Chapter 13 #2
It figured he was hanging out at our old favorite gay bar.
With a shrug, I said, “Just keeping my head down and trying to pass my classes while getting my stats up for the draft.” After exiting the freeway, I headed down the boulevard that would take us to the Desert Dog House.
Glancing at the sun hanging low in the sky, I said, “I thought we could go to a place called Four-One-Four Pizza for dinner. I should carb-load before the game tomorrow.”
“Yeah, but you can’t drink, right?” He twisted his lips. “One beer can’t hurt, though.”
With a shake of my head, I sighed softly. I knew it. “No, one can’t hurt.” All my teammates would be at the team dinner, so no one who mattered would see me.
“I thought so.” His smile widened to his eyes.
After getting Dante set up in Malik’s room and letting him meet Malik and Grey, I texted Colton to let him know we were leaving for the pizza place. He would meet us there. It made little sense to drive all the way into Scottsdale to pick him up. Plus, the optics would be odd.
We took an Uber to Mill Avenue since parking on Friday night could be impossible, and after exiting the vehicle, I met Dante on the sidewalk.
Dante, filling a colorful sheer button-down and jeans just right, strolled beside me along the sidewalk. “So, tell me more about this tutor. Like, how nerdy is he?” He flashed me a grin.
“He’s, well, he’s smart, yes, but he can be fun.” How the hell do I describe him? The hockey game had been fun with him. “He might be open to a shot of tequila with you.”
Cutting a knowing look at me, he said, “Will they stock any decent tequilas at the pizza place?”
“Guess we’ll find out.” I stopped at the glass doors of the restaurant and opened one. Being a bartender at a high-end bar, Dante had become very snobbish about his tequilas. “After you.”
He stepped inside, and I followed him.
Colton stood at the hostess stand, his gaze widening as it set on us.
“Hi, you must be Colton?” Dante approached Colton with his hand extended. “Tex has told me a lot about you.”
Shaking his hand, Colton said. “He has?” He tossed a glance at me.
I shrugged. I’d filled Dante in on all things Colton, except for his sexuality and our relationship status, while I’d gotten Dante settled at the house.
“Sure.” With a chuckle, Dante brushed his hand across the back of his head. “Shall we get a table?”
“We like to sit in the back. The karaoke can be loud, and we can hear our conversation better if we’re further away from it.” I drew my attention to the hostess and secured a booth against the back wall.
Dante and Colton followed me, and Dante slid into the bench seat next to me while Colton took a chair across from us.
Shit, I should have sat next to Colton. But it was hard to navigate without telling Dante we were a couple. This shouldn’t be so hard. “Beers?” I swung my gaze between them.
“Yes.” Dante tapped the table in front of Colton. “Hey, Tex says you might be interested in doing a shot of tequila with me?” He peeked at me. “Tex isn’t supposed to drink much tonight since he has a game tomorrow.”
Colton flashed his eyes at me and squirmed in his chair. “Yeah, I guess so.” He threaded his fingers on the table.
A server stopped by, and we ordered a pitcher of beer, along with a tequila for the shots that Dante found acceptable.
“So, you met Tex when you tutored him?” Dante eyed Colton.
“I did. He needed help with a business analytics class. It’s one of my specialties.” Colton fingered the edge of his napkin.
“I don’t even know what that is.” With a quick laugh, Dante planted his hand on my thigh. “Tex here has always been smart. Athletic, too, but smart. I’m surprised he needed help.”
“I don’t like numbers, and this class had a lot of math.” I glanced at Dante’s hand, warming my thigh. I’d always been affectionate with Dante—we had a history. But now it felt odd while sitting with Colton, especially when Dante didn’t know about us.
The server dropped off our beer and the shots.
“We should order our pizza, don’t you think?” As Colton picked up his menu, music started for Somebody Told Me by the Killers, and a man with dyed red hair stepped to the microphone.
“Yeah, good idea.” I scanned my menu. Colton should eat soon if he was doing a shot with Dante. “How about the supreme?”
“Works for me.” Dante poured beers for everyone and then held up his shot. “Colton, are you ready?”
“Sure.” Colton dropped his menu. “The supreme works for me too.” With his gaze locked on Dante, he held up his shot.
Dante tapped his glass on Colton’s. “To new friends.” He tipped the glass back.
“New friends.” Colton slammed the shot, hissed, and shuddered.
With a snicker, Dante said, “You okay, man?” He patted Colton’s hand, resting on the tabletop.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He smacked his lips and then drank his beer.
