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Chapter Fifteen

Theodore

“Are you sure?” I ask as I grab my coat from the rack.

“Yes, sweetie. I’m sure. Lindsey will be here in like twenty minutes.” Marianne leans in to kiss my cheek. “It’s cute that you’re worried.”

“I’m not worried,” I say.

She gives me an eye roll like she doesn’t believe me, but it’s the truth.

I’m not worried about her going out to wait in lines for Black Friday shopping.

I just want to make sure she’s going with her friend so I can hang out with Tobias and not worry about her showing up at my place and wondering where I am.

God, I’m an asshole.

Of course, I could just tell her I’m at the bar, which wouldn’t be a lie. It’s not that I’m not allowed to go out. Marianne is cool when it comes to stuff like that. She’s never given me an issue about what I do, since she does a lot of her own things too .

“See you tomorrow?” she says.

“Yes.”

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Really? It’s not even Christmas yet.”

She gives a little shrug, tugging my jacket tighter then kissing my lips. “Drive safe. Love you.”

“Love you,” I say as I step outside. I’ve already said goodbye to everyone else, who are all still sitting in the dining room enjoying dessert and coffee.

I told them I have a headache and just want to go home to lie down.

Marianne wouldn’t be mad if she found out I was lying about that part.

She understands my relationship with my family—to some extent, anyway.

It wouldn't be the first time I lied to get out of spending time with them.

The drive back to the city takes about forty-five minutes. When I pull up in front of my house, I let Tobias know I just got home and will order a car. I’ll be at the bar in about twenty minutes.

I’ll have my car stop to get you. What’s your address?

I text it to him, then hurry inside to use the bathroom. He says he’ll be here in five minutes. I down a bottle of water, knowing I’m probably going to get trashed tonight. After spending the day with my family, it’s needed, and it seems like Tobias may be in the same boat.

Tobias texts me when he’s outside, and I hurry out and into the car. Jumping into the backseat with him .

“Hey,” he says, giving me a tired smile.

“Hey,” I respond as I buckle my seatbelt.

“How was the rest of your night?” he asks.

“Torture. Yours?”

He huffs out a laugh. “Whatever is worse than torture.”

“Damn,” I say. “What makes it so bad?”

I watch as his jaw works, his eyes focused out the window.

“My sister blames me for our father’s death, so she’s made it her life’s mission to make me miserable.”

“Wow. I’m sorry. That’s awful. Can I ask what happened?”

He blinks a few times, and I don’t miss the way his body stiffens. I can see this is a sore subject for him. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked.

“It was a car accident.”

It’s all he says, so it’s clear he doesn’t want to dig deeper. I won’t make him.

“I’m sorry,” I say again.

“It was a long time ago. Still miss him, though.”

“Of course you do. I’m sure you always will.”

He nods, then takes a deep breath. “So, tell me about your day.”

“Where do I begin?” I run a hand through my hair, blowing out a heavy breath. “I think my father forgets I’m his son and not just his coworker. My mother is oblivious to everything going on around her. My brothers, though only a few years younger than me, still act like they’re ten.”

“That’s annoying. ”

“Tell me about it.” I shift in my seat, glancing out the window and watching the buildings fly by. “I sat at a table with a ton of my family, and they all felt like strangers.”

“I know the feeling.”

“Shouldn’t be that way on Thanksgiving.”

“No, it shouldn’t,” he agrees.

We don’t say another word until we get to the bar.

“It’s locked,” I say after tugging on the door and it not opening.

Tobias just smirks, coming up beside me and knocking on the door three times, slowly.

He keeps his eyes on me, and I swear I could stare into those hazel eyes all night long.

I swallow hard, feeling a strange rush of warmth take me over.

He’s standing so close, his body heat warming me.

He smells amazing, as usual, but then I remember he was out on a date with someone and the way he’s dressed right now has nothing to do with knowing he was going to see me.

Unless… maybe it is? He could have changed. Asking would be weird, so I won’t do that. I should stop thinking about it. Maybe I could ask how his date went and he'll tell me it was awful… but what if it was amazing? Best I forget it.

The door unlocks from the other side, and it’s pulled open abruptly .

“Oh, what a nice surprise!” Nathanial says with a grin and a look to Tobias that makes it seem like they know some sort of secret.

“Hi, Nathanial,” he says as he moves inside.

“Hey,” I say.

“Well, hello.” He winks at me, then closes and locks the door behind us. Along the bar are aluminum tins of food with red serving spoons sticking out of them.

