Chapter 6
SIX
GREY (GREYSON)
Did Malik buy my story? I had drunk a lot and hell, I’d been drunk as fuck last night.
But not drunk enough to pass out. Not drunk enough to…
I ground my molars as my cock swelled with the memory flashes of Malik on top of me, his amazing kisses and the way his perfect dick had rubbed against mine.
I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my hands aching, as I turned onto Mill Avenue.
Outside, the noonday sun shone on the brick buildings, so bright it washed the colors from the trees poking out of the sidewalks.
This might suck, walking around in hundred-and-ten-degree heat.
But leaving the house and getting away from Malik was the only option.
Thank God Carrie had returned my text and accepted my apology for being a shit last night.
I drove the car down a side street and into a multi-level parking garage.
She’d suggested I meet her for lunch at a wine bar named Postinos.
Sounded good enough for me. I liked wine.
Almost as much as my dick liked Malik? There’d been parking at the wine bar, but I refused to leave my baby sitting in this intense sunshine.
I’d have to buy a sunshade for the front window and maybe a car cover for when I had to park in the lots at school.
I parked and stepped out of my car, locking it with a touch of my finger on the door handle sensor.
The heat enveloped me. It was like a fucking sauna, and I was in the shade.
I hitched my linen shorts up my hips and tucked my thin blue shirt in better.
I had to look nice for Carrie. And somehow, had to prove my preference for women.
Not men. Not Malik. Fuck. I can’t be gay or bi.
Dad will disown me. It would be bad enough if I got an NFL contract.
But his finding out I was queer? In his eyes, I’d be a disgrace to the family.
I strolled down the concrete steps to the sidewalk and checked my phone for the location of this place.
According to my map, it was two buildings down.
I wiped a bead of sweat as it trickled down my cheek.
Fuck, now I’d be sweaty. I ducked into the shade of the buildings as I walked. Shade was like gold out here.
I hustled to the squat building housing the wine bar, a quaint-looking place in clay brick with a modern vibe.
My gaze caught a wall of vegetation surrounding an outdoor patio with yellow umbrellas covering the tables.
A misting system sprayed along the edges of the building.
As if anyone in their right mind would sit on the damn patio this time of year, misters or no misters.
With a smirk, I swung the glass door open, and a blast of cool air hit me.
Maybe we’d spend the entire day in here drinking wine and eating appetizers.
Fuck going back outside. I scanned the place, set up with comfy couches, lounge chairs and coffee tables, like someone’s kitschy home, or something I’d see in Soho.
Carrie knew how to select the right place. It wasn’t some college dive.
Carrie sat on a loveseat toward the center of the room, holding red wine in a fat glass, and waved with her free hand.
I passed the hostess stand and strutted to her.
“Hey.” I gave her my most charming smile.
“How are you?” As I dropped in beside her, I kissed her cheek.
Her flowery perfume invaded my senses. Had she bathed in it?
I trailed my gaze along her cropped white top and then to the flowered mini skirt covering her hips.
“I’m great. How were you feeling this morning?” She freed a quick giggle. “You were pretty drunk last night.”
“Yeah, I haven’t drunk that much in a long time. I think the heat got to me too. I’m not used to it.” As the server approached the table, I ordered the same wine she had, a cabernet. It always boded well to order the same drink. Then she’d think I trusted her judgement.
She shifted closer to me on the couch and rested her hand on my thigh. “How’s your friend Malik doing? Before you left, I wasn’t sure if you were holding him up or he was holding you up against the wall outside.” She sipped her wine, her gaze fixed on me.
“Yeah, sorry, but I remember little of that.” Lie. I remembered it all. Every touch, the firm grip of his arms around me, the scent of his soap. An ache wormed through my chest. I clenched my jaw for a beat.
“I can see the heat being a factor.” She set her wine down and pressed her pink lips together. “You two are really close, huh?” Her gaze flicked to mine.
“We are. We’re best friends.” I laid my arm across the back of the couch, angling toward her. “We met at football camp back in high school, and we clicked.” I’d come here to forget about Malik and clear my head, not to talk about him.
The server left my wine on the table, and I drank it, the oak and cherry flavor washing down my throat. It was excellent. She might know her wines.
