Chapter 8 #2
“Well, just don’t spend all your time with him and have no time left for me.” She tried my mango margarita and her eyes lit up. “Oh, that’s a good one.”
She might get drunk before we talked in earnest. “Yeah?” I stirred the strawberry margarita.
“Yeah, try it.” She pushed it toward me. “Go on.”
“Okay.” I tensed my jaw before taking a short sip, the sweet of the mango mixing with a tang of lime. “You’re right, that is good.”
“Then you can have that one.” With a grin, she drank from her classic margarita. “It’s a little too sweet for me.”
I rolled my eyes. She would push these drinks on me. I wasn’t surprised.
After finishing the margarita flights and eating most of our tacos while she prattled on about nothing, I wiped my fingers on my napkin.
A light buzz floated inside my head despite my attempt to drink mostly iced tea.
But it was time to discuss what I came here for. I faced her. “Sara, we need to talk.”
She downed the last of her jalapeno margarita and turned to me with a lop-sided grin. “Oh? Are you going to ask me to be your girlfriend? It’s about time, really—”
“No, that’s not it.” As my stomach knotted, I fisted my hands. “It’s the opposite, actually. We need to stop dating.”
She gaped a moment, blinking a few times, and then her lips bowed down. “What?”
“I, I…” Shit, I fucking hated this. Grabbing my napkin, I wrung it in my lap. “I don’t have the same feelings for you as you have for me.” The knot in my gut twisted. Would she cry? What would I do then? “S-so, we should probably not date. I mean, we could still be friends.”
“It’s Tex, isn’t it? You like him.” She lifted her chin as she wrinkled her nose. “I knew it. I knew you were gay. You hardly even kissed me.” She jabbed at my chest with a long fingernail. “I saw how you looked at each other.”
I stared at her. “No, I’m not gay. I swear.” I took a hard swallow. It was the truth. “And this has nothing to do with him. I’m just not attracted to you that way. Not romantically.” Okay, partial truth.
She scoffed and looked off toward the long windows—the sun beating down on the shopping plaza outside.
“Well, at least you told me before I caught genuine feelings for you.” Her gaze returned, softer now.
“I know I can be pushy sometimes. It’s gotten me in trouble with guys in the past.” She fingered the stem of one of her margaritas.
“I thought you’d be more prone to look past it.
” She shrugged a shoulder. “You know, because you're sort of a nerd and don’t get a lot of chances to date.” Her gaze cut to mine.
My heart stung. What did that mean? “I’m not a, a—” Clamping my mouth shut, I puffed out a breath from my nose. She was right.
“Sorry, but it’s true.” She nudged my chin and grinned. “You’re cute, though.”
“So, you’re not mad at me?” I set my napkin on my empty plate. I’d been anxious about nothing.
“No, not really.” Her breath caught, and she grabbed my forearm, resting along the bar top. “You can start tutoring me again though, right? We started doing profit-and-loss statements and I’m lost.”
“Sure, I can tutor you.” I pulled my wallet out of my shorts pocket. “I’ll uh, get lunch. It was supposed to be a date.” Now I didn’t know how to feel. Would I feel better if she’d been more upset? It was almost like I was the one being rejected.
“Okay, thanks.” She drank the remaining margaritas, one by one, but there’d been only sips left. “Are we still going to shop? I shouldn’t drive home right now.” She eyed me. “You said we could be friends.”
She was right about one thing. She was pushy. Plus, she recognized my people-pleaser nature. She knew I couldn’t say no. “Sure.” I paid the bill, and we left the restaurant.
As I primped my hair in my bathroom mirror, my phone buzzed with a phone call. Since my apartment was on the way to the Varsity Tavern, Evan would pick me up. There was only a minute before he’d arrive. I had to make this quick.
I lifted my phone to my face. It was a call from Travis. As my heart fluttered, I answered the call. “Hello?”
“Hey, Colton. I have an hour of downtime, and I wanted to check in to see how your lunch with Sara was.”
My brows lifted. He was so concerned about it that he called. “It was fine. We had lunch and toward the end of it I told her how I felt.” I scoffed a laugh. “Turns out, she wasn’t that into me either.” The more I thought about it, the more my pride was hurt. What did Travis see in me?
“No…seriously?” He exhaled into the phone. “Well, that’s a relief. I guess you got some studying done this afternoon then?”
“Well, no.” I strolled from my bathroom into the main room. “I ended up following her around the shops. She wanted to be friends and asked me to continue tutoring her.”
“Oh.” He clicked his tongue. “I suppose you can’t say no to that.”
