Chapter 4
FOUR
COLTON
“Did you see that?” Evan pointed at the television screen in his Scottsdale apartment. “He clearly said your name.”
“He did not.” I scoffed as heat swarmed my cheeks. As I sipped my beer, I peeked at the TV. He couldn’t be playing for me. Who does that for their tutor?
“No? Well, let’s have a quick rewind and see.” Evan plucked his remote from the coffee table and rewound the game by thirty seconds. “Watch.”
Biting my lower lip, my heart pattered as my gaze locked on the screen. I shouldn’t like him this much. I barely knew him. But Evan kept planting ideas in my head. It was all his fault.
Travis stalked toward the camera, his blue eyes gleaming even from under his helmet, his plump lips curled into a broad grin. Holding his finger up, he said, “That was for you, Colton.”
The announcers chuckled and asked, “Okay, I wonder who this Colton is?”
“A brother maybe?” a second announcer asked.
“See? Even the announcers heard it.” Evan jabbed his finger at the screen. “I’m telling you, man, he’s got a thing for you.” He sank into his black leather couch and spread his arm across the back of it. “This game is over. They’re playing the second-string guys now and still making touchdowns.”
I glanced at the mostly eaten pepperoni pizza on the table and picked up a slice.
It was cold, but still good. “Do you want to watch something else?” A tiny ache ghosted through my chest as I bit into the pizza.
I’d watch all I could of Tex. He was amazing in person, but in his football uniform?
I’d had to tell my dick to stand down a few times.
Peering at me, Evan said, “No, because you want to watch every second of this game. I can tell.” He patted my thigh.
“Why the hell are you going on a date with Sara when you’d clearly rather date Tex?
” He took a quick breath. “And don’t give me any bullshit about your dad.
If you don’t tell him, how would he know? ”
I ate more pizza, ruminating on my answer. I had to respond with an irrefutable answer. “Because I already agreed to it and I don’t flake on people.” There, he couldn’t argue with that.
“How do you think he’ll feel seeing you in the stands with her and knowing you’re on a date?” He drank some beer from a can while glaring at me.
“I don’t know. He’ll be playing football.
He won’t be thinking about me.” I couldn’t get out of this, anyway.
I clenched my jaw and then ripped another bite out of the pizza slice.
Sara was one of my students, and I didn’t need her bad-mouthing me to others.
Not that I thought she’d do that. But still.
“Judging by what I just saw, he’ll definitely be thinking about you. I know if it were me, my game would be off.” His gaze softened. “Look, I know you won’t flake on Sara. Just…be mindful of his game. Refrain from making out with her in the stands.” He snorted. “’Cause you love PDA so much.”
With a sharp laugh, I slapped his shoulder. “Shut up. You know I don’t.” I ate the last of the slice. “I’m having a beer with him sometime this week.”
“Oh?” He poked at my ribs. “You didn’t tell me that. So now you have dates with two people?”
“No, it’s not a date. We’re meeting as friends for a beer and…talking about his schoolwork. It’s more of an informal study session.” He just couldn’t leave it alone. I set the crust of the pizza in the box, along with the other crusts I hadn’t eaten.
“Okay, so you’re having a non-date with him.” He sighed and slowly shook his head. “Let me ask you one thing.”
“What’s that?” I sipped my beer. I knew what was coming. Should I lie?
“Do you like him?” Lifting a brow, he studied me. “Like if you didn’t have this crazy notion about your dad, would you date him if he asked you to?”
“I…” Shit, I couldn’t lie to Evan. “Yes, I’d date him.” I hung my head. “But understand that it’s complicated, and it’s not a great idea. It doesn’t matter if I like him.”
“Dude.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. “It does and you need to pull your head out of your ass.”
“It’s not…” Fuck. “Let me get through this week, okay?” I swept my gaze to his. “Stop hassling me about it for one week.” I’d never process the situation otherwise.
“Sure. I’ll start hassling you again next week.” With a smirk, he drank his beer.
After a few texts with Travis, we met at Four-One-Four pizza on Mill Avenue on Wednesday night, and tonight was the night.
As I dressed in my bedroom, I slipped into one of my nicer black polo shirts, leaving the top buttons open, and my phone buzzed on my bed.
I picked it up, peered at my screen, and my gut knotted. Shit, it was Sara.
Sara
What are you doing? Do you have a student tonight? Maybe we could get together?
She’d been texting me all week and asking to do things with me. So far, I’d been able to fend her off with excuses. I typed.
Colton
I’m meeting with Travis tonight, so I’m busy.
