As the knot in my gut tightened, I inhaled deeply. How should I respond to that? I had to be explicit with her, and she obviously didn’t need a tutoring session.
Colton
We can either hang out as friends or have a tutoring session, but we can’t do both.
I slipped my phone into my pocket and left the apartment. I wouldn’t call whatever tomorrow wasa date.
After parkingmy car in a nearby lot, I strolled along the sidewalk, the heat of the afternoon cooling as the sun set behind the high-rises in the distance. Cars crept along the boulevard while mostly students strolled along beside me with their backpacks slung over their shoulders, a few on skateboards. Trees rose from the sidewalk planters every so often, their canopies compact with dark green leaves. I hadn’t checked my phone since I’d left. I didn’t want to contend with Sara right now. There were other things to worry about. Like Travis.
As I stepped to the restaurant, tucked inside a two-story brick building, I hesitated at the door. My pulse hummed inside me, and I forced a hard swallow. This was only a beer with a man who wanted to be my friend. Nothing more.
The door swung open and Travis stood there, a broad smile reaching his eyes. “Colton, come on in. I’ve got a booth in the back.” He held the door open.
Giving him a small wave and a quick peek, I said, “Hi.” I brushed past him and into the pizza place. I’d never been in here before. Hell, I’d rarely ventured to any Mill Avenue shops or restaurants. I stuffed my hands into my pockets.
Travis stepped close to me and settled his warm hand on my lower back. “You look nice.” His breath tickled my neck. “Our table is back here.”
“Thanks.” Heat shivered across my skin as he led me over a yellow floor with splashes of red paint. Chalk letters covered the dark walls. Song lyrics maybe?
He led me past a bar and black tables and chairs and stopped at a booth with yellow vinyl cushions. A pitcher of beer rested on the table. “Is this okay?”
“Yes, it’s fine.” I slid into the bench seat and set my forearms on the table. This was awkward. Words failed me with him.Football, talk about football.But then, would he bring up the fact that he’d mentioned my name to the television cameras?
He glided in next to me and poured the beer into two frosty mugs. “Did you watch the game?” He pushed a beer toward me.
“I did. I watched it at Evan’s apartment.” Of course he’d start the conversation there. I cupped my glass, the condensation cooling my hand. “You played well.” I snuck my gaze to his.
“Thanks.” His gaze trailed over me and stopped at my lips. “What, uh, what else did you do at Evan’s apartment?”
I blinked. What an odd question. “We talked and ate pizza, and drank beer.” The corner of my mouth lifted. “Sort of like what we’re doing here, now.”
“I see.” With his hand wrapped around his beer glass, he tapped it with his index finger. “Were my words captured on camera when Grey scored?”
My heart about stopped. Slowly, I said, “They were. The announcers even commented on it. They wondered if Colton was your brother.” Chewing my lower lip, my gaze drew to his mouth, glistening from the beer he’d drunk. How would it feel to kiss him? Hell, I’d never find out because it couldn’t happen.
With a quick chuckle, he said, “My brother’s name is Will. Okay, William, actually, but he goes by Will.” He sipped his beer.
“Like calling yourself Tex instead of Travis?” It was hard for me to call him that. I’d only known him as Travis. After taking a few gulps of my drink, the cool bubbles glided down my throat. I could settle my nerves with the beer and not feel so awkward.
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?” He leaned back on the seat and swung his arm across the cushion behind me, a charming grin spreading on his stunning face.
“No, I don’t.” I stared at my beer. If we were talking aboutour families, I’d have to tell him about my mother. “Do you have any other siblings besides Will?”
“Nope. Will is a few years older than me, and he’s an ER nurse. He’s a cool guy, but very different from me.” He brushed his fingers across my shoulder. “He’s a player. I’m not.”
Goosebumps rose along my neck, down my side, and my cock woke. Damn it, his touch was like nothing else. I squirmed.
“Is…this okay? Am I making you uncomfortable?” He placed his hand on the seat back. “Sorry if I am.”
“No, you’re not. It’s uh, it’s nice.” Why did I say that? I drank more beer. Because it was true and I didn’t know how to filter my damn mouth.
“Good.” He rested his warm hand on my shoulder and leaned in close. “How’s your dad? Have you spoken to him since our tutoring session?”
As my voice cracked, I said, “No.” I feigned a cough. “No, I haven’t. I try not to talk with him much.” I twisted my beer on the table. Was he treating this like a date? But how would he know my sexual orientation?Because you opened your big fat mouth and told him his touch was nice.It had been a test, and I’d failed.
“Tell me about your family. I know about your dad, but what about your mom? Are you close with her?” He brushed his fingers along my shoulder and toward my neck.
I closed my eyes as heat rushed across my skin, and my dick plumped. What had he asked me? “Uh, what?”