Page 88 of Topping the Jock
“Let’s order in Thai,” Neil suggested.
I was about to explain that I couldn’t eat Thai food, but Monty beat me to it.
“You guys can have Thai if you want, but Quinn and I’ll order something else,” he said. “He has a nut allergy.”
“Oh damn. Sorry, I didn’t know.” Neil thought a moment. “Is pizza okay with everyone?”
“Hell yeah,” Monty responded before nuzzling the side of my head and stepping away.
I grabbed his arm and brought him back to me, whispering in his ear, “Thank you.”
He rested his hands on my hips and peered down at me with warm brown eyes. “I love you so much that I gave up Asian food for you.”
“You don’t have to give it up,” I said. “I’d never ask you to do that.”
“I want to.” He caressed my cheek. “I’d never forgive myself if I ate a peanut or something then made you have a reaction when we kissed.”
“I’ve heard it’s possible for that to happen, but it’s rare,” I explained, finding him too endearing. “With a few precautions, like brushing your teeth before you kiss me and waiting a few hours after you eat, you can still eat whatever you want.”
“Nope. Not chancing it,” Monty said, holding me closer.
I was sure he’d change his mind the next time he had a pad thai or sushi craving.
“Hey, Zane,” Reed said. “How does it feel to be the only straight guy in the house?”
Zane ran a hand over his short black hair and smirked. “Who said I’m straight?”
“What the fuck ever,” Monty said, untangling from my arms and going over to punch his friend on the shoulder. “If you liked dick, you would’ve told me.”
Zane laughed. “I had you going for a second, though. Admit it.” His phone buzzed, and he checked it before glancing at us. “Sorry, it’s Courtney.” He stepped into the living room and answered it, “Hey, Court…”
“Think they’ll be able to work things out?” I asked.
Monty shrugged. “Don’t know. He screwed up big-time. Not sure Courtney can forgive him. Or trust him again.”
When Zane came back into the kitchen, he looked a lot happier. He was practically vibrating with excitement.
“Court misses me,” Zane said later on, once we were stuffing our faces with pizza and beer. “She said the distance has made her see things differently, and she doesn’t wanna lose me.”
“No shit?” Monty asked, wiping his mouth with the napkin I handed him.
Zane nodded. “I don’t deserve a second chance, but I’m gonna make the most of it. For her and for Anton.”
“That’s great, Z,” Tyler said. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks,” Zane responded, then pointed to me and Monty. “Don’t ever let anything get between you two. Nothing is worth losing the love of your life. I didn’t realize how much I really love Court until I nearly lost her.”
“Don’t worry about us,” Monty said, placing a hand on my arm. “Quinn’s stuck with me. There’s no escape.”
“God help me,” I said.
Laughs echoed around the table, and we continued eating.
Once all of them had left, Tyler and Neil back to the home they shared on the edge of town, Reed to his house near the harbor, and Zane to a hotel, Monty and I cuddled on the couch and watched TV. He was wearing my Julius Caesar shirt. It fit him a bit snug in the arms, but he loved it. And I loved him wearing it.
“You wanna go for a walk?” he asked.
I checked the time. “It’s almost ten. And it’s freezing outside.”
