Page 59 of The Quarterback
He flushed, his insides going soft and liquid like Kimbrough’s found oil. He gazed at Nick from beneath his eyelashes, biting his lip and trying to hold back his smile. His happiness dimmed, though, as he gazed at Nick. “What’s wrong?”
“How could you tell something is bothering me?”
“I know you. Or I try to know you.”
Nick’s eyes closed, and he took a slow, deep breath. “It’s nice to be known.”
Colton waited. The landing gear made that high-pitched squealing sound as it clanked into position. “Is there something I can do?”
Nick’s eyes popped open. “What do you see in me?”
“Huh?”
“Why on earth do you want me?” Nick’s voice was a whisper. “I can’t figure it out.”
“Why wouldn’t I want you? Nick, you’re…” He swallowed. “You’re so freaking amazing it’s unreal. You’re so smart. Look at what you just did.” He nodded behind him, like he was nodding at Lubbock. “You’re an awesome guy. You’re kind to everyone. Always. It’s one of the best things about you. You were kind to me when you didn’t have to be. Look at everything you’ve done to help me.” He flushed. “I mean, you know, before.”
Nick smiled.
“This seems like the time to ask what you see in me, but I’m kind of scared to.” What if Nick said something likeYour musclesorHow you play quarterbackor evenI don’t know, but you kissed me and it had been a while since anyone had? He tried to chuckle away his nerves as he ground his heel into the carpet.
“You’re genuine,” Nick breathed. “You’re exactly who you are. I look at you, and I can see your entire heart.” He inhaled, sharply. “And what I see, I trust.”
Big words, considering what he’d confessed to Colton in Dallas.I don’t know how to begin to trust another woman. I don’t know how to open myself up.
But hadn’t Colton said that maybe, sometimes, only two guys could understand each other in those really deep ways? It was true for him. He’d never been as close to any girl as he’d gotten with Nick. Even Wes, in a way, though that was brotherly and Nick was… not.
You can have my heart.He wanted to say it, but… He held back, biting down on his lip as he held Nick’s stare.
The flight attendant came on the intercom and announced their imminent landing. They fiddled with their seat backs, straightened their seat belts, and after the attendant had passed on her final check, Nick slid his hand into Colton’s in the space between their thighs.
It was dark when they landed, and as soon as they turned on their phones, they both buzzed with texts from their cowboys. More photos, and he and Nick leaned in close as they scrolled through.
“Do you want to send them some photos from today?” Colton had taken a bunch of Nick and Kimbrough and their champagne flight. The three of them had even squeezed together for a selfie. The wide brim of Kimbrough’s Stetson had hung over both his and Nick’s heads.
Nick hesitated. “I’ve never shared things like that with Justin. He’s never been interested in my work.”
“Well, that’s his loss. What you do is really cool. And important.”
“Bringing porn to oil rigs?”
Colton laughed. “It’s more than that. You’re going to save lives with your network.”
Nick waited as the rest of the passengers filed past them off the plane. His frown line had appeared, that deep vertical furrow between his eyebrows. “You think they’ll want to know?”
Wes would, for sure. He’d thought Justin would, too, until Nick had said he wouldn’t. “Yeah. I mean, I hope they would. They should be proud of you.”
“Proud of us.” Nick leaned into Colton’s shoulder. “You helped immensely.”
He grinned, his cheeks going warm as he sent the photo of the three of them in the chopper, holding champagne flutes with an oil rig outside the window.Huge success today, he texted.Like, back-to-back touchdown amazing!
Both Justin and Wes left shocked emojis on the photo.Dude, Wes texted.Is that a private chopper? And an oil rig?
What kind of internship has you flying around in a private helo with Dom Perignon???Justin texted.
Colton frowned. “Congrats, Nick,”he texted, typing what they both should have said. He slid his phone into his back pocket and ignored its repeated buzzing as he grabbed Nick’s laptop bag out of the overhead.
Nick’s expression pinched as he stared down at his phone. “Kids will keep you humble.” He pocketed his cell, too.
