Chapter 3 #2
“Okay.” Grey stepped onto a treadmill and started it, increasing his pace to a quick jog.
After warming up on the treadmills, we stepped to the cable machine for some lat pull-downs.
“You first,” I said to Grey. “How much weight do you want?” I stood at the stacked plates and pulled the pin out.
“Start me at two hundred pounds and I’ll work up from there.” Grabbing the bar attached to the cable, he sat on the padded seat, tucking his thighs under the bar.
“You've got it.” I set the pin at two hundred and stood behind him to spot him, just in case.
“Thanks.” He tugged the bar down to his chest and let it slowly rise.
“That’s it.” The scent of his shampoo—citrus and sandalwood, maybe—wafted over me. I inhaled as it mixed with the musky scent of him. We hadn’t showered before we came here. Did he still have come on him from his hookup? My dick twitched in my briefs. “Damn, dude, love your shampoo.”
“I told you last night you could try it.” He pumped a few more reps and let the bar rise all the way.
“I know, but…” It wouldn’t be right, walking around smelling like him. As he rose from the seat, I dropped onto it.
He leaned over me, and pushing his nose into the top of my head, sniffed.
“What the hell are you doing?” I huffed a laugh. Did he want to try my shampoo?
“Just seeing if the way you smell is from your shampoo or something else.” He squeezed my shoulder. “I think it’s from something else.”
“Yeah? Like what, my pit juice?” I lifted my arm, showing off my armpit. “Smell.”
“God, no.” With his face scrunched, he waved his hand. “Did you even put deodorant on today?”
Shit, I’d forgotten. “Uh, no.” I lifted enough to grab the bar.
Tex shuffled over to us. “I’m hearing a lot of yapping but not seeing much progress over here.” He planted his hands on his hips. “You two will have to quit fucking around and focus when training starts.”
“Okay, Dad.” Rolling my eyes, I pumped out twelve reps and stood. “Come on, Tex, let’s see what you’ve got.”
With a smirk, Tex added another hundred pounds to the weights and plopped onto the seat. “Here’s how it’s done, boys.”
“Damn, that’s your warm-up weight?” Grey lifted his brows as he glanced at me and bit his thumbnail.
We spent the rest of the day hanging out at home, relaxing and playing video games. The workout had indeed cleared my head from last night’s festivities, and I sat on the couch next to Grey while we watched a rerun of The Big Bang Theory, Tex’s favorite.
My phone went off in my shorts, and I slipped it from my pocket. The screen read, Mom. “Shit, guys, I have to take this.” Hopping from the couch, I sauntered into my bedroom and answered the call, setting the phone to speaker. “Hey.”
“Hi, Malik. How are things going?” Mom asked. “Has Greyson moved in with you yet?”
I flopped onto the edge of my bed. “Yep, he moved in a few days ago.” I smiled as warmth fluttered through my chest. “He has the nicest bedroom of any college student I’ve ever seen.
Rosewood furniture, a linen duvet and his sheets are so damn soft.
” Hell, it made me want to join him in bed one of these nights.
My gaze raked over my room, the honey-colored wooden dresser and nightstands that didn’t quite match my chestnut headboard. Whatever, it was functional.
“You’ll be able to afford nice things soon enough.” Mom huffed. “How is he settling in there? It’s got to be hot for him.”
“It is, but we stay inside the air conditioning during the day.” I skimmed my hand along the red diamond pattern in the Navajo blanket my aunt gave me, resting over my grey bedspread. Should I tell Mom about the women we met? No…“How’s Dad doing?”
“Great, he did some Plein Air painting in the desert this afternoon.” She sighed. “He left the insurance office early today.”
“That’s good, isn’t it? Painting always puts him in a better mood.” My dad should have been an artist, but he’d focused on keeping up with Mom financially. “Any interesting cases come your way?” She was a prosecuting attorney and had some crazy cases.
“Not really. Just a DWI case where the guy blew three times over the limit. It was his second one, and he’d tried to outrun the police and hit a car with a family in it. He’s going to jail for sure.” She scoffed. “Don’t you ever—”
“I know, drink and drive. We call Ubers, Mom.” I rolled my eyes and glanced at one of my beaded bracelets on my dresser. I’d have to remember to wear it when we went out on Friday. “How’s Landon doing?” My younger brother aimed to be just like Mom and go to law school someday.
“He’s great. He’s been enjoying the summer with his friends. They camped beside the creek and came back dirty as hell.” She chuckled. “You’d think they rolled in the dirt while they were there.”