“No, why would I? She needs my help and she’s not a bad person.” Before I’d started this dating nonsense with her, we’d gotten along all right. I looked across the courtyard, the long shadows thrown across the grass from the setting sun. Evan could be in the parking lot already.
“Yeah, guess so,” he said. “Will you meet Evan at the Varsity Tavern, or head to his apartment?”
“He’s picking me up and taking me to the Varsity Tavern.” I peered through the trees toward the parking lot. “He should be here any minute.”
“What are you wearing?”
“What? Why?” I peered at my outfit. I’d dressed casually for tonight. I’d wanted to fit in.
“Just humor me.” He released a soft snicker.
I sighed heavily. “I put on a black shirt and grey shorts.”
“What sort of shirt? A polo and did you button it up all the way?” His voice grew raspy.
“No, more like a V-neck T-shirt.” I shifted my stance as my dick stirred. Why was this sort of hot? Did everything with him turn me on?
“Yeah? Tell me about the shorts. Are they on the tighter side? Do they hug your amazing ass?” His breath quickened.
As I adjusted my swelling cock, I said, “Yeah, maybe. I don’t know. I didn’t look.” I raked my teeth across my lower lip.
“Damn, Colton. It makes me a little jealous knowing other people will get to see you like that.”
“Like what? Clothed? You saw me naked.” And sticky. Huffing a laugh, I strode to the door.
My phone buzzed. It had to be a text from Evan. “Hey, Evan is here. I have to go.” I popped the door open.
In almost a whisper, he said, “Just one question. Are you hard? ‘Cause I am.”
My jaw fell. “No. Okay, maybe. Jesus, Tex, I have to go now.”
“I like it when you call me Tex. The only time you do is when you’re hot for me.” A gritty laugh escaped his throat.
Was that true? I hadn’t noticed. “Okay, I need to go. I’m hanging up now.”
“Say, have a great game, Tex.” He chuckled.
As I stepped onto the entry, I shut my door. “Have a great game, Tex.” As I collected myself, my phone buzzed again.
“Bye, Colton.” He ended the call.
I stared at my phone, the two texts from Evan appearing and announcing his arrival in the parking lot. This situation with Tex would be the death of me. As I hopped down the stairs, I combed my fingers through my bangs.
We arrived at the bar, located inside a quaint, older brick building on Mill Avenue.
The place was on the second floor and had a covered patio overlooking the bustling street, while inside, it filled quickly with students wearing ASU colors.
Ironically, on the opposite street corner was the gay bar, The Club on Mill.
I’d never been to a gay bar. But Travis went there, didn’t he? Heat flared inside my chest.
I followed Evan toward the bar, centering the place with a wooden bar top and a blue glow underneath.
Big-screen TVs were everywhere. I hopped onto a barstool next to Evan and set my elbows on the bar.
The ending of another game played on the screens.
We still had about fifteen minutes before the ASU game started.
“Are you going to tell me why you were so flustered when you got into my car?” Evan nodded at the bartender as he set menus in front of us. “I didn’t ask when you got in because I know you. You weren’t ready to tell me.”
“I wasn’t flustered.” Picking up my menu, I scanned the standard bar fare of nachos, burgers, and tacos. I’d eaten tacos for lunch, so those were out.
“So, you’re still not ready to tell me. All right…” With a quick laugh, he ordered a beer and a burger.
I ordered the same and handed my menu to the bartender. I couldn’t tell him about Travis, could I? But he wouldn’t tell anyone.
“Whatever happened with that date you went on with…what’s her name?” After the bartender set our beers down, he sipped his.
“Sara.” I fingered the condensation on my glass. “I’m not seeing her anymore. It didn’t work out.” I wouldn’t spend any more time on her today.
“Oh.” He smirked at me. “Can’t say I’m surprised.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Tell me what’s new with the offensive lineman?” He pushed my shoulder. “And don’t tell me nothing.”
With a grin sweeping my lips, I twisted my beer on the bar top. “Oh, it’s something.” Yeah, I’d tell him. He would pry it out of me eventually, and it would be better to tell him before I had too many beers.
“Something? Really?” He beamed at me. “Dude, I thought you looked more relaxed, like you’d gotten laid.” He bumped my shoulder with his. “About time.” He drank his beer.
“I…didn’t get laid.” Not the way he thought. “But yeah, I hooked up with Tex, I mean, Travis.”
He leaned in close. “His name is Tex. That’s what everyone calls him.”
The bartender set our burgers down as the game started on all the televisions, with the feed coming through the bar’s speakers.
