety, do they?” Stella said, laughter in her voice.
That sent all three of them chuckling, and it was nice to laugh with them over something so mundane.
“What do you think about getting together a couple times a month?” Tay asked. “Just the three of us? To grab lunch or coffee or even a beer.”
Anna clinked her beer bottle against his. “Sounds good to me.”
“We just have to find time in our busy calendars,” Stella said with an eye roll. “No sweat.”
A knock on the patio door had them all turning. Dakota stood on the other side, brows lowered, and sent him a thumbs up.
Aw. His guy was checking up on him. Heart stumbling to a stop at Dakota’s feet, Tay grinned and sent him a thumbs up in return, making a mental note to kiss him silly later for being so damn sweet. Dakota winked at him and turned back to the party.
“Forget your classes,” Stella said with a teasing smile. “Tell us about your guy.”
“I’ll tell you about mine if you tell me about yours. Sorry I didn’t have any comp tickets left for you.”
She waved a hand. “No worries. I took him to a titty bar.”
Tay’s fork paused halfway to his mouth.
Anna choked on her beer. “You did not.”
“Did too.” Smile turning smug, Stella tossed her hair. “Got the best orgasm of my life after too.”
A violent shudder passed through Tay. “Ugh. Gross. TMI.”
The patio door opened and Andy stepped out, laughing madly. Tay did a double-take, his mouth dropping open. “How did you . . . ? When did . . . ? What the . . . ?”
Andy was covered in flour, head to toe, and apparently very happy about it. “Dad’s chasing me, Tay!”
“Yeah, I bet he is.”
“Hide me.” Andy ran behind his chair.
“I can fix this.” Standing, Anna hopped down the porch steps, rounded the house, and was back a moment later with the hose. She handed her beer to Stella. “Hold my beer.”
“Oh no.” Already anticipating the cold water, Tay stood and grabbed Andy’s hand. “Run, Andy!”
Three things happened at once.
Tay and Andy ducked.
Anna turned on the hose.
And Dakota stepped out of the house, getting a face full of frigid water.
Gasping, Anna dropped the hose, both hands coming up to cover her mouth. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry!”
“Well.” Water dripping from his hair, his nose, his eyelashes,