Chapter 7
SEVEN
ELI
After parking in the driveway, I moseyed into the house through the front door.
“How was the date? Did you get any?” Malik, sitting on the sectional, paused a YouTube video and gave me a wicked grin.
“No, and I wasn’t seeing Wren for that.” With a scoff, I ambled into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and pulled out a Gatorade. I should start hydrating for the game. It would be hot as hell, and I didn’t need any muscle cramps taking me down. “Why are you still up?”
“Do you really think I could sleep knowing you were on a date with your ex?” With a quick laugh, he glanced at the paused television. “I got sucked into this stupid video about aliens, and I lost track of time.”
“Aliens?” As a grin played on my lips, I unscrewed my bottle and dropped onto the corner of the couch. “Since when have you believed in aliens?”
“Since we don’t know how they built the pyramids, and they would have had the technology.” He lifted his chin. “Tell me what happened tonight, since I’m here.”
With a shrug, I said, “We addressed some things, caught up on our lives and then reminisced about our time together in high school—”
“Oooh, reminisced? About the good times you had together?” He shifted, straightening on the couch. “That’s a good sign.”
“Yeah, and then we gossiped about the people we grew up with.” I sipped my drink. I’d felt pretty good about our chances until he dodged my kiss. “He wouldn’t let me kiss him goodnight, though.”
“Oh, that’s bad.” His brows lowered. “So, no parking lot BJs?”
“Nope. Not even a proper kiss.” I picked at the label on my bottle. “He said he’s not ready. But he agreed to join us at The Club on Mill after the game on Saturday.” My gaze met his.
With his brows lifting, he said, “You invited him to the gay bar?”
“I did.” I ticked my head. Did he have a problem with it? Maybe I should have asked the guys before I invited him.
Peering at me, he said, “What’ll you do if some guy hits on him and he goes home with him?” He hooked a brow.
Heat ignited in my chest. “He wouldn’t do that.” But we weren’t together, and I technically had no say. I hung my head. “Fuck, he better not do that.”
“He knows how you feel about him, right?” He shifted closer to me. “I’m sorry, man. I don’t know if this is a good idea unless you two are solid.”
Nodding slowly, I said, “He knows I want to start fresh with him. I can’t imagine he’d agree to the gay bar and then…” I couldn’t even say it. “Unless he decides to pay me back for what I did to him in high school.” Could I take the invitation back? That would be a shitty thing to do.
“Does he seem like the vindictive type?” Malik worried his lower lip. “Fuck, I’m sorry I said anything. You looked so happy when you came home, but now, you look broken.”
I squeezed my bottle, the plastic crunching. I’d have to take my chances with Wren. He was worth it, and if he ended up with someone else on Saturday night, so be it. “If Wren gets flirty with someone else, I’ll leave.”
“Okay, we’ll all leave. I’ll let Tex know.” He squeezed my thigh. “We’ll have your back.”
My attention drew to him. “Thanks, man. I don’t think he’d do something like that, but we’re not even dating. I think he’s trying to friend-zone me right now.”
Twisting his lips, Malik said, “Maybe me and Tex can have a little chat with him.”
“No, don’t do that.” Shaking my head, I freed a soft chuckle. The last thing I needed was their meddling. Oh, fuck…I fixated on Malik. “And don’t interrogate him.”
“Who, me?” With a sly grin, he pointed his thumb into his chest. “Never.”
Scoffing a chuckle, I said, “Oh boy.” Saturday would be an interesting night.
Saturday night, under the blazing lights of the stadium and slightly cooler than normal temperatures, we were pounding Texas State. I’d had a few flirty glances with Wren, and things were feeling damn good.
It was the third quarter, and we were ahead by two touchdowns. Texas had just received the ball, and I strolled onto the field to take up my position. They’d been running most of their plays, and I had to keep my sights on their running back.
As I crouched on the field, I watched the snap and the quarterback draw back with the ball.
Pushing off a Texas offensive lineman, I rushed toward the quarterback. Maybe he’d hold the ball long enough for me to get to him.
The Texas running back swiveled and stopped.
A short pass spiraled through the air, speeding right at me. “Shit.” I wasn’t expecting that. The dude was way off.
“Dawson, pick it!” Penny called out.
Jumping in the air, I snatched the ball and dropped. All we needed was the damn ball back. The offense could get the yards.
A few linemen pounced on me, their fingers digging into my arms as they attempted to rip the ball from me. Under my breath, I muttered, “Sons of bitches, get off me. I dropped.”
A whistle blew, and in my peripheral vision, a yellow flag fell to the field. Over the speakers, the announcer said, “Unnecessary roughness, offense.”
The linebackers stood and hung their heads. “Sorry, man.” One of them held his hand toward me.
