Page 13 of The Jock
“That’s what next time is for, right?”
“Right.” Colby’s enthusiasm for the idea made Milo warm and fuzzy inside.
The act came to a close after three songs and Colby stood and cheered along with everyone else. Okay, so maybe he was louder than some of the other patrons.
The next act was one of Milo’s favorites. Gal Galore did an all-90s set. Some nights she did one-hit wonders. Other times she did a Britney-Christina-Shakira mashup that brought the house down.
Milo’s drink was nearly empty, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to keep going at the pace he currently was. At the moment, he was pleasantly buzzed and he didn’t want to take it beyond that.
He leaned over to tell Colby that he was going to grab a couple waters. He called his name a couple times, but Colby was so enthralled with the show that he didn’t hear, so Milo leaned closer and put his hand on Colby’s arm to get his attention. Colby turned and looked at him. For a second, he looked happy and like he was having fun and the next, he furrowed his brow. The reason for his expression made itself known when Neville appeared.
“Milo, can we talk?” Neville looked about the same as ever, as if the breakup hadn’t affected him whatsoever in a negative way.
“We can’t,” Milo said simply. “You can leave now.” Milo dismissed him with a flick of his wrist.
Neville looked down at Colby, and Milo was aware his hand was still on Colby’s arm. He couldn’t make himself snatch it back. Let Neville think whatever he wanted.
“Hey, buddy, how about you find a new table?” Neville said to Colby. He wasn’t used to people not listening to him, but Colby didn’t so much as flinch.
“I’m not your buddy, and I’m pretty sure that Milo said he can’t talk right now.”
Milo hated that he liked Colby sticking up for him, but he couldn’t let someone else fight his battles. “Nev, you need to leave, okay. We’re done. I don’t want to talk to you. You’re going to cause a scene and ruin the show.”
Neville reached for Milo’s shoulder, but he pulled back, dodging the touch. His skin crawled at the mere idea of Neville touching him again.
“Don’t,” Milo snarled. “I said I don’t want to talk.”
“Be reasonable, Milo.” Neville reached for him again, but his hand was intercepted by Colby’s. He pushed it away and got to his feet.
“He doesn’t want to talk to you.” Colby’s voice was low, but angry.
“Colby, don’t.” Milo also got to his feet and stepped in between the two men, and maybe it wasn’t fair to be mad at Colby, just because he was sticking up for Milo, but he could fight his own battles. “Neville, if you don’t leave, I’m having Gino toss you out.”
Neville scowled at Colby then slid his attention over to Milo. His expression morphed into disgust as he dragged his gaze slowly down Milo’s body.
“You’re without me for two minutes and you turn back into a f?—”
“Don’t finish that sentence,buddy,” Colby warned.
Milo’s hackles rose and he steeled himself for things to get ugly, but with a final scowl, Neville turned and left. Milo waited until he was gone, then dropped back into his seat. The little scene hadn’t taken long, but it was enough that it made Colby miss Gal Galore’s big finish.
“I’m sorry about that.” Milo exhaled a shaky breath.
“Don’t apologize for other people. You didn’t make him come in here and be an asshole.”
Milo wished he had another drink to power back. He flicked his gaze to Colby. “Thanks for sticking up for me, but I had it handled.”
Milo wasn’t mad, more embarrassed than anything. Tonight was supposed to be his fresh start and so was Colby, but now he’d seen the ugly shit he’d left behind. He’d met the piece of crap that Milo had let wear away his confidence and self-worth.
“I… Sorry.”
Colby’s apology turned Milo’s head. It was unexpected, to be honest. Most people Milo had met wouldn’t be sorry for their actions in that situation.
Colby looked nervous as he took his hat off and shoved his fingers through his hair. “My brothers get mad at me all the time for overstepping boundaries. I’m better about it now, but when we were kids, Jonah, as the oldest, kept us organized and on track. Taylor was the baby. His job was to just be happy. To be a kid, you know. And I sort of signed myself up as the protector. Jonah might’ve been older, but he wasn’t as popular and sometimes he had it rough. I can get carried away sometimes, so I apologize if I stepped over the line. I know you’re fully capable of handling your shit.”
Milo took a deep breath and let out a sigh. “Well, there goes my whole speech about boundaries and being able to take care of myself. Now what?”
Colby slid his hat back onto his head backward. “Now you can explain this to me because I am fucking lost.” Colby motioned to the stage.
