Page 10 of The Jock
Colby had to find a way to convince Taylor to go see the drag show with him on the weekend and his head had been so wrapped up in making sure Taylor was okay, and that he and Taylor were okay, that he had forgotten all about making an ass of himself in front of Milo.
He hadn’t meant to blurt out anything about Milo’s makeup. But Taylor had been on his mind so heavily recently, that seemed like a sign. He’d struggled for days to think of a way to bridge the gap he’d created between him and his brother, and Milo’s presence gave Colby all kinds of ideas.
He couldn’t tell Nash about what had been troubling him because he promised Taylor that he wouldn’t tell anyone, but maybe he could reach out to Milo and ask him for advice.Because Milo didn’t know Colby or Taylor, so maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if he asked him about it.
His original intent had been to ask Taylor to go with him, but now Colby thought he might go alone. That he might reach out to Milo and ask how he could help his brother. If there was some magical way to approach Taylor about what he’d seen. Because it was clear that Taylor was still struggling with it and with Colby. Though Colby pleaded and apologized, it seemed to him that words were only going to get him so far.
Nash flicked a creamer at him and Colby scowled.
“Where were you? Mars? Everything okay?” Nash was an easygoing guy and people often overlooked his intelligence because he came across as a goofball, but he was perceptive. It was rare that Colby was able to get anything past him.
“I’m fine. I got stuck in my head there for a minute.”
“If you need a friendly ear…”
Colby shook his head. “Nah. It’s fine. Promise.”
Nash shrugged. “Suit yourself. But you know where to find me if you change your mind.”
Saturday night rolled around and Colby hadn’t seen Milo back at the gym again. He found himself eerily nervous to step foot into the bar where he knew Milo and his friends would be, but he also hadn’t changed his mind about confiding in Nash. He threw himself into work, went home at night, and talked to his trees, finding that he didn’t hate them as much as he originally had when Taylor first abandoned them to his care.
Colby had never been to this particular bar before and maybe he should’ve realized it was a gay bar, but sometimes he could be a bit dense. But looking around at the sea of men, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to put two and two together.
“Not going to back out now, are you, sugar?”
Colby turned his head when he recognized the voice, but he wasn’t prepared for what he saw.
Milo looked…different.
Stunning.
Alluring.
He was dressed in a rhinestone-covered bikini top and a pair of low-slung pants. Colby guessed that some serious manscaping had to happen because there were no pubes where there definitely should’ve been some. Milo’s lips were glossy and tinted red, and he was wearing a set of nails longer than Colby had seen most of his girlfriends brave. Memories of long nails scratching his skin rushed forward and he almost choked on air.
“If you’re going to stare, you could at least dish out a compliment. Otherwise you might give a girl a complex.”
Colby cleared his throat and willed his tongue to function. “You look great. I just… Wow. This place sure is great.”
Milo offered him a gentler smile than the beaming one he’d flashed him a moment ago. “First time.”
“Here, yes. In general, no. My brothers are gay, so I’ve been to gay bars before. None were like this, though.”
“This place is always extra on drag night.” Milo slid his hand into the crook of Colby’s arm and led him toward the bar, weaving through the crowd. “Where is the brother? You said you were going to bring him.”
Colby took a deep breath. “I didn’t ask him yet. I wanted to come check it out myself first and… Could I talk to you about something? I know we’re basically strangers, but I don’t know who else to talk to.”
“Absolutely.”
Milo’s answer almost stunned Colby. He hadn’t expected Milo to help him. But the next thing he knew, Milo had ordered them both a colorful drink with an umbrella in the top and a twisted orange slice adorning the rim of the glass.
“Let’s sit over here.” Milo tugged Colby over to a table close to the stage. The show hadn’t started yet, so most of the patronswere still drinking and dancing. The stage was against the back wall, tucked into a corner. On the opposite corner, there was a DJ booth and the dance floor stretched out between the two.
Colby took a sip of his drink and was surprised by how light and refreshing it tasted. Like pineapple and raspberry, but with a kick of something boozy and not altogether familiar. Though that wasn’t a shock to him because most of the time he stuck to beer.“This is good.”
“It’s a woo woo. Vodka with peach schnapps and cranberry juice. Be careful with them because they sneak up on you. One minute you’re fine and the next you’re on a table trying to twerk and sing along to Miley Cyrus. Not that I know from experience or anything.”
“Sure.” Colby smiled. “A friend of a friend, right?”
