2. Camden
Camden
As the car pulled away, I fought back tears and lost. They streamed down both cheeks and I let them. The driver knew where he was going, and seemed to have the sense to not say anything.
God damn it.
I knew being an alternate would be hard, but for fuck’s sake, it was worse now that I was here.
I kept it together for Luke. I didn’t want him to feel any worse for me than he already did, and I wasn’t going to ruin this for him.
For a moment on the sidewalk, I had the thought that I shouldn't have come, but Luke needed my support. I knew he’d be there for me if our positions were reversed.
As tough as it was, I knew I made the right decision. I’d just have to make the best of it.
Luke had certainly humored my attempt at distracting myself.
The aforementioned fuckfest, and he hadn’t even said anything when I ordered a drink for breakfast, which was followed by our mile high fun.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was never going to turn down sex with Luke, but I purposely went out of my way to ask for it the night before.
Well, it was less of an ask, and more like an advertisement?
I bent over naked in front of Luke and he got the message.
He knew what I needed, anyway. He always seemed to.
A combination of my transparent emotional status and Luke’s intuition.
Spending four years attached at the hip had helped him become proficient.
I pulled out my phone.
Cam: When do you get here?
While I waited for his reply, I texted my mom to let her know we made it, and Noah as well, to see if he and Shane had arrived yet.
“We’re here, sir.”
I didn’t notice the car had stopped. I felt a wave of embarrassment at my tears and my obliviousness, so it was a miracle I was able to say thank you to the driver at all. He had been nice enough to retrieve my suitcase from the trunk.
My phone vibrated, but it was just a notification from Uber about the trip with the total, asking if I wanted to leave a tip. Normally, I’d have smirked at the mention of tip but I sighed. Right now was not normal. It felt like anything but.
I looked up at the boutique hotel he had picked out.
It was right in the heart of the Castro.
An enormous rainbow flag hung in the front window.
I glanced towards each end of the street and rainbow banners adorned each light post as well.
He picked it because he said we needed the distraction.
I wasn’t sure what he meant, but at least there was eye candy on the street.
Two taller-than-me bare-chested jocks with their shirts tucked into their waistbands passed by me, drawing my attention. I even got a wink.
Well, that makes me feel a little better.
I walked up the stairs to open the front door, but was caught by surprise by a black-and-white, completely professional-looking sticker on the door that read: ‘Be prepared for cock.’
What the fuck?
The lobby was dimly lit and it took a few moments for my eyes to adjust. The front desk was to the left with what looked like a dining area beyond.
There were two hallways to the right, and directly in front of me were three large windows overlooking a pool surrounded by vegetation.
It reminded me of the pool in the Maldives, especially because of the naked men in and around it.
“Hi, welcome to The Cock and Bull. Are you checking in?”
I thought Colton was joking when he told me the hotel’s name.
“That’s really the name of the hotel?”
“How’d you get here if you didn’t know the name of it?”
“I’m s-sorry. My boyfriend ordered the Uber and my friend booked the room. I thought it was a joke.”
“Ah, I see. Nope. Not a joke. ‘Cock’ is in the name for a reason.”
“I see that,” I said, taking another glance at the pool. “And yeah, I’m checking in. Camden Kane. Colton Walker made the reservation.”
Cam: What the fuck kind of hotel did you book us?
Colton: So you’re there? Great!
Colton: Zeph and I will be there in 10.
Knock knock.
“Open up, you big-dicked stud!”
I couldn’t help my smile after hearing that voice. I stood up from my seat on the bed and went to the door. Colton scooped me up into his arms and twirled around before I could say anything. “It’s so good to see you!”
“You saw me like a month ago at trials,” I said, matter-of-factly.
“Well, that was business. This is all pleasure. It’s different.”
“How come you never pick me up like that?”
Colton turned to look at Zephyrus. “You serious, darlin’?” As if the stance of his six-foot-five frame wasn’t obvious. “I didn’t know that was somethin’ you wanted. I can bench your weight, but I’d have to lift you over my head to get your feet off the ground.”
“I know. I get-”
“Jealous,” Colton and I said simultaneously.
Zephyrus rolled his eyes. “That doesn’t help.”
“Zeph, sugarbear…”
I ignored whatever reassurances Colton was giving him and walked over to grab something from my suitcase. I returned, waiting for Colton to finish. Once he had, I held up a jewelry box in front of their faces. As I pulled the lid back, I watched Zephyrus’s eyes practically jump out of his head.
“You can’t be serious. We’re dating!”
