Chapter 2
TWO
GREY (GREYSON)
Ienjoyed myself greatly with Malik, as expected, including with his friend Tex.
They’d already made this place feel like home.
Through further conversation, I’d discovered Tex was from Austin and had a little cowboy in him even without the typical Texas drawl.
My earlier worries about my family had dissipated the more we’d talked.
We’d put our names in for karaoke after the DJ set up, along with a dozen other people, and waited for him to call our names.
I edged into Malik’s side as I eyed the table of beautiful women beside us.
Having Malik as my wingman always gave me the courage I needed to approach women like that.
I didn’t know why, but he sparked confidence in me, always had.
A pretty brunette looked my way, her hair falling past her shoulders in waves and her lashes thick over her light eyes—were they blue?
“Hey.” I patted Malik’s arm as he finished the last slice of pizza. “I think the brunette over there likes me.”
“You do?” Malik swayed his head, facing the table. “Yep, she glanced in this direction and then smiled when I saw her.”
Tex shook his head. “Why don’t you two go over and chat them up?”
I rolled my lips as my stomach knotted. “Maybe after we sing, okay?” I bumped my shoulder on Malik’s and inched closer to him, his warmth shivering up my side.
The announcer said, “Okay, and now we have Malik and Grey. Come on up to the microphone.”
“Shit, that’s us.” Malik slapped my thigh and hopped from the bench seat. “Let’s do this.”
“Yep.” I rose and as I strolled past the table of women, I wagged my brows at the brunette.
She gave me a coy grin and fluttered her long lashes.
Leaning into Malik as we walked, I said, “She’s definitely into me. Which one do you want?”
Malik glanced behind us as we reached a table with two microphones on it, the DJ sitting behind it with a laptop and karaoke console.
“I’d take any of her friends. I don’t care which.
” He scraped his teeth across his lower lip.
“Or we could try a threesome?” He pulled me into an opening in the black tables scattered across the concrete floor.
My brows lifted. The few times we’d done that, it was hot. It had gotten me off harder than I thought it would. I didn’t understand why…maybe because the girls had enjoyed it so much? “Sure, if she’s open to it. I’m game.”
“Hell yes. We won’t start off pushing for it though.
” Malik’s warm hand squeezed mine as the song started, the bouncy beat like something from a rockabilly band.
He bounced to the beat, bending his knees and swinging our arms between us.
“I’ll take the John Travolta part and you’re Olivia Newton John. ” He cackled.
“Seriously? I can’t sing that high.” Fuck it, whatever. Mirroring his movements, my gaze found the television screen next to a long bar tucked into the wall with lights hung across a soffit running along the ceiling.
As he sang the first verse, Malik tilted his head, his smile reaching his eyes and his gaze locked on me.
Everyone in the bar laughed and clapped while a few people whistled.
As he sang on, he stepped toward me, pulling me in close and then pushing me away, our fingers threaded between us.
Laughter burst from me. This was ridiculous, but so much fun. My friends in Ithaca and New York would never behave like this. My part started, and I sang it at him, strutting around him in a circle, my hips swaying, my heart soaring.
At the chorus, we sang, stepping close, foreheads nearly touching, then retreated.
The bar erupted in more clapping, and a woman shouted, “Kiss him!”
I glanced away for a moment, and Malik’s warm lips landed on my cheek. I giggled and danced, swaying my hips and swinging our arms.
“Woo-hoo!” the woman shouted.
The second verse came around, and we continued our circle strut, singing at each other as loudly and obnoxiously as we could. When the last chorus started, Malik wrapped an arm around my waist and swung me in a circle.
As the song ended, we stopped, panting, and Malik gazed deeply into my eyes. “Ready?”
I nodded. I wasn’t sure what he would do, but I trusted him.
He came in close, his lips brushing mine, and then planted a quick kiss on my mouth. As we parted, he released me.
Women clapped and shouted their praise for the show while the guys laughed.
Grabbing my hand, Malik dragged me through the tables to our booth. My chest flickered with warmth. Spending my last year of college with him was the right decision. He’d give me the strength I needed to confront my father and live my own life.
Tex cackled while scrubbing his face. “Oh my God, that was some funny shit.” He rubbed his eyes.
“Yeah? You approve?” Malik freed my hand.
“I do. I wish they had karaoke at the gay bar. We’d have so much fun.” He leaned back in his seat.
“Hey, are you guys really together?” The brunette from the next table over stood and strolled toward us, her skort showing off long legs and cropped blouse revealing toned abs.
Hell, she had just the type of build I liked. As my cock woke, I said, “No, we’re just good friends having a little fun.” I combed my fingers through my bangs. I’d let my hair grow long before coming here. Change was good, right?