Except I only called him that when I felt…close to him? Lusting over him? I plucked a fry from my plate and ate it. “Yeah, whatever. His name in the ASU system is Travis.”
“Look, there’s your boy.” He pointed at the screen as the camera panned across the players.
Travis looked into the camera, his helmet almost covering his eyes, and mouthed, hi, Colton.
My heart burst with warmth. Damn it, he was getting to me. I had never received so much attention. I glanced at Evan. Okay, except with him. But he didn’t count. He was my best friend.
Tapping my arm, he said, “Tex said your name again, I can tell.” He nodded. “Uh-huh, I can read lips.”
“Can not.” I scoffed a laugh and picked up my burger. I’d have to tell Travis to tone it down. We didn’t need anyone figuring out what was going on between us. But for now, I’d enjoy it.
There were two minutes left in the first half, and ASU had the ball. While trailing by a touchdown, the offense needed twenty-two more yards to score.
“Watch, they’ll run the next play and then James will throw the ball.” He dipped a fry into his ketchup and ate it.
The players lined up, and the center snapped the ball. As the quarterback stepped backward, he scanned the field.
Thompson ran left and then right, and James threw him a short toss.
I kept my gaze on Travis, battling with defensive linemen and pushing them back. As a hole opened, Thompson sprinted through and high-stepped into the end zone.
“Fuckin’ A. They got it.” Evan grabbed my shoulder and shook me. “Did you see that, Colton? Your boy made the hole that got the touchdown. The guy is unstoppable.”
With a soft laugh, my heart soared. “Yes, I saw it.” Travis was amazing in more ways than one.
The special teams took the field for the kick.
“Now they have to keep Iowa from scoring.” He sipped his second beer.
As I gripped my beer, a woman waved her hand at me. I focused on her. Was she a new student I’d tutored this week?
“Hey…” She hopped off her barstool and strutted toward me, flipping her blonde hair behind her shoulder. “I think you’re in one of my classes. Are you taking business?” As she closed the gap between us, her gaze raked over Evan and then settled on me.
“I am. I’m in the MBA program here.” Swiveling on my barstool, I faced her. I didn’t recognize her from class. But then, I focused on the professors and not the other students.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” With a giggle, she covered her mouth with her fingers. “I might have you confused with someone else.” She tilted her head. “Doesn’t matter. I’m Audrey. It’s nice to meet you.” She held her hand out.
Shaking her hand, I said, “I’m Colton, and this is Evan.” I pointed my thumb at Evan.
“Hi.” He gave her a quick wave. “Are you here with friends?” He looked behind her.
“I am. I’m here with one of my friends.” She gave Evan a coy grin. “You look fit. Do you play on a team for ASU?”
“No…” He sniggered. “I am an athlete, though. I play hockey for the Phoenix Firebirds.”
Her eyes lit. “Oh, really.” Her attention returned to me. “And you don’t play sports?”
“Nope. I just watch them.” I drank some beer.
She was probably more interested in Evan than in me.
Who wouldn’t be? I peeked at the television, the screen showing ASU as they walked off the field, and saw Rowlings written across the back of a jersey.
There was Travis. And here I was, maybe being hit on by a girl.
I tensed my mouth. We were only hooking up, but it still felt wrong.
“Hey, I asked if you’d like to meet my friend.” Audrey tapped my forearm, resting next to my glass. “She’s right over there.” She pointed to a woman with dark hair and eyes, seated on the other side of the bar.
I twisted my lips and snuck a glance at Evan, who lifted his brows.
“It’s up to you, man.” He sipped his beer and then ticked his head. “You’re the one with…you know.”
It wouldn’t hurt to talk with her. I peeked at the woman again, my heart protesting.
As I focused on Audrey, I said, “Uh, actually, I’m sort of seeing someone right now.
I mean, we can chat, but I’m not looking to date anyone else.
” Holy hell, had that really come out of my mouth?
Did I mean it? Yes, yes, I did. As my attention drew to the television, I whispered, “See? I’m all yours. ”
“Okay, well she’ll understand.” Audrey pranced to her friend and chatted with her.
Evan edged closer. “Look, man, if you don’t want to watch the game with these girls, it’s cool. I don’t need a hookup. I’d rather just hang out with you.”
“Why didn’t you say something when she was here?” I gave him a pointed look. I didn’t care to hang out with them either. I was doing it for him.
He lifted his palms. “I don’t know.” With a hurried laugh, he said, “Guess it’s too late now. Here they come.”
I rolled my eyes. It was halftime. We could chat with them until the game came back on and then ignore them. Maybe some other guys would catch their eye. The bar was full of them.