Page 106 of Tobias

His eyes widen slightly, and his lips part.

That was a low blow, but I won’t take it back. We hold each other’s hard stare for a long time, until he speaks.

“Are you finished?” he asks, voice raspy. “Because I’d like to leave.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“I’ll meet you outside.” He gets up to leave while I settle the bill. I take a trip to the bathroom to splash some water on my face and take a moment to breathe. The ache I feel in my chest is a good reminder as to why I don’t do the relationship thing. There are too many ways to get hurt. Too many things out of my control.

When I get outside, I find Theo already in the car waiting.

I guess he can’t be that angry—he didn’t leave me.

Chapter Forty-One

Theodore

Tobias is quiet on the way home, which I’m thankful for. I need time to work through what I’m feeling. He’s not wrong in saying I have no right to be upset about this situation with Brandon because we weren’t together, but that doesn’t stop me from being upset about it. And also, I’m lying to him about something much bigger, so I really have no right to be mad about this, but I can’t help it.

Brandon is slimy. I can tell what kind of person he is just by looking at him. He’s going to be a thorn in our side, and it’s clear he knows my family, though I’m not sure how. What if he does some digging and finds out about me not breaking off the engagement? Not for a second would I doubt that he wouldn't tell Tobias. Men like Brandon are entitled, and I bet he feels ownership over Tobias. The entire situation is messy, and most of it is none of my business. Maybe it’s all my lies, piled on top of the other, that are making me act this way.

If Tobias chooses to keep his job at the rehab, that’s his call. If he chooses to let Brandon blackmail him, that’s also his call, but I don’t have to like it. Though, catching flies with honey is much more effective, so I need to communicate my concerns with him nicely and not cause an argument. The last thing I want to do is argue with him.

When we pull into my garage, we both get out. I move around the car toward the house door, but Tobias stops me.

“Talk to me,” he says, his hazel eyes searching mine. “Please. I don’t want you mad at me.”

“I’m not mad at you,” I say with a heavy breath. “That was just a lot that I wasn’t expecting, and I should not have gotten upset with you the way that I did. I’m sorry.”

With a sigh, his arms slip around me and he pulls me close.

“Please do not let that man come between us. He’s ruined enough for me,” he says, choking up and hugging me a little tighter.

I wrap my arms around him. “I promise I won’t.”

If only I could promise that nothing else will either…

I pull back, grasping his face with both hands and going in to kiss him. He grinds against me, groaning into my mouth and walking me backwards until the backs of my thighs hit something. He laughs against my mouth, reaching down to cup my balls.

“Let me fuck you on the car,” he says darkly.

I glance behind me to realize I’m leaning against the Mustang.

I huff out a laugh. “Seriously?”

He nods, biting on his bottom lip. “I think it’ll be the hottest thing I’ve ever done.”

I shrug my coat off, tossing it to the floor. It needs to be dry cleaned, anyway. He uses the kissing break to get his clothes off, so I do the same. Our eyes graze over each other, watching as we lose each piece of fabric. Before his pants come down, he reaches into his pocket to pull something out. He tosses it at me, and I catch it, laughing when I see what it is.

“Were you hoping for a quickie in the bathroom of Alejandro’s?” I ask, holding up the lube packet.

“Or on the side of the road.” He shrugs.

He drops his pants then plucks the packet from my hand, his mouth going to my neck.

“You’re taking too long,” he growls, spinning me around and forcing me onto the hood of the car. My hands jerk outward, hitting the hood before my face does. Tobias tears my pants down, kicking my legs as far as they’ll go with the pants still around my ankles.

“Fuck,” I growl, my breath fogging the car. It's not as cold in here as it is outside, but I keep it cool because it's better for the cars.

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