Page 19 of The Jock
“I’m going to get your ass another one of those because yes, brat, I do love you. Milo, do you want anything?”
“I’m good, thanks.” Milo watched Colby head up to the bar again and Taylor leaned in close.
“Would you really help me with the makeup and stuff? I’ve watched tutorials online, but I don’t know anyone like me.”
Milo pulled out his phone and handed it to Taylor. “Send me your number. We’ll set something up soon,” he promised.
“You’re the best, Milo.”
Mostly, Milo didn’t feel that way. He didn’t believe he was the best. Or good enough. He certainly hadn’t been good enough for other people, like his dad, who would rather ignore Milo than try to accept him. But Taylor looked at him like he believed it. If that feeling made him slightly warm and fuzzy, it was nothing compared to the inferno that ignited in him when Colby looked at him as he approached with more water for his tipsy brother.
He’d been absolutely certain that Colby was straight, but he’d never asked. He’d just assumed because it would be the best thing for Milo if it were true. But he wondered if he’d gotten it wrong.
CHAPTER 9
COLBY
Taylor didn’t lookany worse for wear the next morning when Colby stopped by the diner before work. Not that he was checking on him or anything. Instead of going in the back, Colby had come in the front and made a beeline for the kitchen. Taylor was buzzing around in the back with a bandana tied around his head over his hairnet.
Taylor had music on and he was dancing—not very well. Colby didn’t think any of them could dance very well, but Taylor was exceptionally bad. He looked like he was in a street fight with an imaginary friend.
“I see you’re in a good mood.”
Taylor yelped and spun around at the sound of Colby’s voice. “Don’t do that! Are you here for breakfast?”
“I ate at home. I have to work soon, but I wanted to stop in and see how you’re doing today.”
Taylor’s smile was a real one and it struck Colby how long it had been since he’d seen his little brother smile that brightly. It was like his entire body lit up with happiness.
“I’m good.” Taylor’s gaze darted around.
“Dad’s out front.”
“Last night was awesome. I never…” Taylor paused, as if he was searching for the right words. “I don’t… I’m not mad at you anymore. I was more embarrassed than mad to begin with. But what you did, I know it might not seem like a big deal, but it is to me. So…thanks.”
The weight Colby had carried on his chest since he’d walked in on Taylor that day crumbled and fell away, leaving Colby feeling lighter. His relief was a tangible thing. It was the sudden breathing space in his chest. The room in his head for thoughts that weren’t doom and gloom. It was the way he couldn’t stop smiling even after he left the diner and went to the gym for his shift.
Now that the issue with Taylor seemed to be resolved, the other things Colby hadn’t had space to think about suddenly reared its head. Rather, his head.
Milo.
Of course, Milo was at the gym when Colby arrived. With earbuds in, he was going a pretty good clip on the treadmill and though Colby wanted to say hello, he didn’t want to mess with his stride.
Besides, Milo being occupied gave him a chance to look him over. Examine him. Find out why he interested Colby so much. At first, he thought it might’ve been the makeup or the clothes. But Colby had spent some time since he’d formulated that thought checking out other men who dressed like Milo, who weren’t afraid to rock some lip gloss. And nothing. He could appreciate that they were attractive, but they didn’t make his skin buzz when he looked at them.
So he’d gone back to the bar with Taylor and he’d paid more attention to the performers, figuring maybe it was the confidence it took to strut around on stage in front of people. But that wasn’t quite it either.
When Colby’s brothers had come out, he’d sat down with himself and tried to parse out if he was straight or gay, or where he might be on the Kinsey Scale. But the only conclusion he’d come to was that he didn’t care much. There were women he found attractive, and he supposed he could say the same thing about men.
Did that make him bisexual? Colby forced himself to stop gawking at Milo and he headed into the office to take care of the scheduling before his first class.
Was he bisexual if Milo was the first guy he’d ever remembered having an actual attraction to? Was he Milo-sexual? Was that even a thing? A knock on the door drew Colby out of his mental merry-go-round.
Nash stood in the doorway with a water bottle in one hand and a towel in the other. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Why?” Colby checked the time and realized that not only had he not gotten the scheduling done, but he was going to be late starting the class if he didn’t get a move on. Getting to his feet, he headed for the door, but Nash didn’t move out of his way.
“Dude, you were totally lost in space. You sure everything is good?”
