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Chapter Sixteen

Tobias

I should have known it would come to this.

My friends think there’s something going on with me and Theo.

They won’t accept we’re just friends. I’ve been getting suggestive smiles and eyebrow waggles all night.

It’s like they’re waiting for me to make a move.

What would they think if they knew he was engaged?

And to a woman. Honestly, I don’t think it would matter.

Not to them. They’re a group of saps who think love trumps all. It’s sweet, but not the way I feel.

“Remind me what I have to do if I say no?” I ask, taking the bottle of Jameson that’s already almost empty.

“You have to get n—”

“What? Are you afraid?” I glance to my right and even from a mile away I couldn’t miss the challenge in Theo’s eyes. Not quite what I expected him to say, but I’m not really shocked either.

“I’m not afraid,” I say simply, handing him the bottle.

“Then what’s the problem? ”

The problem is you’re engaged and this is cheating.

I can’t condone cheating.

I fucking hate cheaters.

But does this count?

Of course it does. Sexuality doesn’t mean anything when it comes to being faithful. He’s with someone and it’s still cheating.

But it’s just an innocent game…

“Do it. Do it. Do it.”

I have no idea who starts the chanting, but seconds in and they’re all doing it. All except me and Theo, whose cheeks are now pink. Obviously he didn’t think this through. His first kiss with a guy, in front of all these people?

“Are you sure about this?” I ask quietly.

I don’t know why I ask him. I’m not sure about this. There’s nothing wrong with kissing him. He’s an attractive guy and maybe I’ve thought about it already because he has really nice lips and straight teeth and he does this adorable thing with his tongue when he pronounces certain letters.

But he has a fiancée…

“Yeah, why not? It’s just a dare.” He shrugs, playing it off like it isn’t a big deal.

Just a dare…

Is that what his fiancée would think? Maybe. Some people are okay with things like that. I want to ask him, but it’s not my business. Besides, it’s probably better that I don’t know .

What I should do is lean in and peck him on the lips.

Maybe even linger for a moment to make it legit, so the guys don’t complain.

When they say kiss, I know what they mean.

I absolutely should not cup Theo’s cheek, lean in, smile, then drag my thumb along his bottom lip to part them.

But it’s exactly what I do because I guess I’ve had more to drink than I should have.

Or maybe I just really want to do this.

I swear there’s the faintest whimper that leaves him when I lean in, not at all holding back.

He opens for me and our tongues meet before our lips do.

He’s so unsure about this. I can feel his hesitance, but I’m confident enough for both of us.

So I take the lead and show him what it’s like to kiss a man who gives a fuck about what the other person thinks.

I never got that from Brandon and swore I would never be that person.

The person who takes and takes and never gives in return.

I take pride in everything I do, including something as simple as kissing. The person I give my time to needs to appreciate it because it’s important to me. I want Theo to enjoy this, and I want it to be memorable. His first kiss with a man was with me. He’ll never forget it.

When I pull back, my hand still on his cheek, his eyes stay closed for far too long.

When they open, I know I’ve made a grave mistake.

A kiss like that could make a man fall in love.

I’ve heard that enough times in my life.

So, what do I do? I make it worse by brushing my fingers along his soft skin, smiling, then sitting back in my spot.

“Hot damn!” Nathanial shouts, fanning himself with his hand. “Anyone else in here have a boner over that?”

“Ew, don’t say boner!” Benton chastises.

“Boner, boner, boner.”

“Gag!” Benton points his finger down his throat, and everyone starts to laugh.

“Nathanial, you’re up,” I say to him.

“Truth. I’m not kissing any of you whores.”

“You’re the biggest whore of all!” Luca argues, laughing. Nathanial just flips him off.

“Ten minutes, guys!” Pete calls from behind the bar, and we all moan and groan.

I glance at my clock, not having a single clue what time it is. The bar isn’t technically open, so there isn’t a closing time. We’re here illegally, and if anyone finds out, the bar would definitely be in trouble.

My watch says it’s almost 3:30.

“Damn,” I mutter with a chuckle.

