Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
TEX (TRAVIS)
Iquickly showered following icing and Coach’s game-related lecture.
It had been weird enough seeing Dante in my shirt in the stands and not Colton.
Why hadn’t I given him one of my team shirts?
It would have been enormous on him, but it would have been adorable.
As it was, it had appeared that Dante was my boyfriend and not Colton.
As I dressed in a white button-down and jeans, I flicked my gaze at Malik, dropping his towel and slipping his underwear up his legs. “Hey, good game. You got some yards out there tonight.”
“Yeah. Too bad it wasn’t enough to play Grey.” Leaning over, he patted Grey on the ass and asked me, “Where are you going after this?”
“I’m meeting Dante and Colton at Four One Four and then…” Shit, should I tell them we planned to go to the gay bar? It probably wasn’t a good idea. I’d have to make sure Colton was comfortable with it and wasn’t just giving in to be agreeable with Dante.
“Good. We have plans at home.” Malik and Grey gave each other lustful looks.
“Oh, brother.” I rolled my eyes. The sex was never-ending with them. I was certain I overheard them going at it in the shower every morning too. “Should I text before I come home?” I’d hate for me and Dante to walk in on them doing something untoward in, like, our kitchen.
“Yeah, would you?” Malik waggled his brows at me.
“Sure.” Scoffing a laugh, I slipped into my sneakers and then set my duffel next to Malik’s. “Hey, can you take this home for me?”
“Of course.” He gave me a quick grin. “Have fun with your friends.” He patted my shoulder.
I’d ridden with Malik and Grey to the stadium, anticipating events would unfold the way they had. “I will. See you later.” As I strolled toward the exit, I slipped a thin jacket over my shirt. Now to see what trouble Dante had gotten Colton into.
Mill Avenue was littered with people who’d gone to the game.
Lines extended from the doors of every restaurant and bar.
God, I hoped Dante had reached the pizza place in time for a table.
As I strolled along the sidewalk, a few people recognized me, congratulated me on the game, and gave me a high five.
As I passed the club, I peered up the metal stairs leading to the entrance. A few men lingered at the top. The place would be busy early tonight too. We were in for quite a night if we ended up there.
As I entered Four One Four, I looked around. I might be lucky. They weren’t in line or waiting by the hostess stand.
Dante waved from a booth along the back wall.
“Good boy, Dante.” I strolled toward him. He’d listened when I’d told him I preferred sitting back there. But then, Dante was always like that.
As I approached the table, I rubbed my chin. Where should I sit? Dante had taken the booth seat, which I preferred, but it was time I sat next to Colton. “Hey.” I planted my hand on Colton’s shoulder.
As his gaze found mine, he beamed at me. “Hey, Tex. Have a seat.” He patted the chair next to his.
I had my marching orders. “Okay.” I dropped in beside him and eyed the pitcher of beer. “Damn, that beer looks good.” A half-eaten pizza rested on the table as well. It looked like it had chicken and barbecue sauce on it, maybe.
Colton poured beer into an empty glass and slid it toward me. “There. You deserve this after playing so well tonight.” Planting his elbow on the table and his cheek in his hand, he bit his lower lip.
He looked…giddy? “Uh, how much have you had to drink?” Dante hadn’t made Colton do shots again, had he? Examining Colton more closely, I sipped my beer and the cool bubbles rushed down my throat. God damn, that was refreshing.
“We only had a few beers at the game.” Colton gave me a lop-sided grin.
“But I talked Colton into two shots of tequila since we’ve been here.” Dante raised his beer glass. “To the win, mi güero.”
Oh boy, I was in for it. I had a tipsy Colton and a happy-go-lucky Dante. “Gracias.” I tapped my beer on Dante’s.
“Wait.” Colton lifted his beer and tapped it on each of ours. “Good job, babe.” As his eyes popped open, he slapped his hand over his mouth.
Babe? What? Had I entered an alternative universe? “Sure.” I barked out a laugh. “That’s pretty funny, Colton.” I had to recover and not out him. I drank my beer while keeping my attention on Dante. Had he heard it?
Dante arched a brow. “Güero means blondie, or something close to that. It’s not like honey or babe.” He freed a soft snort. “But we say it lovingly, you know?”
“Oh.” Colton’s face reddened all the way to the tips of his ears. “I thought…” Shaking his head, he scoffed a sharp laugh. “Never mind.” He drank more beer.
