Chapter - Carter
Carter
I’ve been texting my college friend Becky over the past couple of weeks, which led to me inviting her as my date.
I warned her upfront that she’s basically my beard for the night.
She knows Nate will be there, and she agreed to be a distraction if needed so he and I can sneak off without raising any eyebrows.
Right now, Becky and I are at my apartment, just about ready to head out. I’m in a full Ralph Lauren suit and tie, and she’s gorgeous in a light blue dress that shows off almost her entire back, with just a few thin straps holding it together.
I’m not gonna lie; I think I look hot as hell. Hopefully, Nate doesn’t get too distracted watching me in this suit.
I call an Uber, and after a thirty-minute ride, we’re finally here. It looks like something straight out of a Hollywood movie. There’s a red carpet, and cameras flashing everywhere; I feel like I need a couple of shots of vodka just to deal with the paparazzi.
Flashing lights. Reporters and photographers all swarm the entrance. Becky slides out right after me and links her arm through mine, playing the role of picture-perfect plus-one like she was born for it.
“You owe me so much wine,” she mutters under her breath, flashing a dazzling smile toward the cameras.
I smirk and whisper back, “Only if you keep pretending you’re madly in love with me.”
We slowly make our way down the red carpet, pausing every so often as someone yells my name. It’s chaotic, surreal, and overwhelming, but all I can think about is one thing: well, one person.
Then I spot him. Nate.
He’s standing just past the main press area, talking to Mel.
He’s in a navy blazer with the sleeves casually pushed up, and his white shirt is open just enough at the collar to make it criminal.
His hair’s a little messy, like he ran his fingers through it on the way in, and somehow, that just makes him look better.
He’s smiling at something Mel said, but the second he sees me, the smile changes. It softens. His eyes linger.
I feel Becky squeeze my arm. “Is that him?”
“Yeah,” I say, barely able to get the word out.
“You’re staring,” she says with a smirk. “And he is definitely staring back.”
We keep walking, but everything feels like it's happening in slow motion. He’s watching me. And I’m watching him. And for a second, the whole event fades into background noise. Just me in a suit, him looking way too good in his, and all the unspoken things buzzing between us.
I reach the end of the carpet and break eye contact just long enough to hand over our tickets. When I glance back, Nate’s still watching me, but this time with a crooked little grin like he’s thinking about something naughty.
I walk into the event with Becky on my arm, keeping her close as we head straight for the bar.
We each grab a glass of sparkling white wine and start to scope out the room.
Pretty quickly, we run into Josh Miller and his date, Lisa, whom I’ve met once before.
The four of us start shooting the shit, mostly talking about how grateful we are that we don’t have to play the final two preseason games.
After about twenty minutes of casual chatting, I lean over to Becky and say, “Come on, I want to introduce you to Marcus.”
Technically, they should already know each other since they went to the same college, but it’s been years, and I figure a re-introduction couldn’t hurt. As we approach, Marcus flashes a wide grin.
“So,” he says, “are we celebrating that we both made the 53-man roster this season or what?”
I grin back. “Hell, yes. Go get yourself a drink; I'm already ahead of you.”
He laughs. “Can you believe it? We’re actually going to play together again. This is surreal, but let’s be honest, it's not unexpected. We’re both amazing.”
I roll my eyes but can’t help laughing. “Facts.”
After a few more minutes of catching up, I step back and let Becky and Marcus do some reminiscing about college while I wander over toward the stage. That’s when I see Nate.
He’s up there looking a little anxious, his eyes scanning the crowd. I make my way over and lean in just enough for him to hear me.
“You’re going to kill it,” I say quietly. “Half the people here are already buzzed, and this charity is amazing. mental health means a lot to me, and I’m honestly proud of you for getting up there and doing this.”
Nate turns to me with that crooked little smile. “Oh, stop; you’re going to make me blush.” He glances down at the guitar in his hands. “I’m not gonna lie; I am a little nervous. But Mel? She’s fearless. I think some of her confidence is starting to rub off on me.”
I catch myself lingering too long, probably looking like I’m outright flirting. So, before anyone can say anything, I casually back away and head back toward Becky and Marcus.
The event doesn’t really have seating, just high-top tables and servers walking around with trays of fancy appetizers. It’s definitely more of a mingle-and-chat vibe than a sit-down dinner.
