“Is it true the average cheerleader spends about twenty hours a week here in this gym?” she asked.
“Yes, I believe that’s probably true. Well, let me rephrase that. Not every one of the cheerleaders commit full time and it’s certainly not required, but we hold two or three open gym sessions a week to work on their skill levels. We also have tumbling, jump, and technique classes. Many of them take advantage of those.”
“What do you say to those who feel that’s a bit excessive on a child’s schedule?”
“I would say this probably isn’t the place for them then,” Jace said with a wink. The reporter laughed, leaning in a little closer.
“I’ve been told you’re here all day, every day. Do you ever get a break?” she asked, anchoring her elbow on the arm of the director chair she sat in.
“Of course, when I feel like I need one, I get away,” Jace replied, confused as to how the interview had taken such a personal turn. He didn’t want to talk about his personal life to her or anyone else for that matter. None of these questions were sent over as possible choices in the pre-interview lineup. He wondered if the woman sitting across from him realized he was a completely, one hundred percent gay man. Her body language sure didn’t seem like she got the memo.
“When was your last vacation?” she asked, her smile still on her lips.
“Hmmm.” Jace could only grin, thinking over the question. She had totally called his bluff. In ten years, he’d never vacationed one time. “Okay, I don’t vacation much. Probably my last year in college, I took a long trip to the beach. It was a good time. Some of us from college went. Those were good days. I do have something planned after Nationals this month. I’ve got a vacation planned in Hawaii.”
“You’ve bought a home there, I understand?” she asked. He lifted his brow, realizing she had done her homework. No one should have known of the house he’d just bought on Kauai.
“Yes. It’s been ten years since I’ve seen it. I’ll be going there for the first time in the next couple of weeks.”
“You bought it and haven’t seen it in ten years?” she asked, lifting a perfectly arched eyebrow, sounding a little disbelieving.
“Yes, it’s actually where I vacationed my senior year in college. And I happened across it on a real estate site. It was a very good trip.” The reporter laughed at his response, and thankfully finished the interview, turning back to the professional. She asked all the questions he was prepped for, and his nerves settled the more they got through the Q&A session. He was much more comfortable talking about the world of cheerleading than anything to do with his personal life. They ended the interview with a formal walk-through of the facility.
Jace’s cheer gym measured the largest in the world and housed state of the art equipment throughout. They toured the long halls to the locker rooms, gym entrance, and trampoline areas. They walked the length of the banner and trophy case wall. His public relations firm had enlarged several pictures highlighting the gym’s last ten years and placed them all over the facility. Jace and the reporter walked slowly past each one, with the cameraman filming the entire time. She continued asking him questions along the way. Finally, they came to the end of the tour where one of his college pictures hung. It had been taken at the Rose Bowl game. The picture showed him and his stunt partner in a tight, perfectly executed full up cupie. In this particular picture, Colt stood in the background staring in the general direction of the camera.
“I forgot Colton Michaels went to school at Texas Longhorn University. You cheered the years he played there?” Sandra stopped walking and stood in front of the picture. Jace could almost see her mind working, hoping to get some scoop on the world famous athlete from back in the day.
“Yes, we graduated the same year,” Jace said, trying to move away from the picture, but Sandra wouldn’t budge. She stayed rooted right in front of the picture, moving to the side so the camera could get a good shot.
“Wow, did you know him?”
“No, not really, just in passing. We were at the Rose Bowl for this shot. We all traveled together quite a bit, the cheerleaders and football players that is. But no, I wouldn’t say I knew him. He wouldn’t remember me, now, anyway. I’m sure of it. He went on to a huge career in the NFL.” Jace stared at the picture a second longer, looking at the youthful, devilishly gorgeous Colt, wishing he’d caught this picture before it was hung so he could have prevented it.
“He’s getting married next week. His fiancée is Maryia Cherchesov, the Russian supermodel. I wondered if you could tell me what he was like back in college? Theirs is the wedding of the century. It would be great to have something on him that no one knows.”
