Chapter 2
"Damn, you have one fine ass!" Jace did little more than bring his phone to his ear before a
voice boomed out the flattering words. He looked down at caller ID, confused when the name
Hottie appeared. He didn't recognize the name or number on the screen when he answered.
"Colt?" Jace asked, a smile forming instantly on his lips as he said the name. Could this
night seriously get any better? He just had his locker room porn fantasy fulfilled by his all-time
perfect dream guy, and now the object of his desire called him. No, it couldn't get any better than
this.
"I guess I should know who else might be calling. Are you seeing anyone that I should
know about?" Colt growled the last part, his deep, sexy voice lowering. Jace couldn't help
feeling incredibly pleased Colt would even pretend to care. There was a moment of silence
before Jace bit his lip and tried for a cheeky response.
"I'm just seeing every Tom McCorkle, Dick Needham, and Harry Lewis I can." They were
ironically all a part of the defensive line Colt played with for the last four years.
"You better not be!" Colt said, laughing. Score! He got the response he was shooting for
with that little teaser. And did he seriously hear a hint of jealousy in Colt's voice?
"I'm not seeing anyone. What about you? I thought you were going out with Magda
McCarthy?" Jace asked. The janitorial staff came banging through the locker room, pushing their
large carts, jolting Jace, and he remembered where he stood. He grabbed his gear, shoved his
shower kit into the locker, and tossed his duffel bag over his shoulder before heading out so no
one could hear him having this conversation.
"Nah, not for a long time now. We just hang out together sometimes," Colt said. Jace
actually stopped walking and stood a few feet from the gym's doors as that little bombshell
settled. Colt and Magda weren't a couple? That bit of information would shock most of the
school. Colt and Magda were seen everywhere together. Magda was the reigning Miss Texas to
Colt's all-American football hero status. Jace had no idea how to respond. So he didn't and opted
for a change of subject.
"My ass hurts," Jace blurted out, looking for anything to say to hide the confusion about
Magda and Colt still clouding his mind.
"I hope in a good way." Colt growled. Those few short words had Jace's stomach aflutter.
Was he seriously having butterflies over just the tone of Colt's voice?
Better yet, did Colt just really say that to him?
"How did you get my number? Not that I don't want you to have it, because I do. It's just I
was wondering, that's all," Jace managed, all of the sudden completely tongue-tied. The need to
get out from under all this frantic emotion churning inside him apparently had him rambling.
"When you went back in the showers, I programmed my number in your phone. I got your
number. I also looked through your locker. Don't be mad. I wasn't going to. I was just gonna
make sure we cleaned it up well enough, but you're a tidy guy. I know we messed it up, so I put
it back in order for you." Did Colt just ramble? Wait! An even bigger question, in what world did
Colton Michaels notice that Jace Montgomery was an obsessive compulsive freak about his
personal organization?
Jace propelled himself forward and shoved open the heavy gymnasium doors. It was dark
outside, late in the evening, and the campus was in the beginning stages of spring break. Most of
the students had already high-tailed it out of there as soon as their last class ended. Jace walked
alone on a well-lit path to his on-campus apartment. He'd taken this path at least a thousand
times before. Never had he noticed the branches of the large oak trees swaying gently in the
night breeze or the welcoming scent of spring blossoms and fresh cut grass filling the air. He
breathed in deeply, not thinking about why he noticed them now, instead letting these things,
along with Colt's voice, calm his frantic thoughts.
"Did I just say too much?" Colt asked in Jace's silence. His voice dropped an octave lower
again, becoming huskier.
"No… not really." His cock began to stir again, damn he had it bad. He placed the phone on
his shoulder and reached down to adjust himself because evidently his dick had taken notice of
the change in Colt's voice, too. Which was interesting in itself because he'd just had two earth
shattering orgasms less than an hour ago.
"But you're surprised I've been lusting after you this whole time?" Colt asked.
"Yeah, that was pretty shocking. It's kind of unbelievable actually," Jace admitted. He
began slowly taking the steps up to his fourth floor apartment. He shared the small quad with
four other male cheerleaders. They were all still on campus, senior cheerleaders were required to
stay through the weekend for open gym to help any of the new hopefuls in the upcoming
cheerleading tryouts.