“How did the time pass so fast?” Theo asks.

“That’s how it goes when you’re having fun,” I tell him.

He smiles, biting on his bottom lip.

“Hello! Earth to Tobias and Theo. It’s my turn!”

I pull my attention from Theo and look back at Nathanial, who doesn’t look annoyed in the slightest bit.

“How many guys have you fucked?” I ask .

“Oh, that’s easy. One.”

“Liar!” Mario calls out.

Nathanial wags his finger. “No, he asked how many guys I’ve fucked. The answer is one. You all know I’m a bottom. And no—“ He looks at me pointedly. “You cannot rephrase the question.”

I roll my eyes and stand, the room spinning a little.

“I gotta piss.” I take off to the bathroom. Just as I get my pants unzipped, the door opens. I know who it is without having to look up. He’s somehow gained this presence about him, and I can feel when he’s around.

“Figured I may as well too, since we’re leaving soon,” Theo says as he takes up the only other urinal beside me.

I’d be lying if I said I haven’t wondered about his dick.

Thought about what it would feel like in my mouth.

How it looks. The way his tip would drip for me…

More than that, I wonder about the sounds he would make.

The way he would give over to pleasure because he’s never felt anything like it before.

Sex is better when you have chemistry. There’s no denying we do.

I thought it before, but if that kiss was any indication, well, it’s pretty damn serious.

He’s engaged…

Yeah. He is.

But from the corner of my eye, I can see his dick in his hand as he starts to piss, and fuck . It’s a nice dick. Like a really nice dick. I felt it when I was dancing on him so I already know it’s big, but it’s thicker than I thought. I love a thick cock.

I finish, tuck myself away, and wash my hands. I’m being a creep and that has to stop. Being friends with the guy is one thing. Kissing him on a dare is another. Staring at his dick while he’s just trying to pee is fucking weird.

“You wanna grab some food after we leave?” he asks, coming up to the sink to wash his hands while I rip off a paper towel from the dispenser. “My treat.”

“I should probably get home, actually. I have work in the morning.”

“Oh—yeah. I’m sorry, I had no idea.”

“Why would you?” I smile, but he doesn’t return it. I didn’t mean for it to sound rude, but I think it did.

“Are breakfast dates normal?” he asks.

“No,” I say with a laugh. “Though they should be. Breakfast is awesome.”

“Fuck yeah it is.” He holds open the door for me to leave, so I step out.

“I have another job, too. I’m a physical therapist.”

He stops, turning toward me. “Seriously?”

“Uh, yeah?”

He shakes his head, muttering something under his breath.

The tone doesn’t seem mean, more like shock.

A lot of people are when they find out that's what I do after knowing I date people. Though, it’s true for the other way around, too.

They know I’m a physical therapist, then find out I’m a professional date at night and they’re surprised.

I guess the two don't really go together .

When we get back to the bar area, everyone is helping Pete clean up, so Theo and I join in. It takes about ten minutes, and then we’re all making our way out into the dark, rainy Seattle night. Well, almost morning, I guess. It's nearly four am.

“We should have figured out rides before we go out here,” Luca complains, tugging his jacket tighter.

Since most of us know where the other lives, it doesn’t take long to figure out rides.

Benton goes with Nathanial and Mario goes with Luca.

Theo and I go together. Our rides show, one by one.

Theo and I are the last to get picked up, and the ride to his house is quiet.

When the car pulls into his driveway, he turns to face me.

“Thanks for hanging out tonight,” he says, reaching for the door. “I had fun.”

“Me too.”

He hesitates a moment, then says, “Good night.”

“Night, Theo.”

He gets out and closes the door.

“Just wait a minute to make sure he gets in, please,” I say to the driver.

She nods in response. “No problem, honey. That’s sweet of you to care.”

The front light of Theo’s house goes on when he reaches the porch and a moment later, he’s pushing through his door and closing it behind him .

When I get home, I double check that my alarm is set because I don’t need to be late. Running on only a few hours of sleep sucks, but that’s what I get for being irresponsible. It was so worth it, though.