“They might have. They’re boys, Mom.” I grinned at the phone. My poor mother, the things she’d endured, with a house full of males.
“I saw your old girlfriend, Belinda, at the grocery store the other day. She’s home from college.” Mom exhaled. “Looks like she’s got a new boyfriend. She was with a nice young man from Colorado.”
“Oh.” I didn’t care. We’d been together for two years and broke up shortly after I came to ASU. “Well, good for her.” And one…and two…and—
“Have you met anyone?” she asked.
“Nope, no one I’d want to tell you about.
” And if I did, they’d be in for a shock when it turned out to be another man.
I fell back on the bed, my legs dangling off the edge.
“I’m heading to a party with Grey and some women we met at a pizza place the other night.
We’ll see.” Okay, guess I’d told her about them.
Eventually I’d reveal my sexuality to them, but I’d never had a reason so far.
Being as liberal as they were, I didn’t see it being a problem.
“Oh?” Her smirk carried through the phone. “Who are they?”
Now I’d done it. “Nobody worth discussing. We’re not into them, okay? We’re attending the party to have something to do.” I planted the heel of my hand on my forehead. I shouldn’t have told her.
“Now, Malik, I raised you better than that. It’s not nice to lead girls on.”
“I’m not leading them on.” She didn’t understand how dating worked these days. “We’re just hanging out, that’s all.” I huffed. Would she leave it alone?
Grey appeared at my door. “Everything okay?” He stepped inside and lay next to me on his stomach.
“Is that Greyson?” Mom asked.
His face lit. “It sure is, Janice. It’s nice to hear your voice.”
“Oh, such a charmer.” She chuckled. “Are you getting along okay? How do you like the heat?”
“I hate it, but I’m getting used to it. Your son keeps me indoors most of the time.” He turned his smile toward me.
“I hear you met some girls you’re taking to a party on Friday,” Mom said.
“Oh, you did, huh?” As he bit his lower lip, he flicked my head.
“Ow,” I said softly and rubbed the sting on my scalp. The fucker, he’d pay for that later.
“Yeah, we’ll see how that goes. I’m not sure this girl is my type.” He sighed and toyed with a lock of my hair, wrapping it around his finger.
“Well, you boys need to be focused on football and your studies. This is a significant year for you both.”
“Yes, we know, Mom.” Choking a scoff, I grabbed his hand and threaded my fingers through his. “Anyway, we should go. Is there anything else you wanted?”
“No, just checking in. I’m glad Grey could live with you this year.” She huffed a breath. “But don’t get in trouble.”
“We won’t, Janice. I’ll make sure Malik here is a good boy.” He gave me a cheesy smile and squeezed my hand.
“I knew I could count on you, Greyson,” she said. “Okay, talk to you soon, and I love you both.”
“Love you too, Mom.” I freed his hand and sat up.
“Love you,” Grey said, his gaze following me.
“Bye now.” She ended the call.
“What are you doing now?” He rolled to his side, his gaze trailing over me.
“I was about to go to bed.” I shifted backward over the covers on my ass, lifting my legs onto the mattress.
Wrapping an arm around me, he shoved me onto my back and crawled on top of me, his chest against mine with his hips resting to the side. “Oh yeah? No more video games tonight?” His blond hair fell around his sparkling blue eyes as he propped on his elbows. “Tex wanted to play some more.”
“Dude, do you guys want to stay up all night playing video games?” The edge of my lips quirked as his body heat shivered across my chest. I loved it when he was playful like this. I didn’t think anyone else ever saw him this way. It was only for me.
“What in the hell?” Tex’s voice swept across the room.
My gaze cut to Tex, standing in my doorway with one hand high on the doorjamb, a brow arched. He said, “You two sure are cozy with each other.”
Grey crawled off me and out of the bed. As he stood, he tugged his T-shirt down, hiding the exposed V above his shorts, his cheeks flushing red. “Yeah, we’re comfortable with each other.” As he chewed his lower lip, his gaze swung to mine. “Right, Thompson?”
“Right.” I hopped out of my bed. “Video games? How about we play something besides Madden? Like one of those shoot ‘em-up games?” We’d be living and breathing football soon, and having a break from it would be nice.
“Sure, whatever you want.” With a tsk, Tex shook his head and walked away.
“Come on.” As I jogged toward the doorway, I snatched Grey’s hand and pulled him along.