The silence between them lingered for so long Jace looked down to see if the phone was still
connected. After another long moment, he said the first thing that came to mind, "That's why
your call came up Hottie, instead of a name. I was so confused." Colt still didn't speak. As Jace
got to the top floor, he finally asked, "You still there?"
"Yeah, I am." Colt had that same sexy low voice thing going on. "I was just thinking. I'm
relieved I finally got up enough balls and made a move. I wasn't lying; I've been watching you
since we were freshmen. I couldn't ever get up the nerve to talk to you. I knew if I didn't do it
tonight, we'd graduate, and I'd lose my chance."
"I don't even know how to respond to that," Jace said. He stopped again at the top of his
stairwell, staring out into the night. His heart thumped wildly in his chest. Those words meant
something. They had to! Jace desperately wanted them to mean something because they were
about the sweetest words ever spoken.
"Hold up, I'm not finished. Let me get it all out. I wasn't sure you were even gay in the
beginning. Then a few years ago, I was on the lawn with some of the guys, and I saw you kissing
that redhead from the LGBT group. I would see you at the games, and he would be there too,
waving and blowing those fucking kisses. That shit drove me crazy. I couldn't concentrate. I was
making so many mistakes, calling the wrong plays, because I couldn't get my head straight about
you. God, my dad was so pissed off at me for fucking things up. I finally had to let you go, force
you out of my head. But I still watched you with him. I couldn't help it. I admit I was jealous. I
hated seeing him in the stands every fucking game. Then I think it was Homecoming when he
stopped coming. But I still never said anything. Today when I saw you head into the locker
room, I had to take my chance," Colt confessed. His voice sounded different somehow. Not the
booming confident one he'd grown to associate with Colt and definitely not the husky, deeply
sexy voice from their locker room escapade earlier.
"That's a lie. No way, you seriously watched me that closely? I… Wow. Okay, yeah. That
redhead's name is Bradley, and I caught him with Roger, my co-captain and roommate. I broke
up with him. I still can't believe you watched me! Wow!" Jace stopped in mid-motion of
reaching to unlock the front door to his apartment. The noise inside his apartment made him take
a step back; he didn't want to drown out their conversation.
"It's not a lie. It's the God's honest truth. I told you I'd been watching you while were we
making love tonight. I don't lie, Jace," Colt stated matter-of-factly. Jace could hear the honesty
in his voice and focused on words like 'making love'. Had they made love?
"I didn't believe you, and you took off so fast afterward," Jace said, leaning back against the
brick wall.
"I took off fast because I'd already risked so much. For both of us, nobody knows about
me…" Colt only slightly paused before he changed the subject. "Now let's go back to talking
about your fine ass hurting, shall we?"
"I definitely wasn't complaining. You pounded me good. You know I'm gonna feel you for
a while," Jace answered back, teasing Colt, trying to keep his voice down. He was alone outside,
but for some reason this felt so forbidden he didn't want anyone to hear him and ruin this
moment.
"Let's talk about you. So what, are you like bi-sexual?" Well that was a little abrupt! Jace
dropped his head back against brick wall. I'm such a moron. "I'm sorry, Colt, that came out
wrong. You don't have to answer that. It's not any of my business."
"Nah, it's a fair question. And I know I confessed a lot just a second ago, but I'm not really
ready to say it yet. I mean, I totally would talk about it with you, if I talked about it at all. I just
don't think I can. Not yet," Colt answered back.
"Okay, no rush, I won't push you. I get that's a big step." So, it wasn't a bi-sexual thing.
Clearly, Colt was hiding and needed to take those steps to come out on his own.
"Thanks, Jace. Listen, I was thinking. It's spring break. My agent has the hook-up on a
place in Hawaii. I'm getting it for like five days starting Wednesday. It's why I'm still here on
campus. You should come down there with me," Colt said, and like many times during this
conversation, Jace stood there frozen in place. Had he just heard that right? He stared out at the
night completely confused. V acation with Colt? In Hawaii? Seriously?
