Tex
Hi Colton, this is Travis. What time do you want to meet? I can make myself available after 4:00.
“Who are you texting?” Malik rinsed a plate and set it in the dishwasher while Grey, standing beside him, leaned over and clearly focused on Malik’s ass.
“The tutor. He wants to meet at his apartment.” I glanced at my phone and watched the three dots blinking. I hoped this guy was as good as his bio looked.
“Oh, at his apartment?” As Malik’s eyes twinkled, he waggled his brows. “Does he know who you are, and is the guy queer?”
What kind of question was that? I scoffed and shifted in my chair. “Yes, I told him who I was, and I don’t know if he’s queer. His tutor bio doesn’t exactly list his sexuality.”
“He’s bound to be a nerd, anyway.” Grey washed a frying pan in the sink.
“Nerds can be hot.” Malik bumped his shoulder on Grey’s. “Glasses can be very sexy on some guys.”
“Yeah? Should I go buy some glasses?” Grey arched a brow.
“Only if you wear them in the bedroom.” Malik bit his lowerlip and surrounded Grey from behind, wrapping his arms around his waist.
“Do you two ever quit with the foreplay?” Shaking my head, I opened my text screen. Suppose the tutor was queer, what were the chances he was my type? None. I liked my guys…well, smaller, yes, but also hot in an understated way. Guys who didn’t know how hot they were. Unlike Malik and Grey, who were acutely aware of their own attractiveness.
A text message came through.
Colton
Be here at 4:00, and we can get started.
He sent his address, which was on the border of Tempe and Scottsdale, but not too far away, and I added it to his contact information before texting again.
Tex
Sure, I’ll see you then.
“Looks like I have a tutor for tomorrow afternoon.” How long would this go? “I’ll let you know if I can’t be home in time to cook dinner.” I cringed. Now they’d tease me.
“Oh? Are you hoping for more than tutoring on your class?” Malik set a cleaned pot on the counter and faced me. “Does he have a bio photo on the website? Is he a hot nerd?”
“No, there are no photos, and stop it. I just…might need a lot of help.” Maybe we could knock this out in one session. I closed my laptop and stood. “How about a game of Madden before bed?”
“Hell yes. I’ll be the quarterback.” Grey slapped Malik on the ass.
The next afternoon,I followed the map app on my phone while driving my truck as it directed me to a three-story apartmentcomplex off Scottsdale Road, right across the Tempe border. Why did the guy live so far off campus? Maybe he was from around here?
I parked in an uncovered spot, grabbed my laptop, and hopped out of the truck. Even though the sun still felt warm, evenings offered a nice cooling as October arrived. Which meant the home games wouldn’t be so brutal.
After pulling my team athletic shirt over the top of my shorts, I hitched my backpack over my shoulder and lumbered down the path toward his apartment, taking in the tall trees and grass lining the pathway. The complex must be older with all the greenery around it and not the standard landscaping rocks and desert plants. Maybe it was cheaper rent?
As I came to his stairwell, concrete stairs with an iron railing, I peered at the second floor and the black door to his place. Here goes nothing. What would this dude be like? I took the stairs two at a time, my thighs protesting. My gym workout today had focused on legs with extensive squats. I approached the door and knocked.
Silence.
I knocked again. I didn’t want to be rude, but he should be expecting me, right? After fishing my phone from the pocket of my backpack, I checked the time. It was a few minutes after four. I’d been on time.
The door opened a crack. “Hello?” A green eye with thick black lashes studied me.
“Hey, Colton? I’m Travis.” I stretched my hand toward the door. What the fuck? Was this guy a shut-in? “Pleased to meet you.”
“Oh, sorry.” He swung the door wide and stood in the entryway, his brown bangs parted in the middle and flopping to his cheekbones. His thick brows hovered over stunning green eyes, and his jawline angled to a pointed chin under plump lips. After adjusting his blue polo, buttoned to the top, he gave my hand a firm shake. “Nice to meet you.”