Page 16 of Tobias

Probably should have ordered them before we came over here, but I wasn’t thinking. My three friends raise their hands all at once.

“IPA, Vodka Cranberry, and… whiskey and ginger?” I ask.

“You know us so well,” Luca says with a love-sick smile.

“Impressive,” Theo remarks.

“Nah. I was a bartender for a while. You okay with whiskey?”

“Sure,” he says.

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”

I head over to the bar, where the bartender, Pete, only just now sees I’m here. I used to come here all the time, but asI’ve gotten busier with Foxy’s, I haven’t had the time. Still, everyone is welcome at The Butterfly as long as you aren't an asshole.

“Holy shit, it’s Tobias!” he shouts with a raspy laugh. The guy smokes so much it’s a surprise his lungs still work.

“Hey, Pete. How are things?”

“Oh, you know. Just lovely down here.” He leans on the bar top, his bulky arms and body hair squeezing out of his white tank top. People say he used to be a physical trainer or something, but he’s gotten old and let himself go. He never tells us shit about his life, and no one has ever seen him outside of the bar. Cool as shit guy, though. “How are you?”

“Busy with work, you know.”

“Mhmm. Sure do. What can I get you?”

I ramble off all the drinks I need just as Nathanial starts up “Taste”by Sabrina Carpenter.

I give Pete my card when he comes back with the drinks. “Leave it open.”

I carefully carry all five drinks to the table and put them down for everyone to grab. Thankfully, Theo doesn’t look too uncomfortable talking with Mario, who is seated beside him and going a mile a minute about cameras. He's a photographer—is that something Theo likes?

“What did I miss?” I ask.

“Nothing really,” Benton says. “Just getting to know your friend.”

“I know what that means,” I say.

“Oh, you do not,” Benton answers with an eye roll.

He is the picture-perfect 90s heartthrob. Blond hair with piercing blue eyes. Lean body, great smile. Mario is full-blooded Italian, and when he gets drunk, his accent comes out. He was born here but spent every summer and school vacation in Italy, so he didn’t lose it. He has golden skin, dark hair and eyes. Luca has long, light brown hair that goes to his ass, big brown eyes, and feminine features. He’s a dancer and a model.

I take my seat beside Theo and nearly get knocked over by someone jumping into my lap and grabbing my face.

“Toby!”

Warm lips are pressed to mine, and I huff out a laugh, knowing who it is. He makes a loud smacking sound when he pulls away, smiling down at me.

“It’s been too long,” he says, squeezing my face.

“Hi, Nathanial," I say through a grin.

No matter what kind of mood you're in, Nathaniel will brighten in. He's a ray of sunshine.

“I was just saying—” He stops speaking, turning to face Theo. His eyes go wide. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.” He jumps off my lap.

“Oh no,” Theo says, waving his hands. “We’re not… I’m not… uh—”

Theo is frantic as he looks from me to Nathanial and back. I can’t help but laugh, but because I enjoy messing with him, I put my hand on his knee.

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