“There’s plenty, if you want some,” Nathanial says as he reaches my side.

“Oh, I’m good. Thank you.”

“Suit yourself.”

We make our way to the table we sat at last time, with all the same people. The bartender is behind the bar, just doing his thing. Wiping the counter, restocking, bobbing his head to the soft music playing from the speakers.

“Does the new owner know we’re here?” Tobias asks as he takes my coat for me. I slide in to take a seat.

“Yes?” Benton says, raising his brows and reaching for his drink.

Tobias shakes his head as he sits beside me.

“We do it every year. He’s not going to stop us,” Luca says with a wave of his hand.

“He could,” Tobias says.

“He better not,” the bartender says as he drops off two drinks. Both whiskey .

“Thank you,” I tell him, reaching for my wallet. He waves his hands at me.

“No, they’re all set.”

I glance at Tobias, scowling. “I can pay for dr—”

“Free drinks on Thanksgiving,” Tobias says with a smirk.

“This new owner is going to hate you all,” I say, causing everyone to laugh.

“He better not or we’ll make sure he doesn’t make another damn dollar,” Benton says.

Tobias laughs. “That’s rough. We could just do Thanksgiving at my house.”

“It’s not the same,” Mario whines.

“Oh, hey, guess who I saw this morning?” Nathanial says with a disgusted look on his face but mischief in his eyes. Eyes that are glued to Tobias.

“Do I want to ask?” Tobias says carefully.

“Brandon. He’s lucky I didn’t run him over with my car.”

“Not worth it,” Tobias answers quickly before taking a mouthful of his whiskey.

“Who’s that?” I ask, looking between him and Nathanial.

“My ex.”

“He doesn’t deserve that title. Brandon is just a piece of shit,” Nathanial announces.

Tobias shrugs, taking another mouthful of his liquor and nearly emptying the glass.

His gesture makes it seem like he doesn’t care, but there’s something about the way his face changed when the name was mentioned.

This man hurt him. No one says anything for a moment, and Tobias gets up and walks toward the bar without a word.

“He okay?” Benton asks, looking at me.

I stare at him, wondering the same thing myself.

“Rough day at his family’s house,” is what I say.

“Always is. Molly is a cunt.”

“Nathanial!” Luca chastises, slapping Nathanial on the arm.

“Well, she is. She treats Tobias like shit over something that isn’t even his fault.”

When Tobias comes back, he has a full bottle of Jameson that he puts down on the table.

“Are we ready to party or what?” he asks with a grin that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Hell yes!” Benton says, jumping to his feet. With a quick look of sympathy, Nathanial heads over to the stage and changes the music, putting it louder.

When I decided to come out tonight, I didn’t expect to be sitting in a circle, on the stage, with a bunch of guys passing around a bottle of Jameson and playing Truth or Dare.

I mean—how old are we?

“Okay, Luca. Your turn!” Benton singsongs, drumming his hands on his thighs. “Truth or Dare. ”

“Hm…” Luca taps his chin with his finger, taking the bottle when it’s passed to him. “Dare.”

Benton grins as Luca takes a swig.

“I dare you to flash Nathanial your junk.”

Nathanial gasps but then grins from ear to ear.

“Seriously? That’s all you’ve got?” Luca says, getting to his feet and walking over to Nathanial, who is across from me.

“Is he really going to do that?” I whisper to Tobias, who is on my left.

Everyone in the circle is sitting cross-legged, our knees brushing. I don’t remember whose idea it was to do this, but I kind of love it. I have great friends, but I don’t have friends like this. I can’t imagine Morgan or Asher playing Truth or Dare unless it was strictly related to sex.

“Of course.” Tobias is handed the bottle. He takes a swig then offers it to me. I wrap my hand around the green glass, but he doesn’t let go. I raise a brow but all he does is smile before letting it go.

Luca is still standing there, his back to me. Not that I want to see his dick, but… I’ve never seen another guy’s dick before. Not in person. Maybe my brothers’ when we were younger or some of the guys in the locker room in high school, but it was never a big deal. I guess I’m just curious.

I glance at Tobias, recalling the way his dick felt against mine when he was dancing with me. It makes my stomach warm .

“Next!” Nathanial calls out, and I realize I missed the whole thing. Not that there was much to see, but…

“Okay, I pick Tobias.” Luca looks at him with a devious smirk.

Tobias rolls his eyes. “Dare.”

Benton oohs like he just said something crazy.

Luca drops to the floor in his spot and gets comfortable, leaning back on his hands and grinning. “I dare you to kiss Theo.”