Chapter 19
NINETEEN
TEX (TRAVIS)
After winning Friday night’s game, I attended the annual season-ending team dinner and then went home. The girls Malik and Grey had to date forced them into attending a frat party. I didn’t know how they did it because they must have been exhausted.
On Saturday, I met up with Colton for a nice sushi dinner in Scottsdale, and we ended up back at his place with him topping again. Either way, our connection was solid, and I had been looking forward to him meeting Malik and Grey, except that their double date imploded on Saturday.
So here I was on Sunday morning, watching both of them live through the biggest heartbreak I’d ever witnessed.
I’d started cooking breakfast when the fallout occurred.
While eating breakfast alone and trying not to pry, I texted Colton.
We’d discussed meeting up again today, but I needed to be here for them.
Tex
I’m sorry, Colton, but I don’t think I can see you today. My roommates may be on the verge of a breakup. There’s got to be something I can do to help them.
As my stomach knotted, I watched the three dots blink at me. What would happen when Colton told his father about us? Would it be just as heart-wrenching? Hell, I didn’t want to go through that. I took a bite of bacon.
Colton
Hey, that’s okay. I should get some studying done, anyway. You’ve been keeping me from it . Have a good day, and I’ll see you on Tuesday instead.
Of course, he understood. That was my man. By Tuesday, hopefully, all this would blow over, and he’d finally get to meet my friends. After texting him my address, I sighed and ate some eggs.
“He should be here any minute.” I stood by the front door, looking through the window into our front yard and the landscaping rocks under the tree. Colton was finally coming to my house. It was under the guise of a study session, but I doubted there’d be much studying tonight.
Malik twisted at the end of our sectional, throwing an arm along the back. “You sure are excited to see your tutor.”
With a sly grin, Grey, sitting beside Malik, said, “Maybe he’s being tutored in more things than schoolwork.”
“Yeah? Like what? Blowjobs?” Malik snickered and paused the sports show on the television.
“You wish.” Rolling my eyes, I returned my attention to the street. That remark might resurface once they discovered our true relationship. How would Colton take it?
Car headlights came toward me and Colton’s Toyota Corolla parked in front of the house.
“Shit, he’s here.” My heart thumped against my ribcage as I stood at the door, waiting for him to knock. Should I just open it? I was itching to run out there and kiss him senseless. I set my hand on the doorknob.
“Dude, just open the door. What are you waiting for?” Malik’s brows creased.
“Shit. Okay.” I felt like a kid waiting to open Christmas presents for fuck's sake. I popped the door open and Colton stood on the landing with a twelve-pack of beer dangling from his hand. Under his jacket, his grey polo hung unbuttoned, and his jeans fitted snugly on his lower half.
Goddamn, he was gorgeous. “Hi, ba—” Fuck me. “I mean, Colton.” I forced myself to step aside so he could enter.
“The dude has beer.” Malik hopped off the couch and strode toward the door. “If I’d known tutors brought beer to study sessions, I would have hired one every semester.”
Colton’s wide smile reached his stunning green eyes, while his brown bangs hung to his cheekbones. “Hi, you’re Malik?” He held the beer out to Malik.
“Yeah.” With a side-hug, Malik took the beer. “Nice to meet you, Colton.”
Grey strolled toward us, rubbing his palms against his hips. “Grey Moore. It’s a pleasure.” He extended his hand.
Giving his hand a firm shake, Colton said, “Likewise. You both played well on Friday.”
“Thank you.” With a glance at me, Grey said, “Come in, please.”
While I watched the exchange, I stood there like a statue. I should have introduced them, but my brain had been stuck on how amazing it was to have Colton in my home. Finally.
“Who wants a beer?” Malik tore open the twelve-pack on the kitchen island. “Everyone?”
“Yes, please.” Colton stepped to me, his gaze searching my face. “How are you?”
“Stunned, nervous, excited.” I slipped my hand into his and led him toward the kitchen. There was no better time than the present.
As Malik handed Grey a beer, he gazed toward our entwined hands, and his eyes narrowed. “Well, I’ll be. I knew it. I fucking knew it.” As a shit-eating grin swept his lips, he sauntered toward us with two beers in his hands. “You son of a bitch. You’ve been fucking your tutor, haven’t you?”
Grey twisted at the island, mid-sip of his beer.
As my heart swelled, I said, “Not just fucking. We’re boyfriends.” I wrapped an arm around his shoulders and hugged Colton to my side. Thank God, Malik had taken it well and wasn’t mad. But then, this was my happy-go-lucky friend we were talking about here.
Colton’s cheeks flushed red. “I’m sorry he couldn’t tell you, but school policy forbids tutors from dating their students.”