There, it wasn’t untrue, and she didn’t need to know where we were meeting. I set the phone on the bed and slipped a pair of white linen shorts up my legs.
The phone buzzed again, and I scoffed. I needed to leave, or I’d be late. I hated being late. In fact, I usually showed up early for things. I grabbed my phone and strode into the main room, reading her next message.
Sara
How about tomorrow? I’d love to hang out before the game.
I stopped at the door and reread the text. Did she need another tutoring session, or was she asking for another date? I tapped the screen. Because no more tutoring sessions could occur after Saturday. We’d agreed on that.
Colton
Do you want one last tutoring session?
I watched the three dots blink at me.
Sara
Sure, if you want to use that label. How about we meet at your place around five? We could order takeout.
As the knot in my gut tightened, I inhaled deeply. How should I respond to that? I had to be explicit with her, and she obviously didn’t need a tutoring session.
Colton
We can either hang out as friends or have a tutoring session, but we can’t do both.
I slipped my phone into my pocket and left the apartment. I wouldn’t call whatever tomorrow was a date.
After parking my car in a nearby lot, I strolled along the sidewalk, the heat of the afternoon cooling as the sun set behind the high-rises in the distance.
Cars crept along the boulevard while mostly students strolled along beside me with their backpacks slung over their shoulders, a few on skateboards.
Trees rose from the sidewalk planters every so often, their canopies compact with dark green leaves.
I hadn’t checked my phone since I’d left.
I didn’t want to contend with Sara right now.
There were other things to worry about. Like Travis.
As I stepped to the restaurant, tucked inside a two-story brick building, I hesitated at the door. My pulse hummed inside me, and I forced a hard swallow. This was only a beer with a man who wanted to be my friend. Nothing more.
The door swung open and Travis stood there, a broad smile reaching his eyes. “Colton, come on in. I’ve got a booth in the back.” He held the door open.
Giving him a small wave and a quick peek, I said, “Hi.” I brushed past him and into the pizza place. I’d never been in here before. Hell, I’d rarely ventured to any Mill Avenue shops or restaurants. I stuffed my hands into my pockets.
Travis stepped close to me and settled his warm hand on my lower back. “You look nice.” His breath tickled my neck. “Our table is back here.”
“Thanks.” Heat shivered across my skin as he led me over a yellow floor with splashes of red paint. Chalk letters covered the dark walls. Song lyrics maybe?
He led me past a bar and black tables and chairs and stopped at a booth with yellow vinyl cushions. A pitcher of beer rested on the table. “Is this okay?”
“Yes, it’s fine.” I slid into the bench seat and set my forearms on the table. This was awkward. Words failed me with him. Football, talk about football. But then, would he bring up the fact that he’d mentioned my name to the television cameras?
He glided in next to me and poured the beer into two frosty mugs. “Did you watch the game?” He pushed a beer toward me.
“I did. I watched it at Evan’s apartment.” Of course he’d start the conversation there. I cupped my glass, the condensation cooling my hand. “You played well.” I snuck my gaze to his.
“Thanks.” His gaze trailed over me and stopped at my lips. “What, uh, what else did you do at Evan’s apartment?”
I blinked. What an odd question. “We talked and ate pizza, and drank beer.” The corner of my mouth lifted. “Sort of like what we’re doing here, now.”
“I see.” With his hand wrapped around his beer glass, he tapped it with his index finger. “Were my words captured on camera when Grey scored?”
My heart about stopped. Slowly, I said, “They were. The announcers even commented on it. They wondered if Colton was your brother.” Chewing my lower lip, my gaze drew to his mouth, glistening from the beer he’d drunk.
How would it feel to kiss him? Hell, I’d never find out because it couldn’t happen.
With a quick chuckle, he said, “My brother’s name is Will. Okay, William, actually, but he goes by Will.” He sipped his beer.
“Like calling yourself Tex instead of Travis?” It was hard for me to call him that. I’d only known him as Travis. After taking a few gulps of my drink, the cool bubbles glided down my throat. I could settle my nerves with the beer and not feel so awkward.
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?” He leaned back on the seat and swung his arm across the cushion behind me, a charming grin spreading on his stunning face.
“No, I don’t.” I stared at my beer. If we were talking about our families, I’d have to tell him about my mother. “Do you have any other siblings besides Will?”
“Nope. Will is a few years older than me, and he’s an ER nurse. He’s a cool guy, but very different from me.” He brushed his fingers across my shoulder. “He’s a player. I’m not.”