“That tequila was a little harsh. I have some better ones at the bar I work at.” Dante’s attention drew to the karaoke singer. “Damn, that guy can sing.”
I swung my gaze toward the center of the bar, where the man belted out the song, hitting all the notes perfectly.
I knew who that guy was. “Hey, that’s a singer in a local cover band called Knot Me. I think he manages the queer-owned bakery across the street.” I sipped my beer. Maybe we’d be privy to some great karaoke tonight.
“Oh yeah? There’s a queer bakery around here?” Dante angled toward me.
“Yes, and they have amazing Danishes infused with different liquors.” I studied Colton. He’d gone quiet after the shot. Was he okay?
“You need to take me there while I’m visiting.” Dante sipped his beer. “Isn’t there a gay bar down the street too?”
“Yes…” I flinched and watched Colton, who was staring at his beer glass. Dante was about to ask—
“Can we go after your game tomorrow?” Lifting his brows, Dante flicked his gaze toward Colton. “I mean, would you consider it, Colton?”
He didn’t know Colton was queer. This was awkward. I should have been able to let Dante know. “We can find another place to go. Fun bars are all over this street.”
“I’d uh be okay with it. I’m open-minded.” Colton lifted his chin and offered a forced grin.
“Yeah? Don’t worry, we’d keep the guys off you.” Dante patted my shoulder. “You could pretend to be boyfriends with me or Tex.” He barked out a laugh.
“Um…” Shit, if only I could tell Dante the truth. But what if someone who knew Colton was there? “We don’t have to. Like I said, there are plenty of—”
“No, it’s okay.” After a slow nod, Colton drank his beer.
The server returned, and we ordered the pizza.
I had to talk to Colton alone. There was no way we’d be able to keep our relationship a secret in a gay bar. I’d want to kill anyone who looked at him. “Let’s assess it after the game tomorrow, okay? We’ll leave it open.”
With a tsk, Dante said, “Okay. It’s up to you, Tex. But I think it would be fun.” He squeezed my forearm, resting on the bar. “You know how you love to grind on the dance floor.”
My heart jolted, and I cut my gaze to Colton. He didn’t need to hear that. Had he ever visited a gay bar?
Colton winced and drank his beer, rubbing his fingers along the rim of the glass.
While eating our pizza, the conversation was easier, and we spent some time reminiscing. Colton got to hear some of my more embarrassing high school moments. Colton and Dante were getting along better and finding some common ground, which was a relief for me.
“Hey, I need to use the restroom.” Dante slid from our bench seat and strolled toward the restroom sign next to the bar.
This was my chance. “Hey, Colton, we don’t have to go to the gay bar. I can talk Dante out of it.”
After pursing his lips, Colton said, “If you do that, he’ll think it’s because of me. I don’t want him to think I’m a jerk.” With a scoff, he sipped his beer. “I want him to think I’m cool.”
My brows swung up. “Cool? Why?” I’d never heard that word out of his mouth before. “You don’t have to visit a gay bar to be cool.”
“Yes, I think I do. I don’t want to hinder your time with him, and he clearly wants to go there with you.” He pressed his lips together. “And I don’t want you going there with him and not me.”
Wait, was he jealous? There was no need. “But aren’t you afraid someone might see you and assume you’re queer?” I leaned toward him.
“I don’t care what they think. I have to stop caring what other people think.
” He pulled his lips to the side. “I’ve been processing my discussion with the therapist. I’ve been so concerned with making sure it’s the right time for everything—telling your roommates, coming out to my students…
I’m wondering what would happen if I just did it and let things fall where they may? ”
I stared at him, my mouth dropping open. This was a very different Colton than the one I’d met. How could one therapy session have made this big a change? He was damn smart, and maybe he was ready to hear what his therapist had told him.
“Do you want to come out to Dante?” It would simplify the weekend so much. I sat back and drank my beer, watching the emotions shift on his face.
“Yes, but not yet.” He scoffed. “I’m trying here, but it’s hard. When I think about it, my anxiety goes crazy.”
“Okay, then let’s leave the gay bar decision for later.
You don’t have to do this if you’re not ready.
” Reaching across the table, I held his hand as it rested next to his beer glass.
“I don’t want you undoing all the progress you’ve made.
I can get Dante focused on going somewhere else tomorrow night. ”
Taking a deep inhale, he said, “Okay. I’ll see how I feel tomorrow.” He lifted the edge of his mouth. “I admit some part of me is excited to feel like a part of the LGBTQ community and going there might be…fun.”
