Chapter 15 #2
“Not right now.” I needed to slow down, and I didn’t want Colton getting too drunk. If we both had too much, we’d never be able to control ourselves. I watched a bartender head our way. “Let’s just get beer.” Beer was easy. You always knew how strong it was, and I could drink it slowly.
With a tut, Dante said, “Oh, you’re no fun.” He ordered three beers and faced me and Colton. Leaning over, he touched Colton’s forearm as it rested on the bar. “What do you think, questioning straight boy? Do any of these men catch your attention?” He flicked a glance at me.
“What?” Questioning straight boy? What the hell had they been discussing all night? Had Colton come out to Dante without telling me? “Colton.” Pulling on his elbow, I turned him to face me. “Did you tell—”
In a low voice, Colton said, “No, but I almost did.” His mouth tensed. “I had to give him a reason I was okay with coming here. I had to…” He scoffed. “It’s complicated, okay?”
Dante slid beers to each of us. “He said you knew, Tex.”
“I…” Shit, I had to go along with it. “Sure, I knew.” How much had Dante just heard? This was a clusterfuck of master proportions. I had to get Colton alone and find out what happened today. Shifting to cut off Dante’s view of us and narrowing my eyes, I said, “Follow me into the restroom.”
“Then it might appear we’re going in there to hook up.” He drank his beer. “I’m not stupid. I know what goes on in there.” His gaze flicked around the room. “I might have students in here.”
“Are any of your students gay besides me?” I laid my arm across the bar, stepping closer to him so hopefully Dante couldn’t hear us.
“Not that I know of. But it’s not like I ask them.” He huffed a laugh. “It’s not on the intake form.”
“Oh, would you look at him?” Dante started chatting with a man in a cowboy hat.
Thank God Dante had gotten distracted. “Colton, talk to me. What happened today?” I rested my arm along the bar, circling Colton.
“I can’t tell you all of it.” His gaze fell to my lips, and he licked his own. “But I’m considering coming out to Dante and telling him about us. Would he say anything to your roommates?”
My jaw fell. “Are you serious?” My heart pattered against my rib cage. It’s what I wanted from him, but was it too soon for him? “Don’t do something you’re not ready for.”
“Now you sound like Evan.” With a sharp laugh, he sipped his beer. “Coming to a place like this, well, it sort of normalizes my sexuality.”
“You just got here.” I rolled my eyes. It was the tequila talking. “Wait, you spoke with Evan? Today?” Had he spiraled?
With a ragged sigh, he said, “Yeah, I called him.” His gaze dropped toward his beer, and he fingered the rim. “I should have been the one wearing your shirt, not Dante. He needs to know you’re with someone…falling for someone.” His hardened gaze returned to mine. “And that you’re mine.”
I balked. Was this real? Where had meek Colton gone?
“Come on, let’s dance.” With a flirtatious giggle, Dante pulled on my arm. “I love this song.”
“What is it?” I wasn’t up on the latest in dance music, but since Dante worked in a bar, he obviously was. The club thumped with a strong beat. I grabbed Colton’s hand. “Do you want to dance with me?”
“I can’t.” He ripped his hand free from mine. “I don’t know how and I’d look stupid.” He huffed. “Besides the fact that someone might see us.”
Dante tugged on my arm again. “Come on, Tex, before the song ends.”
God, this was torture. What should I do? I gauged Colton’s reaction.
“Go, I’ll be fine. I’ll stay right here.” He pushed on my chest.
“No…” I couldn’t leave him. But how could I explain it to Dante?
“He said it was okay.” Dante yanked me.
I stepped away from Colton. Pointing at him, I said, “Don’t you dare go anywhere. I’ll be right back.” As Dante dragged me to the dance floor, my chest twisted. This wasn’t right. I knew we should have gone somewhere else.
“Hey, look at me.” As Dante stood in front of me, he patted my cheek. “You really have it bad for him.”
“Who? Colton?” Jesus fuck, should I just admit it? I bounced to the music and swayed, keeping my distance from Dante. If I were single, I would have gotten close to Dante. But I couldn’t allow that now.
“Yes, Colton.” He swung his arm around my waist and pulled our hips closer. “He’s got it bad for you too. I can tell.” He glanced behind me. With a soft snort, he said, “I tested him today.”
My gaze caught Dante’s, his face close to mine. “What do you mean?” Dante could be devious when he wanted to.
“When he saw me in your team shirt, his eyes told me all I needed to know.” He smirked. “If he could shoot laser beams from them, he would have.” He swayed back and forth with me.
“Okay.” Jesus, Dante fucking knew. But of course, he did. As a bartender, he could read people. “Okay, so tell me about this testing.”
With a giggle, he held the back of his hand to his mouth. “I told him I wanted you back someday.” His brows rose. “And then I asked him if you were seeing anyone.” His smile waned. “He went a little crazy, I have to admit. He pretended to use the bathroom, but then called someone instead.”
“Fuck, Dante, you’re so mean.” Laughing a scoff, I shook my head. But I knew Dante meant well. He had a good heart and, in his own way, he figured he could help us. “So, is this why you insisted on taking him to the gay bar?”
With a curt nod, he said, “There’s no better way to feel included in the community than to be in a place like this.” He hung his arm on my shoulder. “Talk to me. Tell me what’s really going on?”