"Are you there?" Colt asked.
"Yeah," Jace responded, unsure how to answer. His heart beat violently in his chest. He
wanted nothing more than to go, but he didn't have that kind of money for a plane ticket. What
did a plane ticket to Hawaii cost anyway? Certainly more than a couple hundred bucks, right?
That was all he had to his name, and his heart sank.
"Does that yeah answer both of my questions, or just one? Did you already have plans?"
Colt asked with uncertainty in his voice.
"I was just going home. No big plans. You know, or maybe you don't, I'm here on
scholarship. I don't really have the money…" Jace started, but Colt cut him off.
"I got two airline tickets, and the place is covered. We'll just need food and lube." Colt
laughed, but Jace remained quiet, wondering why Colt asked him and not one of his friends.
Hell, maybe someone else bailed on him and Jace was an easy second because he was clearly a
very willing body or bottom, depending on the need. But did Jace even really care about being a
second thought? Nah, he didn't. He would be stupid if he passed up his chance to spend a few
days in Hawaii, lounging on the beach, sipping Mai Tais and soaking up the tropical sun with the
'hottie' on the phone.
"I was just joking. I'll cover the cost of food, and we don't have to…" Colt started but Jace
interrupted him.
"No, I get it. It was funny," Jace answered. Was he seriously going to say yes? Really?
"But not funny enough to laugh?" Colt asked, the humor was back in his voice and Jace
realized he was taking too long to answer Colt's question.
"No, it's not that, I just… This just… You shocked me today and now you're doing it
again." There, he said it. No more skirting around the biggest point of this entire conversation.
"Is that a bad thing?" Colt asked.
"No, not for me. Would we go all alone? I mean just the two of us?" Jace asked, hopeful.
"Yes, no one else. Just the two of us. So you'll go with me?" Colt's voice lifted, he sounded
honestly excited. "Come on, Jace, let's get away. I loved tonight; I want more time with you,
alone. I wasn't lying when I said I've watched you since before I ever started this school. It's
been a long time coming for me. Please. Say yes."
"See, you keep shocking me," Jace said. The visual image of Colt's muscular body and dark
good looks playing in the ocean and letting all that water run down his naked flesh… Damn, Jace
was freaking hard again!
"I know, just say yes. Fuck it, fuck everything. Just say yes," Colt begged.
"Yes!" he said, surprised the word flew out of his mouth so quickly.
"Great! Do you text?" Colt asked excitedly. Jace could hear some background noise on
Colt's end. The call was muffled as Colt said something and came back. "Jace, do you text?"
"Somewhat," Jace said. Texting was the new thing on campus, but Jace secretly hoped that
form of communication never caught on, because it was such a pain in the ass, punching all those
numbers just to get the right letter to flash on the screen.
"Good. I'll text you all the info. Dates, flight times, and the address. We might not be
traveling together. I'd already booked my flight when I decided to go alone." Colt's voice trailed
off.
"It's okay," Jace assured him.
"Damn! I gotta go. Some of the guys on the team are here. David and Tim are on my ass, so
I need to go," Colt apologized, his frustration clear from the tone of his voice.
"No problem. I'll talk to you later," Jace said, turning on his heel toward his front door.
"Yeah. And, Jace, thank you," Colt whispered.
"Thank you for what?" Jace stopped at the front door, his hand on the knob.
"Just thank you. Bye." Colt disconnected the phone.
Jace pushed open the door to his apartment. His roommates were clearly getting the party
started, all dressed up and ready for the night. A row of shot glasses were lined up along the
kitchen bar. There were three guys and about twenty shots ready to go. They were downing
them, leaving every fourth one for Jace.
"Hey! Where have you been? We were gonna leave you a note!" Gregory said, after getting
his second shot down. Every person in this apartment was at college on scholarship. The lack of
money had them getting tipsy before they ever left the house. Drinks were too expensive at the
bar.
"Y'all go on without me. I'll catch up later," Jace said, bypassing the group.
"You had sex!" Jonathon called out.