“They’re not for me and Colton! I’m proposing to Luke. Seriously, Colton, what have you done to his brain?”
“I agree. Zeph? Why’d you almost hulk out on Cam there?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I just- When you two get together, I just get…really insecure.” He ran his hand over his locs and rubbed his neck.
This, coming from a towering, Super Bowl MVP kitted out with the body of Zeus and the face of Tyson Beckford. Insecurity really could be found anywhere.
“You know I’d never step out on you. And you knew Cam before you knew me. He’s not that kind of person either.”
“I know, Colt. I guess I’m still”—he paused to look at me, then lowered his voice”—getting over our time apart maybe?”
I felt like I shouldn’t be there and tried to slink back, but Colton grabbed my hand and thrust it into Zephyrus’s.
“Best friend,” Colton said, grabbing my cheeks with both hands for a second before letting go. “Boyfriend,” he added, doing the same to Zephyrus.
Zephyrus took a deep breath and nodded. Opening his eyes, he apologized to both of us for overreacting. “I just like Colton so damn much, and despite having the support of my team, most of this still isn’t easy for me. As easy as it seems for you.”
“Well, I had a big head start on both of you,” I said, trying to layer my voice with comfort. “And I’m your friend, too. Did you forget that?”
Zephyrus lowered his head. “I didn’t. Well, maybe for a bit. I don’t see you as much anymore since I got traded.”
“That’s true,” I admitted.
“Okay, well, that’s enough about our drama. When are you gonna propose? Let me see them again.”
“I’m not sure yet, but I was thinking of waiting until Luke’s events are over. I don’t want him distracted.” I held the box out for him to take.
Colton whistled. “Pretty sharp. Nice colors.”
I had gold bands made for us, with ‘I love you’ engraved on one and ‘I love you more’ on the other. I took the box back and resecured it in my suitcase. “Where’s your room?”
“Zeph got us the suite, but it connects to your room, so you can use the kitchen and living room whenever you want.”
Colton walked over to the door next to my bed that I had somehow missed. Probably because you were moping. He unlocked the door and pulled it open to reveal another door.
“I already unlocked our side,” he said, pushing the second door open.
It led to a cozy living room with a kitchen to the right and a hallway in the middle.
“There’s a bathroom down there and our bedroom.
This was part of why we booked here. Because it had a room like this.
We could all have privacy, but also hang out. ”
“And swim naked in the pool,” I added.
“Hell yeah!” Colton grinned.
“He just wants to show off my dick. The team would love it if photos leaked of us here.”
“What? They’ve already all seen your dick in the showers. It ain’t that big a deal.”
“You know it’s a big deal. It certainly makes you scream.”
For once, Colton had no retort. And while I hadn’t seen Zephyrus’s dick up close or anything, I remembered the day he met Colton and the bulge that developed while I was working his hamstring. Admittedly, I was curious. Who wouldn’t be?
“Uh yeah. Whatever you say, darlin’.” Colton turned back to me. “I also figured we’d be together a bit. You know…with us being-”
“The alternates,” I finished for him.
“Yeah. That.”
He and I shared a look. I knew exactly how he felt. To be so close and feel so far.
“It will build character?” I half-heartedly suggested.
Colton shrugged.
“Alright, boys, let’s go see this pool. Time for some frowns to turn upside down.”
“Can you turn me upside down tonight?” Colton asked.
“Whatever you want, tater tot.”
“Tater tot? Do I want to know?” I asked.
Zephyrus flashed his pearly whites. “Because I like popping him in my mouth.”
Well, that is certainly a visual.
“So, what do we wear down to the pool if we’re going to be naked?!” I yelled through the open door.
Colton waltzed in, wearing a tiny pair of shorts. If you could even call them that. They looked like pajama bottoms made for a doll. I stared. Hard.
“What?”
“Those are tiny.”
“We’re gonna be naked.” As if that were enough of an explanation. “Haven’t you and Luke been to a bunch of nude resorts? Just wear what you wear to those. Anything’ll do.”
I rummaged through the pile of clothes on my bed. Pulling off my shirt, I decided on a pair of running shorts. I pulled my jeans off and the briefs underneath.
“Fuckin’ hell! It’s a nice ass, Cam, but really?” Zephyrus had entered my room. “You gonna do me like that? You trying to piss me off?”
I quickly pulled the shorts on and turned to see Zephyrus with his arms wrapped around Colton. Despite being the tallest gymnast on the team - well, “on” the team - he was still a good six inches shorter than Zephyrus.