Page 79 of Bend Him, Break Him
When Colton and Tim arrived at the party, they stuck together for a bit. It helped with the initial stares and whispers, but soon enough, Tim was off to enact his plan, and Colton found himself drifting to the outskirts of the party. That wasn’t his style. Then again, being the center of attention because he liked to get fucked in the ass wasn’t his style either.
Colton needed a drink, something to wash away his own second-guessing thoughts and the anxiety that clung to him with every breath.
Two girls intercepted Colton as he reached the drink table in the kitchen.
“Oh my God, Colton!” the brunette called out. She rushed to his side like they were best of friends when he was absolutely certain they’d never met before. “Tell me you’re getting off the bench soon!”
She stumbled a bit, and he helped steady her stance. A fan. It’d been a while since he interacted with fans. With anyone baseball-related.
“Actually—”
“He’s the best goddamn pitcher they got,” she added before Colton could answer her question, talking to her friend, who seemed almost as dazed as her. “And they benched him because of a little… Well, there was nothing little in the video…” She snorted, then caught herself and grimaced. “They need you back on the field where you belong, baby.”
“Are you here by yourself?” the blonde asked, her voice pitchy and her steps wobbly. “So brave.”
“Not here by myself.” Colton gestured at the crowd. “My friend’s around here somewhere.”
“Afriendfriend or a boyfriend?” the blonde asked with a smile.
“Better not be the same guy from…” The brunette caught herself, eyes wide with embarrassment. She sipped her drink then turned to Colton and smiled. “You can do so much better.”
“He’s actually a pretty great guy.”
Colton regretted coming to this party. Not for the interactions. He was beginning to navigate his way through the awkward conversations with those bold enough or drunk enough to bring it up. No, he regretted being here and wasting his night when he should be with Isaac, making things right.
They’d each kept a healthy distance from each other so Colton could get the space he needed, but he didn’t want space to think, to process anymore. He wanted Isaac.
A small group wedged their way into the kitchen, and two of the guys broke away just long enough to mingle next to the girls.
“So brave,” the blonde said, reiterating Colton’s bravery as she sloshed about, held up by her boyfriend who looked almost as hammered as her.
Brave wasn’t the word he’d use, but he’d take it if it meant more people were on his side than he realized. The group wandered off, and Colton poured a beer from the keg.
“Finally coming out of your shell?” Leon materialized beside Colton like a monster from the shadows, slapping a hand to his back in a friendly act but intentionally too hard so it’d provoke a response. “Seems like everything’s returned to normal for you.”
Colton glared, his jaw clenched, and the desire to punch Leon became more and more palpable. Even if he wasn’t behind the film, he had to know Colton despised him, hated him. What kind of person pretended to be buddy-buddy with someone like this? He’d spent the entire year trying to replace Colton on theteam, trying to push his way to starting pitcher. Which he’d done successfully, except everything had gone back the way it was, just as Leon stated.
Despite the hell of the video, the embarrassment, the outcry from fans in either camp—pro Colton or anti-scandal; well, anti-queer scandal—Colton would be playing the last games of the season. He’d be leading his team again, and if they made it to the World Series, he’d be the starting pitcher for those games.
Colton studied the strained smile on Leon’s face, the glint of rage in his eyes, the tense muscles. He was putting on a show. He was faking it—not surprising—but this recent setback had clearly been too much for Leon.
“It must be difficult.” Colton sipped his beer.
Leon gave a questioning look.
“Trying so hard to ruin me and knowing, despite it all, they’d rather have a catcher as starting pitcher than have you.”
Leon’s face flushed, and Colton laughed. Before he could take another sip of his beer, Leon smacked the cup out of his hand, nostrils flaring.
Getting the truth out of Leon would never happen, but he could provoke him the same way Leon intended on provoking Colton. He could hit Leon with comments to cut down his ego. Hell, maybe he could even incite a fight. Colton weighed his opportunity here, how much damage he could do versus the odds of having it broke up and the chances of getting in trouble if he bashed Leon’s face in the way he deeply desired.
“Sorry about that.” Leon plastered on a fake smile and went to make Colton a new drink. “Peace offering?”
“Fuck off,” Colton said quite matter-of-factly before pushing the drink away with the back of his hand.
It was then that he was able to relax just a bit, enough to let the tension in his shoulders ease ever so slightly and enjoy the blare of music that drowned out the bulk of drunken conversations. Colton checked his phone for any updates from Isaac, and when he saw none, he went to make his own drink, overfilling his cup with mostly foam. At least the beer was cold.
“Didn’t expect to see you here,” a familiar voice called out.
