Page 34 of The Quarterback
“I hope they’re doing okay out there.” Nick spun his pint glass on the bar top. That morning, Justin and Wes had texted and said they were heading out on a multiday trail ride with the herd and likely wouldn’t be able to text for a few days, so not to worry. Colton had texted from Nick’s phone for him while he drove, typing what Nick dictated. For them to be safe and careful and have a good time, and that he’d miss their photos and looked forward to seeing pics from the ride. Then Colton texted from his own phone, a simpleCool, bro. Kick ass out there. Have a blast.
Neither of them mentioned their trip to Houston. Or that they were sitting right next to each other. Again.
“I’m sure they’re having a great time. They’re probably camping out under the stars. Probably being ridiculously romantic, too. I’m sure Wes is laying on that thick cowboy seduction. Under the stars, on top of a mesa, no one around for miles?” He made a face like it was obvious to everyone what Justin and Wes were up to.
Nick squeezed his eyes shut. “That’s my son!”
“Yeah, but he’s grown! They’re basically engaged, I mean—”
“Still my son!”
“It’s a good thing you never spent the night at the jock house, that’s all I’m gonna say.”
Nick groaned and buried his forehead against his arm on the bar top. “I mean, Iknow,” he said after Colton finished giggling himself silly. “But Justin will always be my little boy.”
They stayed until after midnight, until they looked at their phones and realized how late it was. Shocked, Nick paid their tab, much to Brad’s dismay, and they made the trek back to the hotel. “We didn’t need to stay down here tonight,” Nick confessed. “We’re just driving back in the morning. But I like seeing Brad. I like the hotel. When I was setting up the account with Kimbrough, I was down here all the time. Brad was very kind to me when I first wandered in.”
“Does he know about Justin?”
“Oh, of course. I’ve told him all the stories. And he’s a huge sports fan. He probably recognized you, but he’s too polite to say anything. He keeps a lot of secrets.”
“So he’ll just flirt with me instead?” Colton grinned.
“Exactly. Brad’s an outrageous flirt. He’s also a great guy. He owns that bar. Having a safe place for his community to have fun was his lifelong dream, he said.” Nick shrugged. “We’ve talked a lot. He’s listened to a lot of my heartaches over this past year, and he’s been a good friend.”
“Thanks for taking me. And introducing me to him.” This wasn’t just a casual night out, Colton realized. Wasn’t just a stop for a few beers after a long day. Nick had shown him something that mattered to him, something—and someone—important to him. He felt like he’d glimpsed buried treasure inside Nick, something no one else knew existed.
“Thank you for coming with me.”
They were quiet at the hotel, taking turns getting ready in the bathroom before climbing into their beds. Nick checked his phone again, likely scrolling up and down through the message thread with Justin and Wes. There’d been nothing since the morning. He set it facedown on the nightstand. “Sleep in as late as you want. We’ll have breakfast and then hit the road when we feel like it. And if you want, we can drive out to Sugar Land.”
“I don’t want,” he said softly. “Really, we shouldn’t go there. It would just be a hassle. For her and for us.”
Nick stared at the ceiling. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Colton shrugged and picked up his phone. “I’m cool with it. It is what it is. I’m going to play a little bit before falling asleep. I won’t keep you up, will I?”
Nick rolled to his side, facing away from Colton. “No, I’ll be out like a light in a few minutes. Good night, Colton. See you in the morning.”
* * *
Lips tickledthe skin behind his ear. Ruffled the hair at the nape of his neck. He felt an exhale. Heard someone whisper,Colton.
Hands roamed up his arms—his unslung arm, his fully functioning arm—from behind, before a pair of arms wrapped around his chest and hugged him.Colton, the voice said again, right before a mouth pressed against his pulse, sucked on his skin—
He was on the field, and he’d just sent a pass sailing over the defense, soaring forty yards to land in the basket of Wes’s arms. Wes took one, two, three steps, and then he was in the end zone. A game-winning touchdown. The crowd was screaming, the fans going wild. He was screaming, too, hands over his head, arms pumping, He turned to the stands, searching for the one face he was desperate to see—
He was driving up a Texas highway, miles of pavement unfurling between two ribbons of the Piney Woods and an unending sea of grass. Blue sky, blue like his suit; green woods, like cascading emeralds; waving grasses in a hundred shades of gold. He was in the passenger seat, laughing, smiling, his head tipped back. The engine was growling, and the car leaped ahead, tires chewing up the asphalt like they had the whole world to drive. He reached across the center console and took the driver’s hand—
He was on Nick’s patio, and they were sharing a bottle of wine as they sat side by side. Nick was turned toward— No, he was setting his wineglass down on the table. He took Colton’s glass, too, and then took Colton’s hand. Laced their fingers together. Colton’s heart pounded, a summer thunderstorm unleashed on the plains, as Nick tilted his head, smiled—
They were inside, in Nick’s kitchen. Palms together, Colton’s right arm rising and falling as Nick counted. Another five seconds, and Nick lifted his arm, then stepped close, set Colton’s hand on his shoulder like they were dancing. Nick wrapped his arms around Colton’s waist.Colton, he breathed, brushing his nose against Colton’s.
Colton gasped, and his eyes fluttered closed, right as Nick leaned in—
He was back on the field, and confetti was falling, the stands emptying. Everyone had their loved ones with them. Wes and Justin and Graham, Dante and his mom, Art and his mom and dad, Josh, Patrick and Orlando with their girlfriends and their parents. Everyone had someone, so many people who loved them, but he was picking through the crowd, searching, first left, then right, trying to find—
Colton.
