Page 26 of The Bro Date (Best Bros Forever #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

SHANE

A fter everything we’ve done, I feel closer to Toby and even more possessive of him. I’ve never felt this way about a girl, but with Toby, I have an obsessive need to always know where he is and what he’s up to. And unfortunately for me, tonight he wants to go to another frat party on campus.

Guess that means I’m going, too.

“Sure you don’t wanna stay in and mess around?

” I ask, hoping to coax him into staying home and avoiding another house full of loaded frat boys.

I’m sitting on his bed in a simple pair of black jeans and a matching T-shirt, while Toby is standing in front of his closet, trying to decide what to wear tonight.

Toby giggles, his face turning a tempting shade of pink.

“I just want to go for a little while. All of our friends will be there, and you know how much I hate FOMO.” He walks over and straddles me on the end of the bed.

“But I’ll take a rain check on messing around,” he murmurs. “We don’t even have to stay that long.”

I dart forward, capturing his lips with mine while I slip my hands under his shirt and run them up his bare back, squeezing and massaging.

“ Mmm, ” he moans into the kiss as I thrust my hips upward, poking him in the ass with my hard-on. “Quit trying to have your way with me, Shane. I know what you’re trying to do.”

Gripping his shoulders, I give him a good squeeze and press him down harder onto my lap. “You’re the one who’s on top of me,” I point out, continuing to dry hump him.

“Fuck, Shane,” Toby breathes, resting his forehead against mine for a moment and enjoying the ride before he reluctantly climbs off my lap and goes back to the closet.

“I just wanna go for a little bit, okay?” He grabs a loose tank top that nearly shows his nipples and a small pair of Bermuda shorts that I already know hug his ass so fucking nicely.

I watch with interest as a flash of purple and a pair of socks get added to the pile before he hurries toward the door.

“I’ll be right back. I’m gonna change in the bathroom and freshen up. ”

I raise a single eyebrow at him in question.

Freshen up?

Or jerk off?

Toby blushes, adjusting the tent in his pants. “I know exactly what you’re thinking! But I promise I’m not doing that .”

I smirk at him all cute and flustered, a deep chuckle rolling through me.

“Oh, be quiet, you!” Toby whines, but I can see his dimples. “Besides, I’m saving it all for later,” he whispers huskily. I growl and practically lunge for him as he darts out of the door, laughing all the way down the hall to the bathroom.

He’s definitely going to get it later.

The party is in full swing by the time we pull up to the scene and park a few houses down.

Frat Row is littered with cars, lifted trucks, and drunk college students all over the block.

With zero discretion taken to hide all of the illegal activities happening right now, some rich asshole has to be paying off campus security because somehow, Frat Row parties never get busted.

“Toby!” Daija shouts excitedly, rushing over to him with a big smile and an even bigger hug.

And of course, Tate is right behind her, wrapping his arms around both of them.

“So, how was the thing I got you?” Tate asks way too loudly, glancing over at me, then back to Toby.

“Did you enjoy it? Practice with it? Think you’re ready for the real thing?

” He waggles his eyebrows and laughs, already drunk and being way too obvious.

“Oh, stop it, Tate!” Daija scolds. “Don’t make our baby boy uncomfortable. Rein it in.”

“I’m just checking on him, honey. No one even knows what I’m talking about. Chill. ” Tate makes eye contact with me, giving me a cheeky little wink that I narrow my eyes at.

I appreciate him helping Toby come into his own, but it’s none of his damn business when and how he used it.

I lean down and whisper into Toby’s ear. “Let’s go get a drink.”

We slip away from Daija and Tate and head toward the kitchen.

I spot an unopened bottle of rum and grab two red Solo cups.

I pour a generous amount into one, and less than a shot into the other since I’m driving.

Popping open two cans of Coke, I fill the cups, adding a little ice before mixing it all together with a plastic straw.

“Careful,” I warn, handing the extremely full and extremely strong drink over to Toby. “Pace yourself because I’m not pouring you a drink from an open bottle tonight.”

I don’t trust these frat parties, and I have a weird feeling about this one.

Toby’s face scrunches up when he tastes the drink. “ Oh, yuck, ” he coughs. “That’s disgusting, Shane.”

I chuckle. Perfect. This way, he has to sip it slowly.

“ Yo, yo, yo! ” a familiar, obnoxious voice shouts behind me.

I set my drink down and spin around quickly, stopping the asshat from jumping on my back. Jake daps me up instead, making himself a drink with the rum I just opened.

“What’s up, Jake? Where’s Spencer?” I ask, leaning against the counter behind me while Toby attempts to take another sip of his rum and Coke without cringing.

“I dunno. Chasing ass. You know? Like how you used to before?—”

“Before what?” I interrupt, stepping up to Jake.

What’s he trying to say?

“Before you were gay ,” he tries to explain, but only makes it worse, like a drunken fool.

I grit my teeth, completely annoyed by him right now. “I’m bi,” I say, correcting him.

And it’s really none of his business to comment on.

“Jake. Just shut up,” Toby blurts out, equally as irritated as me.

Jake just laughs it off, holding his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t mean anything by it. Honestly. You guys know I’m a dumbass.”

“And a loudmouth,” I add.

“That too,” he admits. “Look, I’m sorry, okay? I love you both. I’m just drunk. You know I don’t care if you’re straight, gay, bi, or whatever.”

“How can we be mad at that?” Toby asks with a laugh, staring up at me.

“Not mad,” I agree, giving Jake a pass this time. “But going forward, don’t comment on my sexuality out loud at a party, bro.”

“Gotcha,” Jake replies with a salute. “Thanks, guys. I’m gonna go find Spence. Catch ya later.” He gives us drunken finger guns and disappears into the living room.

