Page 14 of The Jock
“Is that… How does she do that?” Colby tilted his head and Milo let out a laugh.
“That’s Ina Mood. She’s also a contortionist.”
“Fuck me. And she does that in a wig? And heels?”
Milo leaned over and pressed his index finger to the underside of Colby’s jaw, then pushed it shut.
Colby looked bashful as he tore his stare away from the show on stage.
“Still want to bring your baby brother here?”
“More than ever. He’s going to die when he sees this.”
“I can’t wait to meet him.”
Colby’s eyes softened at Milo’s comment. “I have to convince him to come with me first.”
“He’ll come.” Milo hoped he was speaking it into truth. “How could he possibly resist?”
CHAPTER 7
COLBY
Colby lay sprawledout on his dad’s couch. Every muscle in his body screamed at him from his workout earlier. He’d probably overdone it, but for as long as he could remember, exercise had been his escape. When things at home got too heavy, he threw himself into the gym and put his body through the paces until he was too tired to think.
If he rolled his head to the side, he’d see the familiar family portrait on the mantle above the fireplace. He didn’t have to see it to know what it looked like, though. Jonah with his cowlick haircut and the gap in his teeth, standing in front of their dad whose hands were on his shoulders. A chubby baby Taylor was in Mom’s arms, squirming and smiling with his toothless grin. And Colby stood in the very front and center of the photo.
Dad had left the diner in the hands of the chef at the time and he’d taken them camping. The idea of camping with a baby wasn’t something that sounded like any fun to Colby, but it ended up becoming one of his best memories. It was fuzzy, but he remembered laughter and water splashing. Fire crackling and roasting marshmallows while Mom rocked Taylor in her arms and Dad played his guitar.
The front door opened and Colby groaned as he pried himself off the couch.
“I thought that was your vehicle in the driveway.”
Colby heard his dad kick his shoes off, a bad habit he never did quite break himself of. But he only did it when he was tired.
“Long day?”
“Tour bus.” His dad dragged himself into the living room and flopped down into the recliner next to the couch. “Are you waiting for Taylor?”
“How’d you guess?”
His dad tapped his temple with his index finger. “It’s a parent’s job to know these things. Just because you’re not small anymore doesn’t mean I don’t know when you’re fighting.”
“We’re not fighting.” After his dad gave him the look, he amended that statement. “I’m not fighting.”
“Well, since you’re not fighting, I’ll tell you that he’s down in his place. He saw your vehicle and went around back.”
Colby groaned again as he got to his feet.
“Careful there, kiddo. You sound as old as I feel.”
“I’m okay. It’s been a long day for me too.” Colby crept into the kitchen and slowly opened the basement door. He was shocked that Taylor left it unlocked after Colby used it to gain access to his apartment last time. He couldn’t still be that mad, Colby thought.
“Taylor?” Colby called out as he made his way down the stairs. “What are you doing tonight?” Colby had thought about preparing Taylor ahead of time. On one hand, he thought easing him into the idea of going to a drag show would be smart. Let him get used to the idea. But then he thought that Taylor might overthink it and back out. So Colby wasn’t going to say a word until they were there.
“Watering my plants,” Taylor yelled from his kitchen. Sure enough, he had laid towels out on the counter and had putwater in several bowls. He’d explained to Colby once before why he watered from the bottom, but he couldn’t remember at the moment.
“Does it have to be done tonight? Like, are they on a schedule or whatever?”
