“That tequila was a little harsh. I have some better ones at the bar I work at.” Dante’s attention drew to the karaoke singer. “Damn, that guy can sing.”
I swung my gaze toward the center of the bar, where the man belted out the song, hitting all the notes perfectly.
I knew who that guy was. “Hey, that’s a singer in a local cover band called Knot Me. I think he manages the queer-owned bakery across the street.” I sipped my beer. Maybe we’d be privy to some great karaoke tonight.
“Oh yeah? There’s a queer bakery around here?” Dante angled toward me.
“Yes, and they have amazing Danishes infused with differentliquors.” I studied Colton. He’d gone quiet after the shot. Was he okay?
“You need to take me there while I’m visiting.” Dante sipped his beer. “Isn’t there a gay bar down the street too?”
“Yes…” I flinched and watched Colton, who was staring at his beer glass. Dante was about to ask?—
“Can we go after your game tomorrow?” Lifting his brows, Dante flicked his gaze toward Colton. “I mean, would you consider it, Colton?”
He didn’t know Colton was queer. This was awkward. I should have been able to let Dante know. “We can find another place to go. Fun bars are all over this street.”
“I’d uh be okay with it. I’m open-minded.” Colton lifted his chin and offered a forced grin.
“Yeah? Don’t worry, we’d keep the guys off you.” Dante patted my shoulder. “You could pretend to be boyfriends with me or Tex.” He barked out a laugh.
“Um…” Shit, if only I could tell Dante the truth. But what if someone who knew Colton was there? “We don’t have to. Like I said, there are plenty of?—”
“No, it’s okay.” After a slow nod, Colton drank his beer.
The server returned, and we ordered the pizza.
I had to talk to Colton alone. There was no way we’d be able to keep our relationship a secret in a gay bar. I’d want to kill anyone who looked at him. “Let’s assess it after the game tomorrow, okay? We’ll leave it open.”
With a tsk, Dante said, “Okay. It’s up to you, Tex. But I think it would be fun.” He squeezed my forearm, resting on the bar. “You know how you love to grind on the dance floor.”
My heart jolted, and I cut my gaze to Colton. He didn’t need to hear that. Had he ever visited a gay bar?
Colton winced and drank his beer, rubbing his fingers along the rim of the glass.
While eating our pizza,the conversation was easier, and we spent some time reminiscing. Colton got to hear some of my more embarrassing high school moments. Colton and Dante were getting along better and finding some common ground, which was a relief for me.
“Hey, I need to use the restroom.” Dante slid from our bench seat and strolled toward the restroom sign next to the bar.
This was my chance. “Hey, Colton, we don’t have to go to the gay bar. I can talk Dante out of it.”
After pursing his lips, Colton said, “If you do that, he’ll think it’s because of me. I don’t want him to think I’m a jerk.” With a scoff, he sipped his beer. “I want him to think I’m cool.”
My brows swung up. “Cool? Why?” I’d never heard that word out of his mouth before. “You don’t have to visit a gay bar to be cool.”
“Yes, I think I do. I don’t want to hinder your time with him, and he clearly wants to go there with you.” He pressed his lips together. “And I don’t want you going there with him and not me.”
Wait, was he jealous? There was no need. “But aren’t you afraid someone might see you and assume you’re queer?” I leaned toward him.
“I don’t care what they think. I have to stop caring what other people think.” He pulled his lips to the side. “I’ve been processing my discussion with the therapist. I’ve been so concerned with making sure it’s the right time for everything—telling your roommates, coming out to my students…I’m wondering what would happen if I just did it and let things fall where they may?”
I stared at him, my mouth dropping open. This was a very different Colton than the one I’d met. How could one therapy session have made this big a change? He was damn smart, and maybe he was ready to hear what his therapist had told him.
“Do you want to come out to Dante?” It would simplify theweekend so much. I sat back and drank my beer, watching the emotions shift on his face.
“Yes, but not yet.” He scoffed. “I’m trying here, but it’s hard. When I think about it, my anxiety goes crazy.”
“Okay, then let’s leave the gay bar decision for later. You don’t have to do this if you’re not ready.” Reaching across the table, I held his hand as it rested next to his beer glass. “I don’t want you undoing all the progress you’ve made. I can get Dante focused on going somewhere else tomorrow night.”