Jace stayed quiet, turning back to the picture. His heart filled with a small ache as he remembered their short time together. Even after all this time, he still hadn’t gotten over those few days they’d shared. What could he say? This year’s MVP, Super Bowl winning quarterback loved to bottom? Even thinking such a thing had betrayal knotting in his stomach, pain nudging at his heart.
Jace had never breathed a word to anyone of their special time together, nor would he ever. But looking at this picture now, he knew the truth as to why he planned to leave for vacation. The wedding coverage of the man he still stupidly and deeply loved would be too hard to watch. The complete truth about super athlete Colton Michaels? He was the man who in five short days set the bar too high for anyone else to ever live up too. God, I’m too old to be this pathetic!
“Like I said, I didn’t really know him at all. I can’t speak about him, except to say he was loved on campus and seemed to be a good guy. The school spirit was high the day of his first-round draft pick. Those were great days. I wish him the best, always have.”
Chapter 15
“Goddammit, Colt, stop throwing my coke away! That shit costs money. The money you keep throwing fucking fits over. Get a clue, ass. I’m spending it over and over again because you keep flushing my shit away!” Maryia screamed at Colt. He ignored her anger as he stood in the kitchen, making a turkey sandwich. He needed to amend that thought. He stood in his brand new, way overpriced kitchen in a downtown New York City penthouse.
“I’ll throw it away every fucking time I find it. The tequila’s gone, too. You look like shit, you need to eat something,” Colt said, taking a big bite in front of her. He made a delicious moaning sound and rolled his eyes to the heavens. Colt loved to tease her about food, because the woman refused to eat.
“I hate you! Do you understand that? I hate you!” Maryia screamed, whirling from the counter, banging open the swinging kitchen doors as she barreled from the room.
“Feelings mutual, bitch. You know the way to get rid of me!” Colt hollered back at her and took another bite, counting off in his head. On the count of three, tropical storm Maryia barreled back through the kitchen, leaning over the granite countertop, trying to get in his face.
“I’m not ever leaving you, gay boy! You’ll never be rid of me!” She screeched the words and he took another bite, although he’d completely lost his appetite. The perfectly made sandwich tasted like sawdust, and he knew he had to get out of the house fast. She was in such a rage, Jace’s name would be flying from her lips soon and someday he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from shutting her hateful, nasty mouth. It was remarkable he hadn’t already.
“I’m going to a meeting, don’t wait up.” He grabbed his plate and walked from the kitchen, trying so hard to at least appear unaffected. If she ever knew she got to him, she’d pour salt in that wound every chance she got. “The wedding planner called, she needs to talk to you. She’s been trying to reach you for days.”
“You’re such a fucking pussy for going to those meetings every day. You’re a drunk, Colt. You’re never gonna make it. You’re just doing it now to piss me off!” Maryia stayed right on his heels, yelling at him as he wound his way to the entry.
“What, meth head? I’m sorry, I think you’re confusing yourself. Jonesing for another bump a
lready? Makes you crazy to watch me eat food?” She hated anything to do with the wedding plans and food. Out of spite, he took another bite and she slapped the sandwich out of his hand. The pieces sent flying every which way. She reared back and slapped his face. He just barely moved away before the pointy toe of her hot pink Christian Louboutin pump made contact with his shin.
“I hate you!” Her nails were drawn, and she was ready to fight. Colt went quickly for the door. Scratch marks took forever to heal.
“Feeling’s mutual, sweetheart! Maybe our children will get your sunny disposition.” Colt went through the front door, barely making it out before she slammed the door and turned the lock from behind. She was ridiculous. He didn’t let the anxiety show until he stood alone inside the elevator. He fought against his need to drink. One thing he realized for certain… he was a complete alcoholic. His need to drink centered into his need to escape his fucked up, out of control life.
As the floors ticked downward, Colt thought back over the famous quarterbacks of his childhood. Did those guys really have this kind of life, hidden behind all the smoke screens of fame? How could anyone want this kind of life?
