Page 22 of The Bro Date (Best Bros Forever #2)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

TOBY

I ’m worried about Shane. He bottles up negative emotions like a shaken soda can ready to pop. He was never taught to express his feelings in a healthy manner, suppressing them for years on end. Just like me.

We pull into the driveway behind a pickup truck older than Shane’s. He grips the steering wheel, squeezing tightly. “You’ve got to be kidding . . .”

“What?” I ask, slightly alarmed. “What’s wrong?”

“That motherfucker is seriously here right now?”

“Who?” I sound like a parrot, but Shane isn’t telling me anything.

“Buck. My mom’s ex-boyfriend and soon-to-be dead man.”

“Shane, stop. Don’t say that.”

Dark, fathomless eyes turn to me, shining with long-repressed pain and anger. “Stay here.”

“What?!” I shout at such a ludicrous request. “No way, Shane. I’m not letting you do something stupid, not after we just had an amazing date. I refuse to let it end like this.”

“I won’t do anything stupid. Just gonna talk to him,” he tries to reason, but I know him better than that. For being so calm and mellow, Shane has been in a few fights over the years.

“Then I’ll come with you,” I retort stubbornly. “Since you’re just going to talk.”

“ Toby, ” Shane growls under his breath.

“Oh, come on. I haven’t seen your mom in forever. I wanna check on her, too,” I insist. “Let me have your back like you always have mine.”

Shane stares at me for a moment, contemplating his next move before he darts forward, kissing me unexpectedly and resting his forehead against mine. “Stay next to me,” he whispers.

I peck his lips one last time before we hop out of the truck and walk up to the tiny, unkempt house that Shane grew up in.

Dead bushes line the front porch, and the grass is mostly dirt and sand.

The roof is missing half its shingles, and the front shutters are hanging on by a couple of nails.

It almost looks like it came out of a horror movie, and that’s what it feels like when Buck answers the door with an evil, smug grin on his face.

“You need to call before ya just stop by like this, boy,” he sneers. “Go away.”

Shane sticks his foot in the doorway, stopping it from shutting. “You don’t live here, Buck. Now move out of my way. Where’s my mom?” Shane pushes his way inside the house, and I follow, practically glued to his back and nearly tripping over his heels.

“She’s taking a nap,” Buck says, acting shifty and blocking the bedroom door.

“Move, creep,” Shane growls.

We push past him and barge into Shane’s mom’s bedroom, where she’s resting in bed with her ankle propped up on a pillow.

“We just had a disagreement, is all,” Buck says defensively, folding his arms across his chest and resting them on top of his beer belly.

“Shaney? What are you doing here?” his mom asks groggily.

“Checking on you, Mom. What the hell is going on? What’s he doing here?”

“Show some respect, boy,” Buck retorts, and the sound of his slimy voice makes my skin crawl.

Shane will never respect the asshole who purposely burned his entire origami collection last winter when they ran out of firewood, claiming he thought it was a box of trash.

I helped Shane grab the rest of his shit after that, not leaving a single thing behind.

Luckily, our house on campus has an attic, so he can store all of his belongings.

“Don’t speak to me like that,” Shane growls, practically vibrating next to me. I grab his wrist for a second, stopping him from stepping up to Buck. I refuse to let this amazing date end with violence. He looks down at me for a second, saying a million things to me without even moving his mouth.

“Buck’s right, honey. It was just a little disagreement, and I really did trip down the front steps. They’re uneven as hell.”

“What was the disagreement about?” Shane asks, pinning his dark eyes on her. “The money he stole from you?”

“ What?! ” Buck shouts. “That was my money, and I decided I wanted it back. Your mama just quit her job at the flower shop on a whim. We had plans to move in together and split the bills, but my disability only covers so much, and I had something to say about it.” He turns to Shane’s mom like he’s ready to resume their argument.