Shaking my head in exasperation, I sigh and focus on the only reason I’m here, staring at him while I sip my drink. His matching hair and eyes shimmer like long-lost treasure as he dances under the overhead kitchen light.

Toby tries more of his drink and doesn’t make a face this time. “Think I’m getting used to it,” he says, smiling up at me with glassy eyes and warm cheeks. “Can hardly taste the rum now.”

“Take it slow,” I whisper huskily, running the back of my finger along his cheekbone.

“Dance party!” someone hollers from the living room, and Tate and Daija come rushing into the kitchen to surround Toby.

“Time to shake it, baby boy!” Daija encourages Toby as they sandwich him in between them and whisk him away to the makeshift dance floor in the living room.

I grab both of our drinks and follow after them like the personal security that I am.

Toby grinds and dances against me while I feed him sips of alcohol like I would grapes to a Greek god. My dick likes it, too, and I think I’m ready to go home soon.

After half an hour of dancing and drinking with our friends, Toby finishes off his drink, and I slip away for two seconds to toss our empty cups in the trash. When I get back, Toby, Tate, and Daija are surrounded by three creeps, as if they were waiting for their chance to pounce.

What the fuck is going on?

This isn’t a club.

As I get closer, I recognize two of them from Stick Shift. The assholes who were trying to get Toby and Tate drunk. Landon , I think. Don’t remember the other one. I come up behind Toby, slowly letting my presence be known so I don’t startle him.

Leaning down, I whisper into his ear. “You okay?” I ask while giving Landon the evil eye.

“Aww. How sweet. Is your big, bad, bestie protecting you again?” Landon sneers. “Pathetic. Just like you were that night, accepting free drinks from everyone.”

Toby shrinks in on himself in my arms, and I fucking hate it. It feels wrong. Toby is a bright, shining flame, and I am the circle of stones protecting the fire. No one will ever dim his light and make him feel small.

“I’m his boyfriend now,” I declare without a second thought, maneuvering Toby safely behind me, where Tate and Daija are currently standing. “You’re the one who’s pathetic. A desperate creep trying to get innocent people drunk.”

Landon scoffs, rolling his eyes as if it’s not true. “This slutty twink was about two drinks away from letting me and my bro fuck him. Needy little?—”

My fist swings, stopping his mouth from spewing any more disgusting lies.

Landon stumbles back in shock, covering his mouth with wide, bulging eyes. “You hit me,” he mumbles in disbelief. He drops his hands, baring his blood-stained teeth. “ Motherfucker! ” he bellows like a war cry before charging me.

His grimy little friend doesn’t have time to stop him like he did at the bar, so the creep gets a swing in.

I dodge the first punch, but before I can recover, the second one clips me in the chin.

A sharp burst of pain splinters through my jaw, shaking my teeth.

I see red, tackling Landon to the ground and trying to put him in a chokehold.

He rolls us instead and hits me right in the fucking eye.

Sonofabitch.

“ Stop! ” Toby shouts, but I can’t look away from my opponent for even a second, or I could lose.

I dodge the next blow, crossing my forearms in front of my face and taking the hit there. Grunting at the impact, I thrust my arms forward as hard as I can, knocking him backward off of me.

Landon’s friend from the bar takes the opportunity to grab his unhinged friend and hold him back.

I quickly climb to my feet, raising my fists, ready for him to charge again.

“You’re a complete fucking psychopath!” Tate yells at Landon, speaking the truth, but not helping the situation in the slightest.

“Shhh,” Daija murmurs, attempting to shush him because his words are only rubbing salt into Landon’s wounded ego and making him even more rabid.

“Shut your fucking mouth,” he growls out, struggling to get free from his friend’s grip.

Toby runs his hands and his eyes over my face. “ Oh my God. I’m so sorry.”

“Not your fault,” I grunt. “The asshole had it coming, and I was willing to take a couple hits for it.”

“Shane . . .” he says breathlessly, but I brush it off because it was honestly nothing.

I would die for Toby.

Spencer and Jake suddenly rush down the stairs and run over to us. A bit too late, to be honest.

“ Shit. You okay?” Spencer asks with concern, inquisitive eyes roaming my face.

“Yeah,” I grunt. “Fine.” But I can already feel my eye swelling up.

“ Ouch, bro, ” Jake hisses. “Sorry we weren’t here. Where is the fucker?” he snarls, scouring the room before finding a still- fuming Landon being held back by his friend. “Who are these losers?” Jake laughs mockingly.

“The rabid one is Landon, and the guy with dark hair who’s holding him back is Alex. Who I’m never speaking to again,” Tate says, wrinkling his upper lip in disgust. “ Alex, don’t text me anymore! It’s over! ” Tate shouts across the room.

“ What?! Seriously?” he yells back, looking heartbroken. “Come on, Tate! What did I do?!”

“You’re friends with that fucker! Major red flag! Now delete my number, Alex!”

Spencer wraps an arm around Tate, pulling him into his side for comfort. “Fuck that loser, you hear me?”

“Yeah. You don’t need him, babe,” Daija adds.

“Tate, don’t be like that, please!” Alex hollers, looking devastated, before his pain turns to anger, and he shakes Landon roughly. “I’m gonna let go now. Just chill the fuck out, okay? This is all your fault.”

“I’m cool, man. Just let go of me,” Landon sneers.

“Can we get out of here?” I ask no one in particular, grimacing when I touch my sore cheekbone. I really don’t want to fight again.

“Go home, guys. We got your back,” Spencer whispers with his arm still around Tate.

“We’ll get these two home safely,” Jake says, offering his elbow to Daija. “I already called an Uber.”

She slips her arm through his, and they bring up the rear as we all leave this fucking place. Our friends wait out front for their rideshare, while Toby and I head to my truck.

I swear I will never go to another frat party as long as I live.