“Oh, great.” She clasped her hands over her chest, swaying slightly. “How about your friends, then? Are they straight?”
The other two girls at the table threw me flirty looks.
“Um…” I grabbed Malik’s arm and hauled him to me. I didn’t want to speak for him and Tex.
“What?” Malik’s gaze rested on the brunette. “Oh, hello.” He gave her a coy grin. “Did you like the show?”
“I did. We did.” She swiveled to her friends for a moment and returned. “You guys are straight, huh?”
Malik’s eyes widened. “Oh, I’m, uh, I like girls, but my friend behind me is…” He twisted toward Tex.
Tex waved at them. “Hi, I’m gay.” He stood and stepped toward us. “Hey, I’ll let you two make whatever poor decisions you’re about to make and catch an Uber. I’m tired anyway.”
“You sure?” Malik eyed him. “Maybe next time we can hit up the gay bar down the street.”
There was a gay bar down the street? My brows flicked up. Could I handle a place like that? I’d never tried it. But, fuck, both my roommates were queer. It was only fair to them. “Yeah, next time we’ll do that.”
Malik’s gaze swung to mine, and he chewed his lower lip. “You sure about that?”
With a shrug, I said, “Why the hell not? I can handle it.” As long as I had Malik by my side, everything would be fine.
“Okay then, I’ll leave you to it.” Tex patted my shoulder and then Malik’s. “See you both at home.” After briefly greeting the women, he lumbered from the bar.
“Let’s sit at your table. It’s bigger.” The brunette said while curling her hair around a finger.
“Sure.” I stepped to the table and tugged Malik beside me onto the bench seat. “What’s your name?” I observed the brunette situated beside me, while her two friends, blondes, sat opposite us.
“Carrie.” She ran her tongue across her lower lip and waved her hand at the blonde on the left. “And this is Jenny.”
Jenny wiggled her fingers at us. “Hi.”
“And my other friend there is Riley.” Carrie set her forearm on the table.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” I stretched my hand out, giving each of them a quick, loose handshake. “I’m Greyson, but you can call me Grey.”
“Who’s your friend?” Riley eyed Malik and licked her lips.
“Name’s Malik.” He poured beer into our glasses. “Do you girls want drinks?”
“Sure, are you buying?” Carrie asked, inching closer to my side.
“I am.” My gaze swept the room for our server. The girls seemed nice enough.
“Hey, aren’t you Malik Thompson, the running back for the football team?” Riley narrowed her dark eyes at him.
“Yeah, that’s me.” He drank some beer. “Do you go to the games?”
“Sure.” Riley gave him a wide grin. “And what about you, Grey?”
“I’m also on the football team, but I transferred from Cornell this year. I’ll be playing running back as well, second string behind Malik.” Would all the attention be on Malik now?
All gazes swept to him. With a quick chuckle, Malik said, “But Grey here is a fantastic player. I’m sure Coach will play him in the fourth quarter, when we’re beating the shit out of U of A.” He wagged his brows at me.
I could always count on Malik to pump me up. “Thanks, man.” I squeezed his thigh. “What are you girls studying?”
Carrie said, “We’re all studying business. We’re going into our junior year.”
“Oh, I’m studying business too.” Would any of them be in my classes? But I was a senior, so maybe not.
“What about you, Malik?” Riley ran her gaze over him.
“I’m studying biology. In case football didn’t pan out, I wanted to be a medical researcher. You know, maybe find the cure for cancer or some shit.” With a clipped laugh, he sipped his beer.
Our server stopped at the table, and the girls ordered mixed drinks while Malik and I got another round of beer.
Riley wrapped her hand around Malik’s forearm, resting on the table. “So, you’re athletic and smart.”
Squirming closer to me, Malik said, “Yeah, I guess you could say that.” He glanced at me. “Grey’s pretty smart too, aren’t you, dude? If he doesn’t make it in football, he’s going to Harvard for his MBA.”
All the women’s attention drew to me while their lips parted, Carrie saying, “Where are you from, Grey?” She wrapped an arm around mine and leaned in. “You look like a model.”
“I-I do?” My brows swept up. I knew plenty of models, but had never considered—
“You do, you know that?” With a warm grin, Malik’s gaze met mine, and he brushed his fingers along my jawline. “You’ve got great cheekbones.”
His touch tingled down my neck, and warmth spread in my chest. “Thanks, man.” Clearing my throat, I sipped my beer and then said, “I, um, I’m from New York City. Grew up in Manhattan.”
Carrie tightened her hold on my arm. “Really. What part?”