Page 19 of The Bro Date (Best Bros Forever #2)

I grunt, tugging on his lap belt one more time because I don’t trust the fucking teenagers running this thing.

It’s sketchy as hell. Facing forward, I rest my head back against the seat and close my eyes as we roll out of the covered loading area.

We swing around the corner and immediately start our ascent for the big drop, which is the main feature.

“ Woohoo! Yeah, baby! You can see the ocean up here, look!” Jake shouts, his arm sticking out of the ride and pointing at the horizon.

“Whoa,” Toby murmurs in awe, and I barely hear him over the thunk thunk thunk of the chain on the tracks.

“Okay, everyone! Arms up!” Jake yells as we crest the peak, and all my friends, including Toby, put their arms straight up like they have all the faith in the world that this thing was set up correctly in the middle of a parking lot.

“ Toby! ” I growl, but it’s too late, and we’re racing down the steep drop, my stomach floating up my throat like we’re in zero gravity.

Toby pops off his seat an inch, and in a lightning-fast move, I reach over, grabbing onto his thigh and keeping him pressed down.

The wind whooshes in my ears, helping to drown out everyone’s screams.

How can anyone call this fun?

After a few more sharp turns, we pull back into the loading area, coming to an abrupt stop and nearly causing me whiplash.

“ Oh my God. I almost flew outta my seat!” Toby shouts, laughing hysterically.

“I know. Happens when you ride a shitty carnival coaster and don’t hold on,” I deadpan.

“Oh, boo hoo, Mr. Grumpy Pants,” Tate teases, unbuckling his seatbelt and climbing out of the cart once the useless metal bar lifts. “Let’s go look at the photo. Twenty bucks says Shane isn’t smiling. Any takers?”

The rest of us climb out of the carts in silence, and I’m not even offended. I probably wasn’t smiling.

“Crickets,” Jake says like a smartass, making Daija giggle. He beams with pride, like he just accomplished a lifelong goal to make her laugh. “No one is dumb enough to throw away twenty dollars in this economy, because there ain’t no way that man is smiling.”

“Yeah. Yeah,” I grumble, and everyone laughs.

We round the corner and stop at a small photo kiosk tucked between two palm trees.

There’s an old computer monitor on the counter, cycling through the most recent groups of people.

When it lands on our photo, everyone bursts out laughing, and I just snort, shaking my head at how ridiculous the six of us look.

Toby is wide-eyed and full of excited terror, nearly slipping out of his seat.

I’m stone-cold serious, reaching over to hold him down by a leg.

Tate and Daija are relatively normal looking, with their arms up and big, wide smiles.

Then there’s Spencer and Jake, flipping off the camera with their tongues out like a couple of dogs catching flies on the highway.

“ Oh my God. It’s too fucking funny, I can’t!” Tate cries, tears leaking from his eyes.

“It’s like a bad album cover,” Spencer chuckles.

“No, it’s fucking perfect,” Jake corrects. “I’ll take one,” he says to the kid behind the counter. “This is getting framed and going on our mantel, boys.”

“Make that two, please,” Tate adds. “Daija and I need a copy for our place.”

“Do we really, babe?” Daija raises her eyebrow.

“You know you wanna see this handsome face in your living room every day,” Jake jokes, holding up his copy and flapping it in the air.

Daija snorts and rolls her eyes, but no one misses her little half-smile. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to the ladies’ room.”

“Coming with you, honey,” Tate calls out, following after her.

Jake turns to us once they’re gone. “I’m growing on her. I know it. ”

Spencer and I glance at each other and shake our heads while Toby giggles next to me.

She’s completely out of his league.

“ What? ” Jake says defensively. “What was that look for? You don’t think she likes me?”

Spencer holds his hands up in surrender. “Bro, I’m not getting involved in that one.”

“Me neither,” Toby adds.

Jake looks at me next. “Shane? Got something to say?”

“Nah, bro. Just don’t do anything stupid,” I warn.

“Why the hell are you gonna jinx me like that?!” Jake throws his arms up in the air, letting them flop back down in exasperation.

Jake doesn’t need a jinx to do anything stupid. It’s pretty much his default. A done deal.

