Fuck, I didn’t know how much it had affected him. I pulled him close to my side. “Hey, let’s not worry about it right now. Let’s see how our season plays out.”
He pressed his lips together. “Yeah.”
“I’ll be right here, regardless. You know you’ll always have me.” I planted a quick kiss on his cheek. That’d snap him out of it.
“Bro…” With a snort, he wiped his cheek. “Don’t do that here. The women will think we’re together.”
Tex’s brows snapped up. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were too.” He drank more beer.
Throwing a look at Tex, I said, “It’s called a bromance. Don’t gay dudes have those?” He had to go there. He just didn’t understand our bond yet.
“Of course. But I think you two have a bromosexual thing going on, since you’re queer and he’s not.” Tex freed a sharp laugh.
“Bromosexual?” Grey hooked a brow. “I’ve never heard the term, but I’ll go with it.” Turning his head, he pecked my cheek. “Malik, if I were queer or you were a woman, you’d be mine. You know that, right?”
“Of course, and you’d be mine.” I sniggered as warmth floated across my chest. It didn’t matter what Tex thought. He’d understand our relationship in time.
The server set our pizza down along with some plates. “Enjoy your food.” She left.
Tex pulled slices from the pizza, set them on the plates and pushed them toward us. “Here you go. Eat up.” After gliding one toward himself, he picked it up and took a bite.
I slid my arm down from around Grey so I could eat. “Hey, do you want to sing karaoke when it starts?” I ate my pizza, the sauce full of garlic and the melted cheese pulling from the slice.
“Sure. I’m not a great singer, but I don’t mind making a fool of myself.” He wiped his generous lips with a napkin.
“I think you two should sing,You’re the One that I Wantfrom Grease.” Holding the back of his hand over his mouth, Tex cackled. “It’d be hilarious.”
As Grey’s gaze slid to mine, his smile grew wide. “That would be funny.” He elbowed me in the ribs. “Let’s do it.” He scanned the room. “There’s a table of hot females over there. Maybe we can get their attention when we sing it. I bet they’ll get a kick out of it.”
Tex rolled his eyes. “Oh, brother.”
“Okay, then we’ll do it.” I ate more pizza and washed it down with beer. “You’re a genius, Tex.”
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.