Chapter 1 #2
“It does. It’s wood, so…” His gaze darted across the floor as he brushed his hands across his hips. “Can I, uh, get you something to drink? I have water and, uh, Gatorade.” The corner of his lips twitched as his gaze flashed to mine.
“Sure. I’ll take a Gatorade. It’s the drink of choice for athletes.
” With a sly grin, I fixated on the rounded ass under his grey board shorts when he turned and strode into the kitchen.
“How long have you lived here?” I swung my arm onto the back of the couch and loosely crossed my legs.
Maybe I could stretch our study sessions out to get to know him better.
If he weren’t queer, then I’d leave it alone.
God, I was already thinking things I shouldn’t. You’re here to study, Tex.
“A little over a year. I rented the place when I came here to start my master’s.” He approached the couch with a bottle of water and an orange Gatorade and then handed me the Gatorade. “Hope you like orange. It’s all I have.”
“No problem. That’s fine. I wasn’t expecting you to wait on me when I got here.” I unscrewed the cap. “But it’s a nice touch.” As I gulped my drink, I watched him, staring at me while I swallowed. Was he queer?
“Oh, uh, sure. I like to be cordial to my students.” He scraped his teeth across his lower lip.
“You said you played football, so I…” He twisted the water bottle in his hands and glanced around the room.
“Doesn’t matter. I have a, a friend who plays hockey.
My best friend. He likes the orange flavor. ”
“You do?” Yeah, he didn’t know how fucking gorgeous he was. “Who is it? Does he play for ASU? I know some of those guys, well, indirectly.” Was he a friend of Myles and Cooper’s?
“No, I don’t know why I brought it up.” He freed a stammered laugh and dropped into the opposite end of the couch. “His name is Evan Crosby. He plays for the Phoenix Firebirds. Anyway, we’ve been friends since high school.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Let’s get started, shall we?”
I took him in from his head to his bare feet. He had a frat boy look to him, but I highly doubted he was in a frat. For one, he lived too far off campus, and two—he seemed too…awkward, maybe? “Hey, are you in a frat?” Fuck my mouth for blurting that out.
“No.” He furrowed his brows and sipped his water. “Why do you ask?” His gaze dipped to my lips for a beat and then rushed away.
Was he queer? I peeked at his mouth and the dusting of shadow above his upper lip. How would he appear with one of those mustaches that were so popular these days? I bet he could make it look hot. “I don’t know, just wondering. You sort of look like one.” I choked on a laugh. Stupid, Tex.
“Oh, is that a compliment?” He gave a slow smirk. “Do you usually date frat boys?”
He knew my status. That wasn’t surprising. The entire school knew. “I—”
“Don’t answer that.” He held his palm out to me. “I’m sorry, that was a stupid thing to say.” Lifting his chin, he inhaled deeply. “Show me the assignment you’re stuck on.”
“Sure.” I pulled my laptop from my backpack, opened it and set it in my lap. “I already have it on my screen.” I’d come prepared. “I have to create a pivot table from the data and…”
He slid next to me on the couch, his body heating my side. “Pivot tables are easy once you get the hang of them.” He turned the laptop screen toward him, his arm muscles thicker than I’d expected. “I’ll tell you what to do.” He leaned in a little closer.
The scents of lemon and cucumber wafted from his hair. Goddamn, he smelled good. I could get used to this. “Do you work out?” Somehow, I didn’t see him going to the gym.
“A little.” As he turned his head, his gaze locked on mine for a beat, and his lips parted.
With a swallow, he inched away. “I like to run, but Evan taught me some weightlifting techniques. I use the gym inside the apartment complex.” His gaze dipped to my chest. “You um, obviously know quite a lot about lifting weights.”
“Yeah, guess so.” I huffed a laugh. “It’s my job, basically, to lift weights. I’m a guard on the offensive line, so I have to throw a lot of big dudes on the ground.”
He nodded and then blinked. “Okay, well, back to the pivot table.” He explained what buttons to push, and we were on our way.
After an hour of data visualization using the pivot tables, we took a break. “How much longer do you want to study?” I stretched at a set of sliding glass doors leading to a balcony with a plastic table and chairs. If he had time, maybe I could hang out and get to know him better?
“Let’s get some fresh air on the patio.” He unlocked the slider and opened it. “I can keep going another hour if you like. I know you have a deadline.”
I stepped onto the patio overlooking the greenery between buildings, and the cooling evening air surrounded me, along with a chorus of chirping birds. “With all these gigantic trees around here, you must have a shit ton of birds.”
“Yes, you should hear it in the morning.” He sat in a chair and sighed. “What’s your take on these assignments we discussed? Are you ready for your test or?”
I fell into the chair beside him. “I feel a lot better about it. But…” Shit, I wanted to stay with him longer. “More instruction would cement it in my brain.” I tapped the side of my head. “You know?”
“Yeah, I get it.” A small smile curled his lips. “I do have a hard stop in another hour. I have another student coming.”
“Oh.” Fuck. I’d have to go home to make dinner after all. “What are you tutoring next?” Did the next student find him as attractive as I did?
“I’m helping a junior with her accounting class. She’s having a rough time figuring out what counts as a debit versus a credit.” With a soft laugh, he shook his head. “It’s amazing how hard that concept can be.” His gaze swung to mine. “You would have taken that class last year.”
“Yes, but I figured it out.” So, his next student was female.
If he were gay, then he wouldn’t be interested.
I hadn’t caught a gay vibe from him though.
But I hadn’t caught a straight one either.