I glanced at Colton, watching us like a hawk and glued to the bar. Shit, he was probably jealous of Dante after what he’d told him. “It’s complicated, and he’s seeing a therapist. But you’re right. We’re dating…well, I’m…” Should I tell him? Hell, it was Dante. “I think I’m in love with him.”
“Oh my God, Tex.” His face lit and his smile reached his eyes. “I’m so happy for you.” The smile faded. “But you deserve the best. Do you think he can give you what you need?”
“Eventually.” I stepped back from Dante and swung my arms to the beat while I bounced.
I shouldn’t be this close with Colton watching.
“He’s working on it. Right now, the biggest problem is he’s tutoring me until the end of the semester.
” I sighed. “The school policy says tutors can’t date their students, and he’s a stickler for rules. ”
Dante nodded. “I see. So, when the semester is over, you can be together publicly.”
“Yes.” Would Colton be angry with me for telling Dante all this? But he’d mentioned he almost did it himself. I grabbed Dante’s arm and pulled him in close. “Hey, listen, don’t breathe a word of this to Malik and Grey. It really makes Colton anxious for them to know since they’re ASU students.”
“I’m pretty sure those two can keep a secret.” As the song ended, he stopped dancing. “I mean, look at the secrets they’re trying to keep for themselves?” He grabbed my hand. “Güero, you gay football players have more secrets than the damn ocean.” He pulled me along to where Colton still stood.
“Have fun?” Colton’s gaze darted from me to Dante.
“We did.” Lifting a brow, Dante gave me a knowing look. “Out with it.”
“What?” With his lips tensing, Colton stared at me.
“Colton…” Shit, was there any place more private we could talk? I perused the room and spied a lone table in the corner. “Grab the beers and let’s talk over there.” I tilted my head toward the table.
“Okay.” Colton’s chest rose with a deep inhale.
We grabbed the beers and strode to the tall table. After hitching into a chair around it, I said, “Colton, Dante knows.”
“Knows what, exactly?” Colton worried his lower lip. “That we’re together? Did he attempt something on the dance floor, so you had to tell him?” He glared at Dante.
“No, sweetie.” Dante gave a soft laugh and brushed his hand down Colton’s arm.
“Listen, I don’t want Tex back. It was a test. I wanted to see your reaction to it.
” He glanced at me. “Tex is a catch, but we had our shot. From the moment I saw you together, I saw how much he cares for you.” He placed his hand over Colton’s, resting on the table.
“I can see how much you care for him. I’d never impede true love. ” He fluttered his lashes.
“True…” Colton gaped. “Yeah, okay.” He stared at his beer as his eyes grew glassy. “I’m sorry I’m not as confident in myself as you are. I’m sorry if you think I’m not good enough—”
“Oh, honey.” Dante climbed off his stool and embraced Colton, brushing his hand across the back of his hair. “We all walk our own path. Don’t be ashamed of yours.”
Holy fuck, this was hard to watch. “Colton, Dante is safe. He won’t say anything to Malik and Grey.” I should be the one holding him.
Colton sniffled, freed Dante, and then swiped at his eyes.
“I’m sorry. This shouldn’t be so hard.” As his wet gaze met mine, he swallowed.
“I’ve lived in fear for so long. Not just the fear of who I am, but a fear that if I embraced it, it also meant I was a…
an alcoholic or a drug addict or all of the above.
” His attention focused on Dante. “You see, at the same time I started hooking up with guys, I drank a lot and took prescription drugs.”
Furrowing his brows, Dante said, “Alcoholic? Honey, this is your first nightclub experience.” He patted Colton’s arm. “Listen, I’m a bartender. I recognize alcoholics and drug addicts when I see them, and you are neither.” He chuckled.
I wanted to tell Dante all of it, how it involved Colton’s mother’s death, but it wasn’t my story to tell, and I had a feeling Colton had left that part out on purpose. I shifted my chair closer to Colton’s and grabbed his hand, resting on the table. “Hey, are you okay?”
“I will be.” He expelled a long breath and glanced around us. “It actually feels like a weight has been lifted off me.” He swept his tongue across his lips. “God, I want to kiss you, but I’m afraid someone will see us and—”
“Do it. I’ll cover you.” With a warm grin, Dante made himself big and stepped between us and the rest of the bar.
This was my chance. Wrapping my hand around the back of Colton’s head, I pulled him in, pressing my mouth against his and teasing his lips open.
He yielded to me with a soft moan, his tongue slipping against mine. Grabbing my chin, he held me in place and slanted his mouth, deepening the kisses.
As I claimed him again and again, my heart exploded with emotion.
Fucking hell, I loved him like I’d loved no one before.
Not even Dante. How had Colton buried himself so deeply into my heart so fast?
Was it because he was my person? The one I was destined for?
As my cock perked up, he broke the kisses.
Straightening in his chair, he said, “That was…uh…”
“Amazing?” Barking a laugh, Dante dropped into his chair opposite mine and waved his hand at his face. “Damn, when you two kiss, it’s hot as hell.”
“Stop it.” With a snicker, I slapped Dante’s knee. He had to go there. The kiss was more emotional than lustful. At least it was for me.
“Anyway, can we please do one of those shots on the blackboard now? I really want a Dirty Boy.” Dante chuckled and then drank his beer.
“Sure, why not.” With a smile spreading across my lips, I shook my head. One couldn’t hurt and now we had Dante on our side.