I grabbed it, and he hauled me up. “No worries, you just gave away fifteen yards.” With a shake of my head, I tossed the ball to the ref and jogged past Casey as he took to the field.
“Great play, Dawson. When are you taking over JJ’s old spot?” He slapped my shoulder pad and cackled.
“In your dreams, Carter.” With a knowing glance at Wren, I puffed my chest and sauntered to the bench. Yeah, my man saw that.
Where the hell was Wren? He wouldn’t stand me up, would he?
I stood inside the gay bar at a tall table against the wall with Malik and Tex, the lights flashing to the beat of the techno music and shot boys wandering around in tiny Speedos.
With my gut gnawing, I glanced at my phone. He was fifteen minutes late.
“Do you think he won’t show?” Malik sipped a beer from a plastic glass.
“I, I don’t know.” Maybe something bad happened to him? I tapped the screen of my phone and opened my text app.
“There he is.” With a broad grin, Tex pointed to Wren, pushing through the crowd with a clear drink in his hand.
“Oh, thank God.” My heart did a happy dance, and my entire face smiled. I jogged to Wren and wrapped him in a bear hug, lifting his legs off the floor and nuzzling his neck. Was it too much? So fucking what? I’d been worried about him.
“Eli, put me down.” With a giggle, he kicked his legs.
“Sorry.” I set him on his feet and grabbed his shoulders, my gaze sweeping his slender frame, wrapped in a sheer white crop top and snug jeans. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you.” He touched my chest. “So do you. But then, you were always attractive in form-fitting shirts.” His gaze fell on my groin. “And form-fitting jeans.” Biting his lip, his cheeks reddened.
So, he still found me attractive. That was a start. “Come on and formally meet the guys.” I grabbed his hand and led him to the table. Following the conversation with Malik the other night, I wouldn’t let Wren stray too far from me.
As we reached the table, Wren greeted Malik and Tex with handshakes and side-hugs. “You guys won tonight by what, three touchdowns?” He sipped his drink.
“Yep, after the first half, Texas had no chance to recover.” Malik threw a grin at me. “And with Eli’s catch, it clinched it.” He patted my shoulder.
Of course, he’d talk me up in front of Wren. “I intended to sack their quarterback. Seeing the ball coming at me surprised the hell out of me.” I swung my arm around Wren’s waist and hung my hand on his hip.
“You might be big, but you’ve got the reflexes of a cat.” Malik held his hands up, curling his fingers as if he had claws. “Roar.”
“Stop it.” Now he was being silly. As we all chuckled, I peeked at Wren, his body heat shivering across my side. Damn it, this felt like old times, and he wasn’t moving away.
“Well, it was hard as hell to stay motivated to cheer when the bleachers cleared out with five minutes left in the game.” Wren slipped me a smirk. “What was the point?”
I drank my beer, edging closer to Wren’s side, the scent of his floral shampoo washing over me. He used the same one as in high school. Damn, it brought back memories of our quiet moments.
“I hear ya. Sometimes it’s hard to stay focused in the game when we’re just playing out the clock. But we have to.” Tex held his beer glass up. “To winning.”
“To winning,” we all said in unison and tapped his glass.
“Where’s the quarterback? Isn’t he a friend of yours too?” Wren swung his gaze around the area.
“He’s got a boyfriend now. A mechanic. I doubt we’ll be able to get him in here for a while.” Tex drank more beer.
With a nod, Wren downed the rest of his drink. “That went down fast.” He chuckled and peered into the cup, now filled with only ice.
“Let’s get you another one.” It was my chance to have him alone without the guys inspecting my every move. Which I was sure I’d hear about later. Putting my hand on the small of Wren’s back, I urged him toward the bar where a large chalkboard loomed with funny shot names written in neon colors.
“Sure.” He twisted through men flirting and kissing and stopped at the dark bar top, resting his hands along the edge. “Hey, care to try one of these shots? They look like fun.”
“Sure, why not.” I stood behind him, my arms around his sides and hands resting on the bar next to his. “What do you think? A Dirty Boy or—”
“Sucky Sucky. I like the sound of that one.” Glancing at me, he gave me a wicked grin. “Blowjobs are the best, aren’t they?”
I raised my brows. Was he insinuating he’d like one? From me? Hell yes. My dick plumped as heat raced across my skin. “They sure are.”
After a muscled, shirtless bartender took our shot order, Wren twisted in my arms. “Will you be hovering all night?” He tilted his head.
“Uh…” Shit, what should I say? He had my number. “Only if you let me.” I inched closer, my chest brushing his, my gaze falling to his generous lips. Could I kiss him and claim him in front of everyone in the bar?