Page 5 of The Jock
“You’re smart in ways that he didn’t know what to do with. You never met a problem you couldn’t solve or a job you couldn’t do. And you sparkled. He wanted that shiny for himself, but he never knew what to do with it, so he snuffed it out of you.”
Milo could only sigh because he knew Gino was telling the truth. For reasons he’d never know, or admit, he’d let Neville convince him to cut pieces of himself away. He’d wanted to make it work with Neville, and that had been the problem, hadn’t it?Love shouldn’t have to be so much work. He knew it wasn’t easy, but it never had any business being that difficult.
“Promise me, Milo.”
“Mmm, that’s too broad. Promise you what?”
“Promise me that the next boy you fall for is going to treat you right. That he’s going to accept all of you.”
“I promise.”
“Good. I’m going to hold you to that. Saturday, you and I are getting dressed up and we’re going dancing.”
Milo knew he’d never get out of it, so he said, “Yes, Gino.”
With a few more promises that he was okay and that no, he wouldn’t skip out on Saturday, Milo was able to get off the phone. His bath had cooled and his wine was gone, so he pulled the plug and dried off, then without dressing, he slid into bed and let sleep take him.
Tomorrow was a new day and that was soon enough to start looking for the old Milo.
CHAPTER 3
COLBY
Colby leanedagainst the wall in the kitchen at the diner. It was the only place Taylor couldn’t escape from him. Even days after his apology, Taylor hadn’t softened much where Colby was concerned. Colby was supposed to start his shift at the gym soon, but Taylor’s frosty text messages had compelled Colby to come to the diner first to see if there was anything he could do to thaw Taylor’s icy demeanor.
“Tay-Tay, come on. I said I was sorry. Let me make it up to you.”
Taylor burned him with a dirty look. “Stop calling me Tay-Tay. I’m not three. And you can leave me alone, Colby.”
Colby bit back a wave of anger. He’d gotten himself into this mess and he was determined to dig himself out. “Look, I’m sorry, okay. I get that I wasn’t supposed to see that, but if you think I mind, or that I think any differently of you, you’re wrong. And if you think I’m going to tell anyone… Well…I’m not.”
Taylor’s expression was laced with skepticism, but his eyes had gone soft around the edges. “No one?”
“Why would I do a thing like that, Taylor? Whatever I walked in on, clearly it was personal and private.”
Taylor rolled his eyes, but he looked more relaxed. His shoulders dropped and he went back to flipping and scrambling things on the grill. “You were the one who told everyone that I still wet the bed.”
“I was a kid!” Colby protested. “All kids are assholes. It’s the law.”
“And so are older brothers.” Taylor offered Colby a half smile. It was as good as being told he was forgiven.
“I’m still going to make it up to you,” Colby promised as he pushed away from the wall he’d been leaning against. “But not right now.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Gym time. Grunt, grunt, run, breathe, puff, pant, perspire, or whatever.”
“It’s nice that you have so much respect for my profession. Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is and come work out with me one day? You can do the beginner circuit.”
“You’re on, old man.” Taylor made a shooing motion with his free hand. “Now get out of my kitchen. You’re distracting.”
“I’m not old. I’m only four years older than you. And I’m only leaving because I have work soon. But I’m going to make you keep your word, Taylor. One day, you, me, and the beginner circuit. I’ll do the expert one to level the playing field and I’ll still wipe the floor with you.”
Taylor rolled his eyes again. “So tough. Much strong.”
“Love you too, brat.” Colby clapped Taylor on the shoulder and made his way out of the diner and into his car. Smoothing things over with Taylor was a small comfort, but he still wanted to do something nice to show him that he was sorry. And maybe he could encourage Taylor somehow. It was clear that something was going on with him. The abundance of makeup was pretty much a dead giveaway.
He’d never seen Taylor wear any before, but he supposed that was what happened when you grow up in a house of boys.Any one of them would be lucky to know what end of the eyeliner to use, let alone how to make it look good.
Still, it was obvious that Taylor was going through something and Colby’s big brother instincts kicked in. He was the protector of the bunch. Jonah was the oldest, the leader, the one who kept them in line and insisted they follow the rules. Taylor was the baby, Colby’s motivation not to get into too much trouble. Their dad did the best he could, but he couldn’t be everywhere all the time and losing their mom had been hard on him too.