“It’s definitely very fun.” Hot damn, I’d get him there at some point. Now we had to go.
Dante appeared behind Colton. “Oh, am I interrupting something?” He arched a brow.
I released Colton’s hand and rubbed my brow. Shit, how could I explain holding Colton’s hand? “Yeah, we were, uh, talking about the girl he just broke up with.” That was stupid. Now I’d opened a whole can of worms.
“Oh, was it painful? Did she break your heart?” Dante slipped in next to me. “I don’t have any experience with women, but I sure have experience with heartache.” He stole a peek at me.
What the hell was that for? “It was a student he was tutoring. They only went out a few times.” I pinched my lips. Would Colton get the hint?
Colton furrowed his brows and then choked out a laugh. “Yeah, I’m not heartbroken. She was nice, but she wasn’t for me.”
“Oh.” Dante poured fresh beer for himself and Colton. “Tell me all about it.”
With a glance at me, Colton said, “I don’t think it’s worth talking about. It’s over and we’re good now.”
After spending a few hours with Colton, it was time to leave. I needed a full night’s rest before the game tomorrow, and I’d have meetings with the team in the morning since the game was at one in the afternoon. We’d firmed up plans for Colton to meet with Dante at the stadium.
As we hopped out of our Uber and strolled toward the house, Dante said, “Well, Colton sure is cute.”
“Yeah?” I unlocked the house and stepped inside. Dante had said little on our Uber ride home.
“He is.” Dante followed me in, tapped my ass and said, “I’m surprised you haven’t hooked up with him yet.”
Malik and Grey sat on the couch, wrapped in each other and watching a movie. Malik lifted his head and said, “Oh, hey, guys. Did you have a good time?” He sat up while Grey did the same.
Dante had to bring this up in front of Malik and Grey. “Yeah, well, he’s not, uh, queer, so…”
“Oh, you must be talking about Tex’s tutor.” Snickering, Malik raked his fingers through his bangs.
“I sure am. Have you met him yet?” Dante dropped onto the open end of the sectional.
Damn it, here we go. As I rolled my eyes, I strode into the kitchen. “I’ll get us some water, Dante.”
“No, we haven’t. Tex has been holding out on us.” Grey sniggered.
I grabbed two bottled waters, handed one to Dante, and sat beside him. “Colton has been busy. The guy got a bunch of new students a couple of weeks ago.” It wasn’t a lie. I unscrewed my water bottle.
“You didn’t drink tonight, did you, Tex?” Malik smirked at me.
“He was a good boy and had only one beer.” Dante bumped his shoulder with mine and then sipped his water.
“You two will meet Colton soon enough.” I gave them each a pointed look. I wanted this conversation dropped.
“Well, he’s got that adorable nerd look to him.” Dante growled like a wildcat, holding his fingers up like claws. “I’ll bet he’s a tiger in bed. Can you imagine him on his knees—”
“Dante, that’s enough.” Heat bristled in my chest. Only I could think about Colton that way. No one else. I threw him a quick glare.
“Oh…” Dante covered his mouth with his fingers. “I knew you liked him, Tex.”
“Of course, he’s a nice guy.” Damn it, Dante knew me better than anyone. I had to cool it. “If it weren’t for him, I might be failing my analytics class right now.” I took a swig of water.
“Then why did you hold his hand when I left for the bathroom?” Dante hooked a brow.
“He did?” Grey’s eyes widened as he leaned toward me.
“Oh, come on. Guy friends can hold hands. It’s no big deal.” I scoffed and focused on Grey. “Dude, you held Malik’s hand all the time before you started fooling around with him. So, don’t look so surprised.” There, that would fix him.
Malik slid his arm around Grey’s shoulders. “And look where we ended up?”
“Exactly.” Pecking Malik’s cheek, Grey rested his hand on Malik’s thigh.
“Oh, they’ve got you there, Tex.” Dante gave me a wry grin. “I have to say, I got queer vibes from him.”
“You did?” The corner of Malik’s lips rose.
“Stop it. All of you. He’s my tutor, and it’s against school policy for us to date. Even if we wanted to.” I had to end this conversation. I stood. “We should go to bed. We’ve got a long day ahead of us.”
With a heavy sigh, Malik said, “You’re right.” Grabbing Grey’s hand, he rose and lifted him up. “What about you, Dante? Are you staying up or going to bed?”
“I think I’ll watch some television for a bit if you all don’t mind.” Dante grabbed the remote from the coffee table.
“Goodnight then. I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll make us all a nice breakfast.” After kissing Dante’s cheek, I headed for bed.