Page 9 of Only for Tonight

*****

“You look like shit,” Leland says the next day at lunch when we meet at our favorite cafe like we usually do.

“Thanks. I really appreciate it.”

“Did you not sleep again?”

“Like two hours total.” I give the cashier my card to pay for my food. “When are you moving in?”

“I’m going to pack up most of my stuff tonight. I can’t take one more day in a fucking frat house.”

I step to the side to wait for my food, and a laugh stops me in my tracks. There’s no fucking way. I slowly turn around, and Mr. Tattooed and Pierced Sex God is sitting there with two other guys. I can’t see the other ones because their backs are to me, but I’d know him anywhere. Are the other two the ones I was with that night? “Holy shit,” I breathe and hightail it out of the restaurant. I can’t come face-to-face with him right now. Not when all I’ve thought about is them. I make it to the corner before his voice freezes me on the spot.

“Oliver!” No. No. No. “Wait up!” I whirl around, and he’s jogging toward me.

“What are…I can’t…What the fuck?”

“Breathe, Baby,” he chuckles.

“Don’t call me that,” I say harsher than I mean to.

“Excuse me?” He tilts his head to the side, and I have the insane urge to drop to my knees and apologize. I’m sure that’s all you want to drop to your knees for.

“Sorry. I just,” I blow out a breath, “I didn’t expect to see you.” He steps up closer, and he’s taller than I remember.

“I’m damn glad that you did.” He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me against his chest. “You’re all I’ve thought about.”

What do I say to that? Admit the same thing, or play it cool? “I don’t even know your name.” Well, that wasn’t on the list of options.

“Toby.”

“Toby,” I repeat, trying to get my brain to catch up to the fact that I’m staring at him and know his name. If this is some sort of dream, I’m going to be super pissed when I wake up.

“Fuck, you’re even more gorgeous than I remember.” His fingertips slide over my hip. “I love these pants on you.”

“They’re the same ones.” I can feel my cheeks getting hot, and he smiles. He has one of those crooked smiles that make my heart skip a beat.

“No wonder they look so damn good. You want to come back in and eat with me?”

“Are they with you?” I don’t think I can sit down and do something as mundane as eating lunch with them.

He shakes his head. “No. Those guys work at my club. We were working on some plans and stopped in for lunch.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Is that a yes?”

Leland steps out the door, looking for me. His eyes land on me, and they almost bug out of his head. “My friend is here too.”

“He can eat with us. Come on.” He takes my hand and starts pulling me toward the cafe, stopping when he gets to Leland. I introduce them, and Toby sticks his hand out for Leland to shake. “Nice to meet you.”

“Uh, you too.” He looks at me, and I nod, letting him know this is one of the guys. “I’m going to head back to work.”

“You sure you don’t want to hang out?” I ask.

“Lunch is almost up for me. Some of us don’t make our own schedules. I’ll see you later.” He gives me one last look and a thumbs up when Toby turns his back. Toby leads me into the cafe, stops to grab my food, and pulls me to their booth. I slide in, and he sits beside me, pressing his thigh against mine. My mind is still reeling that I’m here with him. “Oliver, this is Vince and Zac.”

“Oliver? The Oliver?” The one he indicated as Vince asks. He has a head full of dark curly hair and deep blue eyes.