Page 40 of Joey

“Can I kiss you?” Toby asks, snapping me out of my thoughts about Max DiMarco.

I smile at him. He is too damn sweet. “Sure,” I say with a shrug.

He closes his eyes and leans in, placing his soft lips over mine. It’s not a bad kiss. He knows what he’s doing, but I don’t feel anything. I close my eyes too, hoping it will help me get into it more. Toby takes that as his cue to push me back against the sofa cushions, and I settle into a comfortable position as we make out.

I hear the soft ticking of a clock somewhere nearby and then a dog barking. Does Toby have a dog? Did he put it outside because I’m here? I like dogs. He didn’t need to do that. Are his parents still home? They’ll let the dog inside, right? Or should I ask him about it? Opening my eyes, I see Toby’s are still closed. Shouldn’t I enjoy this? Is there something wrong with me?

I mumble for him to stop, but the sound is swallowed by Toby’s mouth. I guess he takes it as a sign I want to take things a little further because his hand slides beneath my top. I flinch like I’ve been burned by a hot poker and, without thinking, I shove him away. “Stop!” I pant, my head spinning. I don’t want this.

“Joey?” He frowns at me. “Are you… Did I… I’m sorry… I thought…” he babbles, looking as confused as I feel.

“I’m sorry, Toby. I just—I can’t right now.” I shake my head, feeling like a complete idiot. “Is-is that okay?”

“Y-yeah.” He nods, relief written across his face. I bet his whole life just flashed before him, as well as scenes of torture at the hands of my brothers.

“It wasn’t anything you did,” I assure him. “I’m just…feeling a little queasy, I think,” I lie. “I should probably go home.”

“You want me to drive you?” he asks.

“No. I’ll call Ash and Henry. They won’t be far away.”

* * *

We standby his front door while I wait for my ride. I shuffle my feet uncomfortably. “I’m sorry, Toby.” After I called Ash, I burst into tears for some reason. I’m such a freaking idiot. Poor Toby must wonder what the hell he’s gotten himself into. No doubt he’s relieved that he’s about to get me out of his house.

“You don’t have to apologize,” he says with a reassuring smile right as the doorbell rings. “I still had a nice time. Maybe we can do it again?”

God, he’s such a good guy. Why can’t I be into him? “Um, yeah. Sure.”

The doorbell rings again, saving me from having to tell any more lies.

“We’re coming,” I shout. Ash isn’t usually this impatient.

“I’ll call you, yeah?” Toby leans in for an awkward hug.

I mumble a quick yes against his shoulder before I untangle myself and open the front door. “Why are you being so impa—”

“Why the fuck have you been crying?” That voice sends a shiver down my spine, and Toby takes a step back.

I blink. “M-Max? What are you doing here?”

He glares at Toby, his entire body bristling with rage. Oh, shit. This looks really bad. “What the fuck have you done to her?” Max says with a vicious snarl.

He makes a grab for Toby, but I take hold of his wrist. “Max, stop! He hasn’t done anything.”

Max’s gaze flickers back to me and he narrows his eyes as he searches my face. “So why the fuck were you crying?”

“Can we just go? Please?”

“I didn’t do anything, Maximo. I swear,” Toby insists, the tremor in his voice all too obvious.

Max continues to stare at me. “He didn’t,” I whisper. “Can we go?”

“If I find out you did anything to her…” Max warns, not needing to finish the sentence because the threat is implicit.

“Bye, Tobe.” I turn and give him an apologetic smile. Max wraps a protective arm around my shoulders, and I’m tempted to shrug him off, but I want to get off this doorstep as quickly as possible.

We walk down the drive of the gated mansion in silence. As soon as we reach Max’s motorcycle, I step away from him.