Unlocking the front doors of the gym, Jace glanced at the intricate window etching of his gym’s paw print logo and made his way to the security system, quickly disarming the device. Every morning since moving into this facility, he would smile with pride at those front doors. He loved the large tiger paw etched into the glass. It cost a bundle to create, but had been worth every dime. That large paw always put him in a better mood and set his day right just looking at the etched glass. Something about those hand-made doors made him feel more successful than anything else around him.
Now, with his attitude ranking somewhere between bad and just shit, Jace only focused on it being four thirty in the morning and still completely dark outside. He had left late the night before, probably close to midnight, but he really didn’t know for sure. Flipping the switch under the security system, the overhead lights came to life, forcing him to squint under their bright glare. Jace gave a jaw-cracking yawn while turning back to lock the front doors. He started every morning the same way, with a good hour-long workout before showering and beginning his work day.
February, even in Texas, meant cold weather outside. Winding his way to the locker room, he stepped inside and pulled off his sweats. Jace changed quickly into a pair of athletic shorts and a T-shirt. With his running shoes in hand, he went into the workout room. This room was available to any member of the team over the age of sixteen, and looked like any other gym’s workout room. Floor to ceiling mirrors ran all along the back wall. Drop down flat screens from the ceiling were positioned in the four corners of the room. Several treadmills, bicycles, and ellipticals were lined across one wall. The other side held assorted weight benches and free-weight stands filled with every kind of weight available on the market. Jace started one of the treadmills, letting it warm while popping his iPod’s earbuds in place.
Sitting on a random weight bench, he slid on his running shoes. He ran a finger over the iPod’s screen, going through several playlists. This morning seemed to be more of a Linkin Park or Rage Against the Machine kind of day. He picked New Divide to start with, turning the volume up loudly. As the song rang through the earbuds, Jace jumped on the treadmill, began with a warm up, which quickly led to a five mile full out run.
Sweat poured from him with each mile he ran. The hard-edged music blared through his headphones. The long days of hard work and little sleep were beginning to take their toll. Jace stayed exhausted, but no matter what he did this time, no matter how he manipulated himself, nothing took his mind off Colt.
The interview happened five days earlier, and every minute since he’d looked at that stupid picture of his college days, Colt had haunted his thoughts. What the hell was wrong with him? It had been so long ago but the hurt and loss still messed with him. What happened to the strategically placed resolve he’d thought he had?
Things finally broke in his mind. The memories he buried came flooding back, crashing through the barriers he’d erected in his mind. He remembered the first full day they were in Hawaii together. He was lying on the beach, eyes closed, letting the soothing hot rays of the sun bake his body. He could still recall the sound of the ocean and the smell of coconut suntan lotion mixed with the salt water carried on the tropical breeze. Colton had called out to him from a distance. Jace propped himself up on one elbow, shielding his eyes from the sun’s bright glare, and watched Colt run along the water’s edge toward him.
Colt was stunning in every way. His muscular, well-trained, athletic body flexed and teased Jace’s senses as he ran. His short black hair, piercing blue eyes, and easy-going, charismatic smile reached straight out to Jace’s heart and stole it, right then and there. Every feeling toward Colt that he’d tried to regulate went into frenzied overdrive. That day on the beach in Kauai, Jace willingly gave his heart and soul over to Colt; they were no longer his.
His heart had jumped from his body and landed squarely in Colt’s hands. Colt seemed to know. He dropped down in the sand next to Jace, took his face between his strong palms, and captured his mouth in a devastatingly tender kiss. He couldn’t forget the way Colt made the sweetest love to him right there on the beach.
Today, Jace remained completely disgusted with himself. He thought all these feelings were buried and gone, never to return. Fuck, Colt had taken and stomped all over his heart. He should be completely done. Instead, even after all these years, the deep hurt and deep love still remained. Jace was that schoolboy wishing his crush would have picked him. Nothing had changed. Not in ten long years had his feelings lessened for Colt, and the revelation totally pissed him off. Why couldn’t he let Colt go?
