Page 45 of Big Britches

“My secret plan revealed.”

“You don’t need one. I don’t need alcohol to be attracted to you, Titus. You’re a sweet soul, and I think you’re incredibly sexy.”

“Don’t stop.” Titus raised his cup in a mock toast. “Keep going.”

“Nope. That’s all for now. No, wait. I want to ask you something.”

“Sure. Anything.”

“Why do people call you Big Britches?”

Titus rolled his eyes. “Two reasons. One, because I’m six-four, two-hundred and forty-seven pounds.”

“But you’re not gordo. I like your big body.”

“I like your body too. You’re just the right size—strong, but soft. Sexy.”

Titus leered at Pedro again, his friskiness resurfacing.

“Behave. I want to know the other reason.”

Titus sighed. “What you said earlier… about privilege. When I first played football, folks assumed that because of my size, I would play defense. When I became a tight end—an offense position—people assumed they gave it to me because of my dad and our family’s history with the town.”

“Your social status?”

“Yeah. They called me Big Britches because people didn’t think I could live up to my position in the game. They felt my aspirations were too high—that I was too big for my britches—and that I got it only because I was Truman Shepherd’s son.”

“And you proved them wrong.”

“Damn straight. I’ve never been that way, P… riding on my family’s clout. It’s just not me. But folks love to judge, and those kinds of rumors linger like the heat. Anyway, the name stuck. I try to tell myself it is because of my size. That way, I can embrace it, too. Kind of badge of honor.”

“I like that story. It suits you.”

“Can I ask you something too?”

“Of course.”

“Did you see me in the window today?”

“Um—no. Why?”

“Never mind.”

Pedro grinned coyly. “Were you stalking me, Titus?”

“Nah. I would never.”

“Really? Because it kind of turns me on.”

“You’re sure you didn’t see me?”

They played exaggerated poker-face briefly. Pedro relented, eyebrows lifting. “I may have seen the curtain move.”

“I knew it. Nobody rubs a water bottle all over their body like that.”

“I was hot.”

“I’ll say.”