"You did. Lucky boy!" Gregory seconded. Jace ignored them, not even turning back,
because no way could he share and they might wear him down until he told something.
"You're walking funny. You bottomed!" Gregory called out. Jace shut his bedroom door,
and reached back to push the lock in, smiling when he heard them at the door.
"Details! We need details! I'm the bottom! You never bottom!" Jace couldn't tell if
Jonathon or Gregory yelled at his door. They were both crazy and had zero sense of decorum.
They would do or say anything.
"Way off base as usual," Jace yelled back, grabbing his iPod and shoving the earbuds in his
ear, he totally ignored his roommates as he selected a playlist and stretched out on his bed,
thinking about Colt.
There was a game plan to dating. Jace wondered if he'd said yes too quickly? Nobody
wanted the guy who was ripe for the picking. Jace struggled with his feelings. No question, he
was already falling hard for Colt. After one session in a locker room and a brief conversation on
the phone, he was completely lost. What would spending days in a tropical paradise do to him? If
he went through with this, he was most definitely setting himself up for heartbreak.
No way would Colt Michaels come out any time soon. Besides, if Colt did come out, he'd
be the most sought after gay man on campus. He was too good-looking and drop dead sexy.
If Jace had said no to Hawaii, he might not ever get another chance to spend time with him,
and he would most definitely regret that decision for the rest of his life. Fuck the rules of dating.
He had to at least give them a chance, didn't he?
Colt circled the McDonald's parking lot searching for Jace through the front window of the
fast food restaurant. Jace started almost every morning here, having a fruit and yogurt parfait and
orange juice before his first class. This being one of the many things Colt had learned by
watching Jace from afar over the years. Colt now started his day following this same routine
because something about seeing Jace first thing in the morning tended to make his day a little
better.
As he circled back around the side of the building, he got a glimpse of Jace's blond hair
through the large plate glass window. He quickly scanned the rest of the restaurant. The place
was emptier than normal, which was a good thing. Colt circled again and came up the side of the
building where he spotted some of the players at the front ordering. Damn it! He'd have to wait
before going inside, and he prayed Jace didn't finish before the others left.
Colt parked in a back spot, strategically watching the front door. After a few minutes both
players left. That meant Jace was alone inside. Colt tugged his ball cap low on his head, got out
of his car, and jogged across the parking lot to the front doors.
The element of surprise was on his side. Jace sat in the corner of the booth, reading the
newspaper, oblivious to his entrance. He was able to make his way to Jace's table unseen. Colt
slid in the booth, punching the newspaper with his hand, and got an angry look from Jace before
he realized who sat across from him. Colt's heart gave a little jolt of excitement when Jace's face
lit up with recognition.
"Hey you," Colt said.
"What are you doing here?" Jace asked, and then got instantly red-faced, averting his eyes,
looking back down at the table. "Duh, you're getting breakfast."
"Nah, I just know this is where you usually come in the mornings, and I got your ticket. You
might need this," Colt said, sliding an envelope across the table. "I tried to get us on the same
flight, but everything's all booked up. I'll be arriving a few hours before you. I also got a rental
car in your name. All the information's in the packet because we won't be leaving together. Now
I just wish I'd let them book me two tickets when they first offered up the beach house," Colt
said, keeping his casual attitude, but staring directly into Jace's eyes.
Jace picked up the envelope, opened it, doing a quick thumb through of the contents inside.
The cost of the ticket was evidently still in the flight itinerary. "Colt, this was so much money,
are you sure your agent's good with this?"
"I'm positive. I probably won't get to see you before we leave. I'm sorry about that, but
we'll be alone on the island," Colt said, as a couple of students walked into the restaurant. They
noticed Colt immediately, giving a nod before looking over at Jace. Colt caught the subtle look,
but it was still a questioning glare nonetheless. "I gotta go. I just wanted to give you this and tell
you thank you again for last night."
"Wait, how did you know I would be here?"
"I told you, I'm a creeper where you're concerned. I know all about you," Colt said with a
laugh, but meant every word. He quickly slid out of the booth and walked away, not giving Jace
a chance to respond.