Last night, when Jace couldn’t sleep, he got up and broke several of his long standing rules. Jace allowed himself to give in to curiosity and Googled images of Colt and his beautiful bride-to-be. He sat there for what must have been hours looking at picture after picture of the happy, beautiful couple, until his heart couldn’t take another minute. It finally broke in two, and Jace cried while berating his stupid computer.
“Hey, you! What time did you get here? It’s almost seven in the morning, did you oversleep?” Haley came through the workout room door carrying a venti Starbucks coffee in her hand.
“It’s seven?” Jace pulled his earbuds free so he could hear Haley better. His legs finally gave out. Punching the treadmill’s off button, he slid off the back of the belt, landing in a thump against the wall behind the machine. The last time he looked at the digital read out on the top of the machine, it read mile five. Now he was at mile eleven. Jace lost track of six miles thinking over how hot Colt looked these days. Yeah, wasn’t that just pathetic? Years later and he couldn’t let it go, Colt was getting married and Jace couldn’t move on. Wasn't that pathetic? Running his hand over his face, he finally responded to Haley. “Damn, I lost track of time.”
“And I don’t even understand how you do that working out. Every other person on the planet watches the clock all throughout their workout, begging the minutes to pass faster, but not you. You lose yourself. I think that’s called weird,” Haley said, grabbing a towel from a stack on her way over.
“We have a day. I need to shower. Then, let’s go over the entry forms. We also need to make sure the music for the competition is complete and ready to go. I want extra CDs this time. Do we have any uniform issues? Also what about the coaches meeting? I don’t remember seeing it on the schedule this morning.” Jace leaned against the back wall as he spoke. His legs were shaking, and he tried to catch his breath from the full out run. He ran the towel over his face and through his dripping hair.
“Whoa, slow down there, mister! Jace, I know I’m your employee, but I like to think we’re also friends. I’m worried about you, something isn’t right. I’m here if you need to talk.” Haley stood in front of him, staring at him with deep concern. Jace did appreciate the thought and did consider
them friends, but no way would he let her in on what was currently going on inside his head. After all, what could he really say that wouldn’t make him come off as a complete freak?
“I appreciate it very much, but I’m fine. And we are friends. I’m just looking forward to my vacation, that’s it.” Jace pushed away from the wall, relieved he remained upright on both feet. He pulled his wet T-shirt over his head and his shorts hung low on his waist as he walked toward the men’s locker room.
“I know that’s a lie, but I’m a girl enough to be distracted watching you walk away. And since we’re friends, I’m gonna go ahead and say those wet shorts don’t leave much to the imagination,” Haley called out after him.
“You’re a lesbian, Haley. You don’t like boys.” Jace chuckled, tossing his T-shirt and the towel into the laundry bin by the door.
“I think you just turned me bi,” Haley added, causing them both to laugh.
“I’m going to shower. Meet me in my office in twenty minutes. Let’s get started. I also wanna hear all about your date last night. I hope at least one of us is having some kind of life outside of this place.” With a look over his shoulder and a wink, he pushed open the locker room door, and disappeared inside.
Chapter 16
Tossing his drunk, passed out bride-to-be down on the bed, Colt glared at her for a couple of long minutes, completely disgusted. Nothing could be worth enduring any length of a marriage to her.
“Why the fuck am I doing this again? Oh yeah, you’re the nosy little bitch who found my pictures of Jace. The ones I had buried away in the back of my closet in the farthest shoebox in the row with other boxes stacked on top of them. And then you threatened to expose us in a web of fucking lies. Who does that? I fucking hate you,” Colt said through clenched teeth. His voice had slowly risen with each word, and he lowered himself until their faces were only about an inch or so apart. It didn’t matter, she didn’t wake or move. That was what eight shots of tequila, four cosmos, and a couple of bars of something, probably Xanax, did for you.
Nice Guys Collection With Added Bonus Material Page 12