“We’re back!” Tate suddenly shouts, appearing out of nowhere. “Who wants frozen lemonade? Daija and I are gonna get some. It’s by the Ferris wheel.”

“I’m still stuffed,” Toby says, “but we’ll follow you over there.” He looks at me with doe eyes brimming with anticipation. “Can we ride the Ferris wheel?”

When I don’t answer right away, he resorts to begging. “Come on, Shane. Please. It’ll be really fun.”

“ Fine ,” I grumble, unable to say no to him.

Toby beams from ear to ear, and all six of us head over to the other side of the fairgrounds. Our friends split off and get in line for frozen lemonade, while Toby and I keep going to the Ferris wheel line. We don’t have to wait long, getting a spot in the next round.

“Whoa,” Toby laughs as he steps into the wobbly bucket, holding his arms out to steady himself. I grab his elbow, making sure he doesn’t fall.

I climb in after him, and the ride attendant closes the metal lap bar and locks it. There are no seat belts, and it feels a little sketchy, especially after the roller coaster incident.

We’re one of the last pairs to get on, so the ride immediately starts rotating. The bucket gently rocks as we go around, and it’s sort of relaxing.

“ Wow. It’s beautiful up here,” Toby says in awe when we get to the very top.

“Thanks for taking me on such amazing dates. I know this isn’t technically a date, just a group thing, but it’s special to me.

Memorable. You’re an incredible guy, and my problem was never realizing what I deserved, but finding it.

No one can compare to you, Shane.” Toby’s face flushes, like he didn’t mean to say all of that, and he looks straight ahead again.

My heart soars, doubling the pace and making me feel like I’m flying up here.

“Say something,” he whispers, squeezing his eyes shut. “ Anything. ”

He looks so fucking cute right now that I smile, pressing my lips to his and completely catching him off guard.

Toby pulls back, sucking in a sharp breath of air. “ Shane? W-what are you doing?”

“I thought it was obvious. Kissing you,” I reply with a crooked grin.

“But everyone can see us.” He sounds shocked and hopeful, too.

Darting forward, I kiss him again. “Don’t care,” I mumble against his lips. “Let ’em.” I tilt my head and deepen it, swallowing his moan and drinking him in.

I’m not much of a kisser. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I kissed someone outside of sex or even during it. But with Toby, I like it. It just feels right.

“ Shane, ” Toby whines my name. “We better stop.”

I pull back, panting and out of breath.

I don’t want to stop.

I want more.

That reality hits me out of nowhere, spiking my arousal.

“I’m ready to go home,” I growl, staring at his kiss-swollen lips. “I’m not done with you yet.”

“ Oh God. ” Toby’s voice trembles with lust and anticipation.

I chuckle, making sure I help him out of the bucket when it’s our turn to hop out.

His knees nearly buckle with the first step on solid ground, and I snort. Shaky legs, and I haven’t even touched him yet.

We walk back to our friends at the picnic table, and they cheer for us like we’re state football champions returning home with the trophy.

“Yeah. Yeah. Eat it up,” I say with a small smile.

“ Ahhh! ” Daija squeals, grabbing onto Tate’s arm and shaking it frantically. “It finally happened!”

“Our baby boy is growing up so fast!” Tate jokes.

“That’ll be twenty bucks,” Jake tells Spencer, holding his hand out.

“What the hell?” My brows furrow.

“We had a bet on whether you two would kiss or not, and I just lost,” Spencer elaborates.

“You fuckers,” I laugh, shoving them both.

I can practically feel the heat radiating from Toby, so I wrap an arm around his shoulders, trying to absorb some of the embarrassment. I’m glad our roommates are so cool about it, but I’ve had enough jokes for the day. “It’s been fun. But we’re outta here,” I inform our friends.

Toby and I say our goodbyes and head toward the parking lot. I grab Toby’s hand, threading my fingers through his. He looks down at our entwined hands, then up at me with a crooked little smile. I give him a reassuring squeeze, and we walk the rest of the way to my truck in comfortable silence.

“Can . . . can we pick up where we left off when we get home?” Toby hesitantly asks once we’re on the highway.

I reach over and squeeze his thigh. “I was counting on it.”