Thank God Dante had misread what Colton had said. “I’m glad to see you two getting along.” What had Dante told Colton about me? I was sure it was plenty. I picked up a pizza slice. They had laid out food after the game, but I’d only eaten a little of it. “Barbecue chicken?”
“Yep.” Colton nodded and grinned. “Dante said you love anything barbecue.”
“He did, did he? And what else did Dante tell you?” I flicked my gaze at Dante while biting into the pizza.
“I told him all your secrets. Especially the most embarrassing ones.” Flagging down the server, Dante cackled.
Leaning toward me, Colton said, “No, he didn’t.” He patted my thigh and then left his hand on it. “Dante only spoke highly of you.” His lips twitched at the corner and his smile waned. Clearing his throat, he hung his head and removed his hand.
Shit, something was up. I ate more pizza.
Dante ordered tequila shots for the table.
“Hey, I don’t think Colton should have any more shots.” Shit, I’d have to drink his. But so what? Two shots were nothing to me. I’d have to keep my eye on Colton though. After another sip of beer, I said, “Hey, the game crowd is filling up the nearby bars. Do you want to just stay here—”
“No, we’re going to the gay bar down the street.” Dante flicked his gaze to Colton. Leaning over the table, he grabbed Colton’s forearm, which rested next to his pizza crusts on a plate. “Aren’t we, Colton?” He focused on me. “We’ve already discussed it.”
Shit. “Okay, well, we’d better drink and eat up then.
There were a few people waiting to get in when I walked by it.
” I studied Colton. I’d never seen him like this.
His happiness appeared superficial, hinting at deeper secrets.
Something was definitely off with him. How could I get him alone?
Could I ask him to use the restroom with me? No, that would look weird.
After the waitress dropped off the shots, I slid two of them toward me.
“I don’t think you need more of these.” I lifted my chin at Colton.
I wouldn’t let him overdo it tonight. It would have been nice to take him home…
but then what would Dante and my roommates say?
Damn, if only we could tell people about us.
“I can handle it.” He tsked and pouted.
“I’m sure you can, but I need to catch up.” I squeezed his hand as it rested on his thigh. He couldn’t argue with that.
Twisting his hand, he threaded his fingers in mine and gave me a yearning look.
My heart melted. If only I could kiss him right now.
“Okay, then let’s drink.” Dante held up his shot glass. “To winning.”
Tapping my shot glass on Dante’s, I said, “To winning.” After downing the tequila, I hissed and then sipped some beer.
I had one more to go. “I’ll just get this second one over with.
” While drinking the next shot slower this time, I let the post-game tension unwind inside me as a pleasant buzz washed over me.
I should pace myself for a while. Picking up a fresh slice of pizza, I bit into it.
“As soon as you finish the pizza, we’ll go.” Dante gave me a wicked grin.
“Sure.” I ate more pizza and washed it down with water.
I still doubted that this was a great idea.
Hell, maybe leaving Colton all day with Dante hadn’t been very smart either.
But at least Colton would realize that Dante wasn’t a threat.
I strolled between Dante and Colton along the sidewalk leading to the gay bar, and then we stepped up the metal stairs.
The earlier line was gone. Maybe the people from the game had already left and the place wouldn’t be as crazy as it usually was.
After showing our IDs to a bouncer, I followed Dante inside.
The place was humming with dance music and flashing lights.
The crowd was smaller than it would be later, but there were still plenty of men on the dance floor grinding and others making out in the dark corners.
A few drag queens stood at the end of the bar, eyeing everyone as they came in.
“Oh my, this is quite a place.” Holding his hands up, he twisted around.
“Look at all those shots.” He pointed to the expanse of chalkboard behind the bar, listing hilarious shot names in neon colors.
“Look, they have a Dirty Boy. I think that’s perfect for you, Tex.
” He wrapped his arm in mine and led me toward it.
Fuck, what about Colton? What was he thinking about this? As we stopped at the long wooden bar top, I turned to find him.
Colton stood a few feet away, his mouth dropped open and eyes wide as he scanned the room.
He was getting the shock of a lifetime. “Hey, Colton. Come here.” I held my arm out.
He blinked and then rushed to my side. “This place is…well, it’s…”
“Isn’t it amazing to see men openly kissing?” Dante tongued the corner of his mouth.
“No, uh, well, yes, I guess so.” Edging into my side, Colton’s body heat shivered across my skin. His gaze rose to mine.
If only I could put my arm around him. He looked lost. “Hey, it’s just a bar like any other bar.”
“He’s never been to a nightclub before, Tex.” Dante waved to a shirtless and muscled bartender. “Are we getting one of these shots?”