Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
COLTON
As I unlocked and opened the door to my apartment, my phone buzzed in my jeans pocket. Was Tex calling? Shutting the door, I slipped my phone out and Evan scrolled across the screen. “Shit.” Evan knew how nervous I’d been about meeting Dante. I’d done my best to hide that fact around Tex.
I answered the call. “Hello?” I stepped out of my shoes, flicked on the lights, and padded to my couch.
“Hey, are you still out with Tex and his ex-boyfriend?”
“No, we all went home. Tex has an early morning for the game tomorrow.” What town was Evan in again? “Where are you?” I glanced at my kitchen. I should drink some water before bed. I’d had more beers than I was used to tonight.
“Denver,” he said. “I’m dying to hear how this Dante was. Did you get along with him?”
“Yeah, he’s a nice guy.” Because, of course, he had to be if he was a friend of Tex’s.
With a huff, I popped off the couch, strode into my kitchen and grabbed a bottled water from my refrigerator.
“He’s damn good-looking too. I can see why Tex fell in love with him.
” My chest pinched. Would Tex ever fall in love with me?
He’d claimed he was falling…but that didn’t mean he was there yet.
“He is, huh?” Evan freed a soft snort. “Damn, Colton, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this jealous before.”
“Before? How about ever?” I’d had no one to be jealous of. Tex would be my first. How had I lived twenty-five years without ever experiencing love? Maybe it was another topic to discuss with my therapist.
“What did he look like?”
“He’s of Mexican heritage, so you know, he has the almost black hair and smoldering dark eyes.
He had such confidence in himself.” I ground my teeth.
“Not like me.” He went home with Tex. My stomach knotted into a ball.
Tex would do nothing with him behind my back.
I had to trust him. What they had was over.
“Colton, don’t you dare think you’re less than. You’re a good-looking guy, too. It’s about time you understood that.”
“Thanks, but…Dante was so easygoing. He doesn’t have any hang-ups about who he is.” I bit my lower lip. “I’m sure he doesn’t need to see a therapist to accept himself.”
“Maybe he has. How do you know? Did you ask him?”
Choking a scoff, I said, “No, of course not.” I drank my water. Evan was doing his best to make me feel better.
“Do you think there’s anything left between Tex and Dante?”
“Left? Like what, a romantic connection?” I thought back over our evening together. While I’d seen some affection from Dante toward Tex, I hadn’t seen Tex return it much. “No.”
“Then you’ve got nothing to worry about,” he said. “Tex doesn’t seem like a guy who’d play with your feelings.” He drew a breath. “And you’ve got some deep feelings for him, don’t you? I’ve never seen you as happy as you were on Saturday night.”
“Yeah, I do. I think…” Could I admit this out loud? My heart pounded in my ears. It was Evan. I could tell him anything. “I think I might love him.”
“Oh my God, are you serious?” He gave a warm laugh. “I’m happy for you, buddy. You deserve this. It’s about time you let someone in.”
With warmth flooding my chest, I said, “Yes, I don’t think I had a choice with Tex. He made it easy.” Now I hoped I was strong enough to give him what he deserved.
“Okay, well, I hope things go well tomorrow. I’ll want an update after the game.”
Oh, shit. My eyes widened. “Evan? Dante wanted to go to The Club on Mill, you know, the gay bar by the stadium?”
“What, after the game?” His breath caught. “What are you going to do? Dante doesn’t know you’re queer.” He paused. “Why would he ask a straight guy to a gay bar?”
If it were Evan, he’d never go. “It wasn’t like he insisted. He asked if I’d be open to it and I told him I was.” I clenched my hand into a fist. What would it be like? I sipped my water.
“Hey, listen, don’t do anything unless you’re ready. This situation might pressure you into coming out before you’re ready. Don’t do it.” He paused. “Unless you’re ready.”
“Yeah, I know.” But did I? I’d almost allowed Tex to tell Dante the truth after he’d come back from the bathroom. I had a lot to sleep on tonight. As a wave of exhaustion rolled over me, I said, “Hey, I should go to bed.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll speak with you tomorrow. Remember, I want an update after the game.”
“I’ll text you.” With a grin teasing my lips, I said, “Goodnight, Evan.”
“Goodnight.” He ended the call.
With a quick scan of my apartment, I rose from the couch. I had to resist the urge to rearrange my refrigerator in the morning to quell my anxiety. This was a part of my psyche I’d never let Tex in on. It was only between me and my therapist now.
I took an Uber to the stadium and met with Dante at the entrance we’d agreed upon.
This would have been simpler if Evan had been in town and could have come.
I spied Dante, dressed in an ASU team shirt, and strode toward him.
