Page 55 of The Jock
“It’s for you,” she waved the phone in front of his face. “It’s your brother.”
“I’m with a client.” The lie slipped out as easy as breathing. She scrunched her face then stepped away, whispering into the phone. She returned a minute later with another drink for him.
“Don’t be a bastard, Colby.”
Colby took the drink and twisted the cap off. He didn’t have anything to say to her about her comment, so he said nothing.
“Look, I don’t stick my face in your business and you don’t stick it in mine and we get along great. Don’t make me ruin the good thing we have going by making me give a damn, Colby.” Sophie gave him a soft smile and then bent down and set the phone next to him before walking away.
Colby rolled his eyes, drank half the sports drink she brought, and then got to his feet. His legs were less shaky, but he could tell he was going to ache tomorrow in a way he hadn’t in longer than he could remember. He really did have a client coming, so he had to make it quick, but he slipped into the office and pulled his phone out of the drawer.
Both Nash and Taylor had blown up his phone with texts and missed calls. Colby sent a text to Nash first, telling him that he was going to talk to Taylor, and that he wasn’t mad. He even went so far as to thank him for looking out for his brother.
Calling Taylor was the hard part. Colby put it off long enough that he legitimately wouldn’t have time to talk long before finally returning Taylor’s call.
“It’s about time.” Taylor sounded annoyed and it twisted the knife in Colby’s guts. “You’re such an asshole. You know that, right?”
“I—what?” Colby furrowed his brow. This wasn’t exactly the reception he thought he’d receive.
“Other people are allowed to do nice things for you. Like give you plants and not interrupt your time with your boyfriend. I know you and Milo work opposite shifts so you don’t exactly getto live in each other’s pockets. Why do you make everything so hard?”
“I care. Is that a crime?” Colby sounded harsher than he’d intended, but he couldn’t help it. For years he’d played the role of protector and it sucked that he wasn’t there when his brother had needed someone.
Taylor sighed again. “It’s not a crime, Colby, but I’m allowed to look out for you too, you know. I’m allowed to care about your wellbeing as much as you care about mine? Do you think it’s escaped my attention how much you’ve done for Jonah and me over the years?”
Colby didn’t want to answer that because, in a way, he thought Taylor hadn’t noticed and it made him feel self-absorbed. “What happened last night? At least tell me that much.”
“It wasn’t a big deal. It was mostly anxiety. I bit off more than I could chew.”
“Were you hurt?”
“Only my pride. I was going to meet a guy that I’d been talking to online, but I went to the bar and then everything went wrong. I was… I looked good, okay. I was happy with my outfit, but when I walked in, everyone looked at me.” Taylor’s voice was small and wounded. “I went to the bar and ordered a couple of shots to calm my nerves. And it helped until my date showed up. We’d exchanged pictures so I knew it was him when he walked in.”
“If he hurt you, I’ll kill him myself.”
Taylor scoffed. “He didn’t get within fifteen feet of me. He took one look at me and walked out. I hid in the bathroom after that. I called Nash to come get me. I couldn’t stomach the idea of getting in a cab looking the way I did.”
“Oh, Taylor. Fuck. I wish I’d been there.”
“I don’t. I mean… I know you want to, and honestly that means a lot to me. You know I love you. But Nash helped.”
“I could’ve helped.” However stupid it was, Colby pouted regardless.
“I know you could’ve, but sometimes a person needs to hear things from the perspective of someone who isn’t related to them.” Taylor paused and when he spoke again his voice was firmer and more confident, leaving no room for argument. “You’re not allowed to be mad about this, Colby.”
“No?” Colby shot back, angry at first, but it deflated all at once. He didn’t have the energy to be mad at Taylor, or anyone. He barely had the energy to heave himself out of the chair he sat in. “Okay. You win. I’m not mad and I’m glad Nash was there for you. But you can call me if you need me. Even if I’m with Milo.”
“I know I can. But thanks. I have to go before I get fired.” Taylor laughed, knowing full well he had excellent job security.
“Yeah, me too. I do have a client to get to now.” Colby regretted pushing himself as hard as he had, but he’d get through it. It wasn’t anything a long bath and a good night’s sleep wouldn’t help. “I’m coming for breakfast tomorrow. No arguments.”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever,” Taylor said with obvious affection and Colby smiled, practically able to hear the way his brother rolled his eyes.
By the time Colby was off work, he was so tired he dragged himself home and soaked in the bath. He ordered dinner that night, not wanting to cook for just himself and fell asleep on the couch at an obscenely early hour. The downside of that being he woke up at midnight and couldn’t get back to sleep.
At one in the morning, he made the decision to stop wallowing and he got in his car and drove to Milo’s place. He didn’t have a key and he didn’t want to look like some weird stalker, so he sent Milo a text warning him of his arrival.
By the time Milo pulled up and ushered Colby inside, his fatigue had returned with a vengeance.