“I’ve never seen two guys so affectionate with each other.” She arched a brow and huffed a chuckle. “In fact, Riley wondered if you two were more than friends. Malik’s bisexual, right?” She picked up her wine and swirled it in the glass before drinking it.
“He is, but I’m not.” How much had she seen of us outside?
It had been dark, and it wasn’t like we’d kissed out there.
Not like when I’d turned into a raving lunatic in my bedroom and attacked him.
My gut churned. What was he thinking right now?
I had to get her mind off this. “Anyway…” I brushed my fingers along the back of her neck and curled my lips into a charismatic grin.
“What about you? Didn’t you say you were from Paradise Valley?
” Shit, I’d barely remembered anything she’d told me.
I hadn’t thought I would ever see her again. But here I was.
“Yes, I went to a private Catholic high school, Paradise Valley Preparatory.” She lifted her chin. “Are you Catholic?”
Great, a nice Catholic girl. But my experience said they could be very naughty in bed.
I focused on her lips, waiting for my cock to take notice.
Nope, not a fucking thing. Had Malik broken my dick last night?
“I’m, uh, not Catholic. I grew up Episcopalian, but I no longer go to church.
” What the hell would my faith say about my encounter with Malik last night?
It seemed to me it was a liberal faith. There’d been openly gay couples in our congregation.
“Oh.” With a nod, she sipped more wine. “Well, I don’t go anymore either. I don’t have time.” A smirk formed on her lips.
“Do you work?” I knew the answer was no, but it was worth asking. As my gut grumbled, I scanned the restaurant. I needed food.
“No, but I’m working on getting a substantial social media following on Instagram. I like content creation. I have over ten-thousand followers.” Her tongue swiped across her lips.
“Do you?” I brushed my fingers up the stem of my wineglass. Note to self—do not let her take photos of us together for her IG account. I didn’t need the entire school thinking I had a girlfriend. “Are you hungry? Shall we order some food?”
“Oh, yes.” With a sharp giggle, she straightened her spine and flagged down our server.
After our lunch and following her through shops in the heat, I walked Carrie to her car, still in the parking lot of the wine bar.
I’d had enough of the temperature fluctuations between the sweltering outside and the cold-as-a-freezer air conditioning in the shops. It was enough to make a person sick.
She stood at her Mercedes sedan in the parking lot, holding the door open and waiting…for something.
I had to kiss her now. She’d expect it. “I had a great time with you today.” Lies, all lies.
And it hadn’t confirmed a damn thing about my sexuality.
I was obviously with the wrong girl. I placed a hand on her slight shoulder and leaned in, pressing a soft kiss on her lips.
As I pulled away, I swiped my tongue around my mouth, a fruity flavor filling it.
Women always did that, had sweet-tasting lipstick or gloss.
Malik had tasted like masculinity in a bottle, like heat and leather and bourbon, even though we hadn’t drunk bourbon.
My dick woke. Fuck me. I had to quit thinking of him that way.
“I had a great time with you too. Want to get together again this week?” With her lips quirking on one side, her brows lifted.
“Um, let me see what my schedule looks like. We start football practice next week.” And I’d feign exhaustion if she texted about it. At some point, I’d just ghost her. This might be the last time I’d ever see her, unless she appeared in one of my classrooms. I pursed my lips.
“Oh, sure.” She swayed a moment, biting her lower lip, her gaze raking over me. “We could, um, go back to—”
“Uh, sorry, but the heat is getting to me. I’m tired and want to go to bed early tonight.
I need to adjust my schedule anyway for practice.
We’re up early.” It seemed I was already using the exhausted excuse.
“I’ll see you around though, okay?” As she stepped aside, I opened her door. I had to move this along.
“Sure, we’ll be in touch.” She climbed into her car, throwing her purse onto the passenger seat. “See you.”
“Yes, see you.” As I confirmed she was all the way in, I shut her door, took a deep breath and strolled toward my car. I wasn’t looking forward to seeing Malik. I was looking forward to a cold shower and maybe delivery Chinese for dinner.
I arrived home, parked in the garage and rested my forehead on the steering wheel.
Malik’s SUV sat parked in front of the house.
He was home. How would I face him? I worried my lower lip as my pulse hammered in my ears.
I had to pretend everything was normal. He couldn’t know that I hadn’t blacked out last night.