I ruminated over our earlier conversation.
“So, you said you went to high school with an AHL hockey player. Where are you from?”
“Rochester, New York.” While looking over the courtyard, he said, “He was living with Lucas Hopkins before he was called to play for the Coyotes.” He pursed his lips. “Lucas moved into a place with his fiancé.”
“Hopkins?” I lifted my brows. Wasn’t there a Mason Hopkins on the Coyotes?
“Is Lucas’s brother named Mason?” God damn.
I’d heard this story. “Mason is married to Jett Jarvis, right? And they play with Ace McAdams and Archer Carlson who all played for ASU?” Not to mention all of them were out queer players. I eyed him. Maybe he was queer?
“Yes, you’re correct.” He inhaled deeply. “Evan’s scraping by right now on his AHL salary. He asked me to move in with him, but it’s so far from campus.” He threaded his hands over his stomach.
Wait, was he involved with Evan? Were they together? “So, this Evan, you two are close?” My heart dipped.
He faced me. “Yeah, we’re best friends.”
I peered at him. Maybe Evan wasn’t out professionally, and he couldn’t talk about their relationship. But Colton knew my status. I wouldn’t say anything. “You’re already kind of far from campus.”
He arched a brow. “I know, and it’s already a hassle for some of my students to come here. But it’s cheaper.” He huffed. “And I hate going to the center.”
Given his striking looks, students probably invented reasons to come and see him. I snuck my gaze across his frame and his leg muscles, long and lean. I’d see him again. Even if I understood my damn assignments. The corner of my lips lifted. I was devious.
“So, shall we get to it?” Slapping his hands on his thighs, he stood.
“Sure.” I rose and followed him back into the apartment. I’d be sure to book another study session with him before I left here today. I couldn’t predict how much harder this class would be.
Another hour had passed, and my eyes were damn tired from scrutinizing numbers on the laptop screen.
We’d sat at the dinette this time and he’d given me some extra credit assignments to work through.
I closed my laptop. “So, this was helpful, Colton. I’d like to see you again.
” Oh, fuck, why did I phrase it like that?
Rubbing my eyes, I snorted. “I mean, book another session with you.”
“Yeah? Okay.” He plucked his phone off the table and opened the screen. “I have an opening on Thursday afternoon around three?” His gaze met mine. “You need to leave for your game on Friday, right?” He smirked. “I might have reviewed your schedule online.”
My brows snapped up. He did? “Yes, Fridays are difficult when we have an away game.” I slipped my laptop into my bag, resting on the floor at my feet.
Rapping sounded through the apartment.
“Oh, that must be Sara.” He hopped from the chair, stepped to the door and flung it open with a broad grin. “Hey, Sara. Nice to see you. Come in.” He waved his arm wide.
With a giggle, Sara pranced inside the room, her blonde hair pulled in a high ponytail and falling to her shoulders. “You’re looking fine as always.” She fluttered her lashes as she grabbed his shoulders and kissed his cheek. When she pulled away, her gaze caught mine. “Oh, who’s this?”
My chest sparked with heat, and I fought to keep my expression steady. She obviously knew him very well. How long had he been tutoring her? Rising from my chair, I said, “Hi, I’m Travis Rowlings. I’m on the—”
She squealed. “Oh my God, you’re an offensive lineman for the Devils. I go to all the games. You’re so good out there.” She clapped her hands over her chest and twisted to Colton. “You didn’t tell me you were tutoring a football player.”
“I didn’t know until yesterday.” He bit his lower lip and crossed his arms.
“We’ll have to go to a game together.” She grabbed his elbow. “Right?”
He wrinkled his brows. “Uh…”
“Oh, come on. It would be fun. You said yourself you don’t get out much.” She pulled on him. “You need more friends besides Evan.” Her eyes popped open. “Maybe Evan would join us if he’s not playing a game?”
Okay, she knew a lot about Colton. I wrinkled my nose. I wished to know that much about him. “If you want tickets, I can get them for you.” Fuck me. Here I was, pairing them up for an evening together. But if Colton was gay or in a relationship with Evan, it wouldn’t matter.
“That would be fabulous. Would you?” She tugged his arm again, swaying him. “Say yes, Colton.”
“Uh, yes.” He hung his head as his cheeks reddened.
Damn, he was adorable. “I’ll see you Thursday afternoon, and I’ll bring the tickets. Let me know if you need two or three.” I threw my backpack over my shoulder. This way I’d know if he were bringing Evan. Then it was less likely to be a dating situation between Colton and Sara.
“Sounds good. We can firm things up through text.” He tore free from Sara’s grasp and headed for the still open door.
After following him, I ambled onto the entryway, an ache ghosting through my chest. Two hours spent with him left me processing a lot, none of it academic.
He shut the door behind him as he stepped close behind me. “Hey, I’m sorry about that. You don’t have to give us free tickets if you don’t want to.”
Facing him, I looked deeply into his stunning green eyes, lighter in the sunshine. Fuck, I could kiss him right now. Kiss him and claim him as mine to be sure nothing would happen with Sara after I left. I was out of my fucking mind. “No, I want to. Have you ever been to a game?”
“No. I’ve been to hockey games, and I’ve watched football on TV, but I’ve never been to a football game.” His gaze flicked to my lips and returned.
“Well then, you’re in for a treat.” And I’d play the best game of my life with him there. Giving him my most charming smile, I said, “I’ll see you on Thursday.” I turned on my heels and forced myself down the stairs before I did something stupid, like actually kiss him.