Was he wearing one of Tex’s shirts? I wrinkled my nose as heat swirled in my chest.
“Hey, Colton. Are you excited for the game?” Dante gave me a quick hug. “I have the tickets.”
“Okay.” I peered at the fit of the shirt on him. It was loose, so it had to be Tex’s. Should I ask him?
“Come on.” He grabbed my hand and led me through the crowd. “You don’t mind if I hold your hand, do you?” He glanced back at me as we plodded along. “It’s just easier this way. I don’t want to lose you in the crowd.”
“No, it’s fine.” I didn’t want to look like an ass and say no. I followed him upstairs to the first level, where the concession stands stood.
“I’m dying for a beer and maybe a hot dog. You?” He stopped in the line of a stand and released my hand.
With a shrug, I said, “Yeah, sure, as long as we don’t miss the kickoff.” Or Tex’s big entrance onto the field. As we stood in line, I eyed the shirt again. Did Tex give it to him to wear?
“We won’t. We have time.” He swayed while peering at the short line ahead of us.
“So, uh, did Tex give you his shirt?” Damn my mouth. A stuttered laugh erupted from my throat.
“No, I grabbed it from his closet.” He held the hem out. “It’s fun, isn’t it? I wanted to show my support and thought this might be a good way to do it.” Tilting his head, he touched his cheek with his index finger. “Don’t you have any ASU shirts?”
I glanced at the grey polo covering my chest. “Um, no.” I should have bought one. Stupid. It would have been nice to wear one of Tex’s, but even if he had offered, it would have swallowed me. But not with Dante…
“Huh, I figured they’d have given you one when you signed up to go to school here. It’s not like tuition is cheap.” He stepped closer to the concession counter as people grabbed their orders and left.
We worked our way to the counter and ordered our beer and hot dogs, and then I followed Dante to our seats, which were the same ones I’d had with Sara, close to the ASU bench.
As I dropped into my seat, I set my beer in the holder in front of me and peeked at Dante, doing the same. I didn’t know what to say to him now.
We’d barely spoken through the festivities of the national anthem and the players taking the field, only smiled and clapped. The day was sunny and mild, perfect football weather.
ASU won the coin toss, and before Tex jogged onto the field, he glanced behind him at us with a smile and a wave.
Dante jumped up and down. Cupping his mouth, Dante yelled, “Go, Rowlings. Get those guys!” He sank into his seat and unwrapped his hot dog.
He’d gone to high school with Tex. “You’ve seen a lot of his games.” I peeled the wrapper from my hot dog and bit into it, the salty meat mixing with the soft bread. These were always so good here. When I’d come with Sara, she’d insisted on nachos.
“I have. I went to every one of his high school games.” With a soft chuckle, he shook his head.
“You should have seen him back then. All flowing long blond hair and he was the biggest guy on the team. Tall with those broad shoulders…and that ass. Mmm, mmm.” He bumped his elbow on mine as he waggled his brows at me.
Heat threaded through my chest. Could I find a high school picture of him online? “He had long hair in high school?” I took another bite of the hot dog.
“He did.” He washed his food down with a sip of beer. “Oh, look. The quarterback is about to throw.”
I focused on the game, James stepping backward and pumping his arm, scanning the field for an open player.
Tex shoved defensive linemen aside, one after another, his massive body tossing them like they were nothing.
God, he was strong. Would there be footage of his high school games online somewhere? I was a man obsessed now. But I wanted to know the Tex that Dante had known. “What high school did you go to?”
“Uh, what?” With a peek at me, he pointed at the field. “Look, Tex made an opening, and Malik is running the ball.”
I cut my gaze to the field, watching Malik grab a first down. Malik Thompson was one of Tex’s roommates. A man Dante had met, and I should have already met if I hadn’t been such a coward. With a frown, I ate more of my hot dog.
“Oh, you asked about our high school. We went to Bowie High School.” He bit off a chunk of hot dog.
I lodged that tidbit in my brain. I’d definitely look it up later. There must be footage of him on YouTube. I drank my beer and then stuffed the rest of my hot dog into my mouth.
As the game hit the two-minute mark before halftime, ASU was leading by a touchdown and Virginia had the ball. Tex paced the sideline.
“Look at that ass.” Dante bit his lower lip. “That man always did it for me.” He sniggered.
My brows shot up. What the hell? He’d been making comments like this the entire game. Did he still like Tex? “Are you seeing anyone now?”
“Nope. I’ve dated a few guys since Tex, but none of them ever stuck.” He glanced at me. “How about you? Tex mentioned the girl you were tutoring. Has there been any others?” He drank the last of his beer. “We should get more drinks during halftime.”