“Yes.” Would Colton be angry with me for telling Dante all this? But he’d mentioned he almost did it himself. I grabbed Dante’s arm and pulled him in close. “Hey, listen, don’t breathe a word of this to Malik and Grey. It really makes Colton anxious for them to know since they’re ASU students.”
“I’m pretty sure those two can keep a secret.” As the song ended, he stopped dancing. “I mean, look at the secrets they’re trying to keep for themselves?” He grabbed my hand. “Güero, you gay football players have more secrets than the damn ocean.” He pulled me along to where Colton still stood.
“Have fun?” Colton’s gaze darted from me to Dante.
“We did.” Lifting a brow, Dante gave me a knowing look. “Out with it.”
“What?” With his lips tensing, Colton stared at me.
“Colton…” Shit, was there any place more private we could talk? I perused the room and spied a lone table in the corner. “Grab the beers and let’s talk over there.” I tilted my head toward the table.
“Okay.” Colton’s chest rose with a deep inhale.
We grabbed the beers and strode to the tall table. After hitching into a chair around it, I said, “Colton, Dante knows.”
“Knows what, exactly?” Colton worried his lower lip. “Thatwe’re together? Did he attempt something on the dance floor, so you had to tell him?” He glared at Dante.
“No, sweetie.” Dante gave a soft laugh and brushed his hand down Colton’s arm. “Listen, I don’t want Tex back. It was a test. I wanted to see your reaction to it.” He glanced at me. “Tex is a catch, but we had our shot. From the moment I saw you together, I saw how much he cares for you.” He placed his hand over Colton’s, resting on the table. “I can see how much you care for him. I’d never impede true love.” He fluttered his lashes.
“True…” Colton gaped. “Yeah, okay.” He stared at his beer as his eyes grew glassy. “I’m sorry I’m not as confident in myself as you are. I’m sorry if you think I’m not good enough?—”
“Oh, honey.” Dante climbed off his stool and embraced Colton, brushing his hand across the back of his hair. “We all walk our own path. Don’t be ashamed of yours.”
Holy fuck, this was hard to watch. “Colton, Dante is safe. He won’t say anything to Malik and Grey.” I should be the one holding him.
Colton sniffled, freed Dante, and then swiped at his eyes. “I’m sorry. This shouldn’t be so hard.” As his wet gaze met mine, he swallowed. “I’ve lived in fear for so long. Not just the fear of who I am, but a fear that if I embraced it, it also meant I was a…an alcoholic or a drug addict or all of the above.” His attention focused on Dante. “You see, at the same time I started hooking up with guys, I drank a lot and took prescription drugs.”
Furrowing his brows, Dante said, “Alcoholic? Honey, this is your first nightclub experience.” He patted Colton’s arm. “Listen, I’m a bartender. I recognize alcoholics and drug addicts when I see them, and you are neither.” He chuckled.
I wanted to tell Dante all of it, how it involved Colton’s mother’s death, but it wasn’t my story to tell, and I had a feeling Colton had left that part out on purpose. I shifted my chair closer to Colton’s and grabbed his hand, resting on the table. “Hey, are you okay?”
“I will be.” He expelled a long breath and glanced around us. “It actually feels like a weight has been lifted off me.” He swept his tongue across his lips. “God, I want to kiss you, but I’m afraid someone will see us and?—”
“Do it. I’ll cover you.” With a warm grin, Dante made himself big and stepped between us and the rest of the bar.
This was my chance. Wrapping my hand around the back of Colton’s head, I pulled him in, pressing my mouth against his and teasing his lips open.
He yielded to me with a soft moan, his tongue slipping against mine. Grabbing my chin, he held me in place and slanted his mouth, deepening the kisses.
As I claimed him again and again, my heart exploded with emotion. Fucking hell, I loved him like I’d loved no one before. Not even Dante. How had Colton buried himself so deeply into my heart so fast? Was it because he was my person? The one I was destined for? As my cock perked up, he broke the kisses.
Straightening in his chair, he said, “That was…uh…”
“Amazing?” Barking a laugh, Dante dropped into his chair opposite mine and waved his hand at his face. “Damn, when you two kiss, it’s hot as hell.”
“Stop it.” With a snicker, I slapped Dante’s knee. He had to go there. The kiss was more emotional than lustful. At least it was for me.
“Anyway, can we please do one of those shots on the blackboard now? I really want a Dirty Boy.” Dante chuckled and then drank his beer.
“Sure, why not.” With a smile spreading across my lips, I shook my head. One couldn’t hurt and now we had Dante on our side.
SIXTEEN
COLTON
At the end of the evening, I said goodbye to Tex and Dante, and they sent me off in my Uber ride home. I would have loved to have invited Tex over for the night, but then we couldn’t explain why Dante would come home alone to Malik and Grey. I seriously needed to consider letting Tex tell his roommates about us.
Before my next tutoring session with Tex, I had another therapy session, and my therapist expressed surprise and pride because I’d faced my fears and came out to Dante. Strange as that situation had been, it had worked to coax me out.