“I’m not movin’ in here just to pay all the damn bills myself, Ruby. ”

“Mom, this true? You quit?” Shane sounds tired and, quite honestly, a little fed up.

“I lost my passion for flowers, honey. I need to paint! I need to be free!”

“You need to pay your bills,” Shane reasons.

“That’s why I’m going to sell my paintings, Shaney!” Ms. Ruby laughs as if it’s the obvious solution.

The urge to reach for his hand is strong, so I step closer to him instead, offering my silent support. I know this is hard. He has a complicated relationship with his mother, but when it comes down to it, he loves her and only wants the best for her.

“You should call Diane and ask for your job back, Mom.”

She scoffs, looking off to the side. “Of course you don’t believe in me. Neither of you do.”

“Just until you sell your first painting,” I interject, smiling politely. “Hi, Ms. Ruby,” I say with a little wave when she glances over and finally notices me. She has long, dark hair and deep brown eyes, just like Shane.

“Tobias! My goodness! Come give me a hug!”

I hesitantly make my way over and give her a gentle hug, all too aware of Buck’s eyes on me.

“My oh my, look at you. Aren’t you just the cutest?” Ms. Ruby gushes over me.

I blush, unable to control it, and steer the conversation back to her art. “Do you have any paintings on display? I’d love to see some of your work.”

“That one over there.” She points to an abstract palm tree with bright splotches of color that’s actually really cool. “And the bouquet of flowers above the TV.”

“Wow. Those are really beautiful, Ms. Ruby. Very impressive.” And that’s the honest truth. She’s a wonderful artist.

She beams at the compliment. “Thank you, honey. You really think so?”

“Absolutely. I’m sure you’ll sell something quickly, but it never hurts to have two revenue sources,” I add.

“I suppose that might be a good idea,” Ms. Ruby ponders.

“So you take advice from some baby-faced kid, but not me?” Buck throws his arms up in the air. “Unbelievable!”

“Oh, stop, Buck. I’m not even sure I can work right now since I’ve hurt my ankle. I can’t stand up all day.”

“They’re obligated to make arrangements for you, like a stool behind the counter so you can sit and still be a cashier,” I inform her.

“Really?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I reply politely with a small smile.

“Okay, well, I guess I’ll do that. But I’m gonna take a few days off first. I think I’ve earned it.”

“I don’t know how you did it, kid, but I suppose I owe you my thanks,” Buck says to me, thumping me on the back and making me stumble forward a couple steps. “She’s one stubborn woman.”

Ms. Ruby rolls her eyes at the comment, but the way she looks at that greasy slob turns my stomach.

“You don’t owe him shit,” Shane sneers, making Buck grin like he actually enjoys these exchanges. “And don’t ever put your hands on him again.” I grab onto Shane’s thick arm, stopping a fight once again.

I will not allow this asshole to sour our first real date.

“Yeah, yeah,” Buck huffs unperturbed, shooing us away with his hand.

Shane nearly shows his teeth before softening his face only slightly for his mother. “I’m outta here, Mom,” he grumbles, clearly not wanting to stay a second longer. “Take care of yourself.” He grabs my wrist and tugs me toward the exit.

“Bye, honey! Don’t be a stranger! Text me!” she hollers across the house as if there wasn’t almost just a brawl between her boyfriend and her son.

“Thanks for helping to diffuse that situation,” Shane murmurs once we get back into his truck. “That actually went a lot worse in my head.”

“Me too,” I admit. “But that’s why we make a good team. You have to let me help you, too. We can be there for each other.”

Shane nods, recognizing that we’re in this together and reaching over to give the back of my neck a squeeze. I close my eyes and sigh, melting into his touch and ready to get the hell out of here.

“I know the mood’s kind of ruined after that, but I have dessert in the fridge for us,” Shane says once we get home and change into our pajamas.

“Nothing’s ruined,” I assure him. “I’m always up for dessert.”

