Page 35 of The Jock
“Knows…” Colby blinked, and then it hit him. “Oh. Right. Okay, give me ten minutes.”
Colby ended the call and dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. He shoved the sleeves up past his elbows then pulled a hat on backward. After a quick stop in the bathroom to get ready for the day, he took the stairs down and met Taylor in the parking lot. Taylor had moved over to the passenger seat of Colby’s car and, even from a distance, it was easy to see why he needed some moral support.
Colby climbed behind the wheel and took a look at his little brother. He’d done his makeup, but he’d also found a tight, fuchsia t-shirt and paired it with black skinny jeans. Taylor had pierced his ears years before, but today he’d replaced his standard studs with dangly earrings.
Taylor offered him a wobbly smile. “I figured I’d rip the band aid off, you know. Take the plunge. Take the leap. Jump in with both feet.”
“I get the point, kiddo. You look good.”
Taylor’s eyes sparkled at Colby’s approval. “Thanks. I’m nervous as fuck. I know I’ll spend most of the day in the kitchen, but Jonah and Spencer are dropping by and Dad is going to be there, and I want them to know.” Taylor took a deep breath.
“It’s okay. I get it.” Colby started the car and buckled his seatbelt. “So whose idea was it for you to ditch me with Milo last night?”
“It was Milo’s. Okay, and maybe a little bit of mine too.”
Colby eased out of the parking space. “Well, I guess a thank you is in order.”
The silence between them was heavy and thick and then Taylor burst it.
“Shut up. You did not.”
“I will not, and I did so.”
“Shut up.”
Colby laughed. “You said that already.”
“Well, that’s surprising. Only it’s not. I didn’t want to assume, but I had a feeling. Does that make sense?”
Colby shrugged while Taylor vibrated with excitement and probably half a dozen intrusive questions. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so quick to out himself, but he didn’t care to keep it a secret. He knew he had the support of his family and that was the most important thing.
“Are you okay?” Taylor asked so sincerely that Colby almost snorted.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Taylor lifted his hand to his mouth and chewed on edge of his thumb. It was one of the ways Colby knew his nerves were getting the better of him. “The first time I was with a guy, I might have had a massive meltdown after.”
Colby glanced at Taylor, who pointed at the road.
“Watch where you’re going. I’m fine. It was a long time ago.”
“I wish I would’ve known.”
Taylor laughed. “I didn’t tell anyone for a reason, Colby. It was—I don’t know. It was okay as far as first times went. Anyway, my point is that it’s okay if you have weird feelings about it, even if it was something you wanted.”
“When did you get so smart and worldly? I’m not used to being on this end of the conversation.” Colby shifted in his seat, suddenly uncomfortable. It was strange to be on the receiving end of moral support. He wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself so he changed the subject.
“So, where did you go last night? Was there really a friend with an emergency?”
“Pffft. No. I went home. Well, after I made a stop for plant food. And plants,” he said, turning the radio on to fill the car with music.
“More plants? Don’t you have enough?”
“Puh-lease.”
He couldn’t see Taylor’s eye roll, but he knew he’d done it by the tone of his voice.
“Is there such a thing as too many plants? Never.”