About twenty minutes later, the lights shift slightly, and everyone’s attention turns toward the stage. Nate and Mel step up and start playing a stripped-down acoustic version of a Goo Goo Dolls song. I think it’s Iris, and they’re both hitting some seriously high notes.
It’s legit incredible. The song perfectly captures the vibe of this party.
I sip my wine and try not to stare too hard, but it’s no use. Watching Nate sing like that? Yeah, I'm starting to get the feels.
I’m on my third glass of wine now, standing with Becky, Josh, and Lisa, trying to play it cool, but I’m totally dazing out. Nate’s on stage, singing like it’s effortless and looking so damn sexy doing it that I can’t stop staring.
It must be obvious because suddenly I feel eyes on me. I glance over and catch both Becky and Josh giving me that look, the kind that says we know exactly what’s going on.
Becky looks amused, her smile soft and supportive. Josh’s expression is more curious, maybe even suspicious. My chest tightens a bit. Josh doesn’t know I’m gay, and I’m definitely not ready to have that conversation in the middle of a charity event.
I tear my gaze away from Nate and blurt out, “What are you looking at?”
Josh smirks. “You keep staring at that singer. Do you know him?”
I hesitate for a beat, then shrug. “He went to my college. We weren’t really friends or anything…I just think his voice is really good. I kinda zoned out for a second.”
Josh gives me a look like he thinks I'm full of shit, but thankfully, he doesn’t press for more. He turns back to Lisa and the conversation shifts.
Still, I can’t help it; I sneak another glance at Nate.
Becky gently rubs my back, saying nothing, but I feel everything in that touch. She knows. She knows I’m catching feelings. And even worse? She knows I’m not even trying to stop it.
Halfway through their performance, Nate and Mel take a short break, so Becky and I head over to grab some food. The buffet-style spread honestly feels like it came straight out of a kid’s birthday party: chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, and macaroni and cheese balls everywhere.
Becky grabs a plate and looks at me wide-eyed. “I’m in fucking heaven.”
I laugh, loading up my plate. She nudges me and nods subtly toward Marcus, who's standing a few feet away talking to someone from PR. “So,” she says, “who are you setting me up with tonight? I’m thinking Marcus? He’s cute.”
I shrug. “I mean, yeah, he’s definitely good-looking. Not my type, though, so he’s all yours.”
She smirks. “Perfect. I’m in need of a one-night stand, and I purposely picked this dress because it’s easy to take off.”
I nearly choke on a mozzarella stick, then lean in and whisper, “You slut.”
Becky bursts out laughing, clearly loving every second of this. “You’re such an asshole,” she grins.
“And yet, you still agreed to be my fake girlfriend for the night,” I say, raising my glass toward her.
“Because I knew it’d come with free food and cute guys,” she says, clinking her glass against mine.
After a quick fifteen minutes and what feels like a million chicken tenders, Nate and Mel start the second half of their set. Becky and I are still chatting, but I can’t help it; I keep sneaking glances toward the stage.
Nate catches me looking and smiles, though he quickly shifts his gaze away, trying not to break focus. He’s clearly trying to stay in the zone, but that little smile tells me he sees me, and he likes what he sees.
A part of me wants to mess with him. Maybe run a hand slowly down my chest, do something subtle but suggestive, just to rile him up a little. But I stop myself. He’s performing, and the last thing I want is to be the reason he loses concentration.
Instead, I grab Becky’s hand and tug her playfully. “Come on,” I say.
“Where are we going?” she asks, following without hesitation.
“To stir up some trouble,” I grin, leading her over to a group gathered near one of the high-top tables: Marcus, Josh, Jalen Briggs, and a few of their dates.
Becky gives me a knowing look. “Trouble, you say?”
I smirk. “Depends on your definition of trouble.”
As we approach, Marcus immediately lights up when he sees Becky, and I can already feel the flirtation starting to spark between them. Good; it keeps the attention off Nate and me, which I prefer.
After about another forty-five minutes, Nate and Mel wrap up their set, and the speech portion of the evening begins. I can’t help but grin to myself, knowing that Nate’s finally done, and now I might be able to steal him for some alone time.
But first, I need to let Becky in on the plan.
I lean toward her and whisper in her ear, “Hey, can you keep chatting with Marcus, Josh, and the others? Just say I went to the bathroom or something if they ask.”
She gives me a sly, knowing look and grins. “Go find a closet or bathroom stall or something. I’ve got it covered in here.”