Handing each of us a beer, Malik said, “We would have kept your secret, but yeah, I understand you not being comfortable with everyone knowing.” He peeked at Grey, now ambling toward us.
“Secrets are a prison. I found that out this week. I’m glad you both are free of it.” Grey hugged me and then Colton. “Here’s to living our lives free of our chains.” He held his beer up and we each tapped them together before drinking them.
“So, are you really studying tonight? ‘Cause I think we should order a pizza and play a game of Madden so we can get to know Colton.” Malik’s eyes twinkled.
Damn, since Malik and Grey had conquered their problems with Grey’s family, he’d been the happiest I’d seen him. Turning to Colton, I said, “What do you think, babe? Have you ever played Madden?”
“I’ve never actually played a video game in my life, but I’m willing to try.” Colton beamed at me while he sipped his beer.
“Oh, you’re in for a treat.” Malik grabbed Colton’s elbow and hauled him toward the couch. “Here, I’ll show you how to play.”
I stood next to Grey. “Malik’s a new man.” He’d been so uneasy the last few months.
“We both are.” Grey patted my shoulder. “I think we have a lot to talk about.” With a smile at me, he strolled beside me to the couch.
“Hey, don’t sit so close to my man, Malik. You have your own.” With a quick snicker, I dropped into a corner of the sectional, while Malik showed Colton how to use the controller.
“Oh, be quiet. I’m better at this game. If I let you show him, he’ll pick up your bad habits.” Malik pointed to a button on the controller.
“Tex?” Colton’s gaze cut to mine.
Did Colton think I was serious? “It’s fine, babe. We tease each other a lot.”
Grey, sitting beside me, tapped his phone’s screen. “What kind of pizza does everyone like? Supreme?”
“Yes.” With a shy smile, Colton’s attention returned to Malik’s instructions.
Would I ever get my boyfriend back? Shaking my head, I tutted.
Setting his phone down, Grey said, “I’ve ordered the pizza.” With his gaze fixed on Colton, he leaned toward me. “He’s adorable, Tex. I can see why you fell for him.”
I patted Grey’s knee. “Yeah, I didn’t have a chance.”
After having a lot of laughs while we played Madden, drank beer and ate pizza, Malik and Grey said their goodbyes to Colton and retired into Grey’s bedroom.
I sat on the couch next to Colton, twisting my third beer between my thighs. “So, what do you think?” From my observations, the evening had gone well.
“Your friends are very nice. I can see why telling them the truth meant so much to you.” He tilted his head, his gaze in his lap. “I can also see why you thought they could keep a secret. They’re trustworthy guys.”
“They are.” I snuck closer to him and slipped an arm around his shoulders, my mind replaying the problems with Grey’s family that they’d endured. “Listen, no matter how your dad reacts to us, I’ll be there for you. Okay?”
He flinched, and his gaze crept to mine. “I can’t tell him, not yet. I don’t know when that will be possible.”
“It’s okay. We’ve got time.” I kissed his cheek. I couldn’t rush him. “Have you heard from him? Did he ever return your call?” If my dad had taken this long to return my call, I’d think something horrible had happened to him.
“No.” He squirmed. “But it’s not uncommon. After this week, I’ll try him again and talk to him about our Christmas plans.” His breath hitched. “I’ll have to tell him you’re a friend and maybe that we wanted to hang out on Sixth Street.”
“Oh, yeah.” With a nod, I clenched my jaw for a beat. This situation was unpleasant, but at least I’d see him over the Christmas break, and we wouldn’t have to hide around my family. “Dante will be happy to see you again.”
“I’d like to taste the tequila he prefers, and see if it’s really better than what we had on Mill Avenue.” He chuckled softly.
“Oh, it is. But yeah, we’ll do some shots of his stuff.” I nuzzled the side of his head and breathed him in. He was here, in my house, and my bedroom was only steps away. “Hey, want to see my bedroom?”
He gave me a wicked grin. “Yes. I was wondering when you’d ask.
” Twisting at the waist, he cupped my cheek and pressed a heated kiss on my mouth, his tongue sliding between my lips.
As he pulled away, his pupils grew, and he said, “I want you inside me tonight.” He brushed his teeth across his lower lip.
“You do?” My cock plumped in my briefs and stuck in a fold of my joggers. As I adjusted, I said, “Can’t wait to have you in my bed. Can you stay the night?”
With a curt shake of his head, he said, “I shouldn’t. I have an early class in the morning.”
“Oh, so this will be a quickie.” Grabbing his hand, I rose and took him with me. “Let me show you my bedroom. The place where I’ve been dreaming of you for months.” I put my beer on the coffee table and then his.
Scoffing a laugh, he said, “Yeah, right.”