Shane gets a cute little box out of the fridge, setting it on the counter and opening the lid. I peer inside, finding a delicious-looking piece of tiramisu and two cannoli.

“This looks amazing, Shane. Did you make them?”

Shane nods, picking up a cannoli and holding it out for me.

I lean forward and take a bite, opening my mouth wide to fit the pastry inside. I bite down into the crispy, flaky cannoli, and hum at the flavor of the cream cheese filling with mini chocolate chips.

“ Oh my fucking God. They’re delicious. I need these at my wedding one day,” I joke.

Shane stares down at me, his dark eyes pinning me to the spot.

“What? Do I have some filling on my face?” My tongue darts out, licking at the corner of my mouth. “Did I get it?”

Shane sticks his index finger into his own cannoli and swipes it across my lips. “You missed a spot,” he murmurs, leaning in to press his mouth to mine, licking and kissing my lips until the cream is gone.

“You taste so sweet, butterfly,” Shane whispers, and I’m an absolute fucking goner, melting into the floor like a puddle of goo.

I want him so badly, I can’t take it anymore.

“Let me taste you.” I kneel down on the hard kitchen floor, peering up at him with desire and yearning. “ Please, ” I beg, gripping both of his thighs through his pants and squeezing. I’m desperate to feel the weight of his cock on my tongue. Desperate to taste him.

I need his cock in my mouth, now.

“You don’t have to say anything. Just let me blow you.”

Shane’s hands move toward his belt buckle as if in slow motion. I tear my gaze away from his intense stare and watch in awe as he unzips his pants and tugs them down along with his boxers.

His thick cock springs free, already hard and dripping.

Holy shit.

It’s beautiful.

And huge.

My jaw drops twice, and I sit back on my heels, admiring it. “Of course it’s extra large. I mean, why wouldn’t it be? That would only make sense, given your overall size. Maybe I should have worked my way up. Started smaller, ya know?”

“Butterfly,” Shane growls, and I nearly kick my feet and giggle at the sweet nickname I’ve completely fallen in love with.

I reach out and wrap my hand around his shaft. He’s warm and soft yet rock hard. My own dick throbs in my pants uncomfortably. I’m so turned on right now, I might faint. I give his dick a tentative squeeze, and he lets out a long, low groan.

“ Fuuuck. Toby. Jerk me,” he begs, and I obey, hesitantly stroking his shaft. “Yes, just like that,” he encourages, knowing this is the first time I’ve ever done this. “You’re doing so good,” he moans. “ So fucking good. ”

The praise goes straight to my dick, and I want to impress him further, so I lean forward and swipe my tongue along his slit, collecting the glistening beads of precum. Shane sucks in a sharp breath of air as his salty flavor bursts across my tongue.

“ Tobes . . . ” His breathy plea spurs me on, so I take his entire cockhead into my mouth and suck, teasing the sensitive underside with my tongue.

Shane weaves his fingers into my curls, grabbing hold and guiding me.

I use one hand to grip the base of his cock and stroke him while I suck.

Shane grunts and twitches, tightening his grip on my hair like he’s fighting his control.

I release his cock with a pop, continuing to stroke him. “Just let go, Shane. I got you,” I whisper as I peer into dark, vulnerable eyes. “I promise. I got you. Always. Trust me and let go.”

Without another word, I focus on his dick again and start sucking and stroking him in time with his small, gentle thrusts.

Not even a minute later, Shane’s movements stutter. “Gonna come,” he murmurs, warning me moments before.

Instead of pulling off and letting him finish in my hand, I press my face further into his groin, inhaling his musky, clean scent.

Shane’s cockhead fills the back of my throat, triggering his release and mine.

His dick pulses in my mouth and I suck harder, draining every last drop before his softening cock slips out of my mouth.

“ Fucking hell, butterfly, ” Shane pants in pure amazement, staring down at me in awe.

I smile up at him with warm cheeks, feeling proud, sticky, and also satisfied after I came in my pants.

Again.