Page 99 of Tobias

“Regretting your decision already?” I smirk.

“Not at all,” he says with a firm shake of his head. “I just want to make sure we figure things out now, because we don’t know how things will go in the future.”

“Okay, yeah. That’s a good idea.”

I hand him a napkin, then wipe the grease from my fingers and turn to face him more fully.

I start by saying, “First, we have to be honest with each other,always. If you decide this isn’t for you, that it’s too much and not what you want or need, you have to tell me.”

“I will. I promise. And same for you.”

“Of course,” I answer. “So, my main concern is my job. Does it bother you?” I hold my finger up when he opens his mouth. “Please, think about it. Don’t answer rashly.”

“Trust me, I’ve already thought about it.”

I huff out a laugh. “Okay, then. Go on.”

“Yes, your job bothers me,but,” he emphasizes. “Not in the way that I want you to quit. I would never tell you what to do with your life and the decisions you’ve made for yourself. I respect you enough to talk about things, rather than get mad about them.” His gaze softens as he continues. “Being a client of yours helped me be more comfortable, because I see how professional you are. So, it bothers me in the sense that all these people will get to spend time with you and do fun things with you, but I think it’s something I can deal with.”

“And if you can’t?”

“We’ll talk about it.” I don’t say anything to that, because I’m not sure what to say. I want to ask if he would expect me to quit. He said he wouldn’t, but I’m not sure that’s entirely true. But I don’t know for sure, so I can’t make up scenarios in my head. “You do understand why I feel that way, right? Like you understand why someone would be a little bothered, or even jealous?” he adds.

“Of course I understand, but that’s why I’m so big on trust and communication. I have…” I sigh, not wanting to get into this but knowing I have to. “My last relationship was awful, and it’s the reason I’ve stayed away from them. Brandon and I had already broken up before I started working at Foxy’s, but there were a ton of other issues in our relationship. Maybe I don’t know how to do this right. I may fuck it up, but I want us to try. To work on it together.”

I think together we can do anything.

I don’t say that because it sounds too serious, but it’s true. Something about Theo makes me feel like I can accomplish anything. That I can be brave. If there's something I can't do, he will help me.

Theo takes my hand, linking our fingers. “I want that too.”

We finish the pizza, not leaving even a crumb behind and watch another movie. Then Theo goes home because Biscuit is there, and he doesn’t want to leave her alone all night.

We kiss for five whole minutes on my porch, in the drizzling rain, while his car heats up. Even after he’s driven off, I stay out there, staring down the road in the direction his car went. When I close and lock my door, I’m hit with the realization that if this goes badly, it’s going to fuck me up worse than Brandon did. Because this is different and so much better than Brandon ever did. Hopefully, Theo is a better man than Brandon.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Theodore

Large, strong arms grab around my waist when I move to get out of bed.

“Stay just a little longer,” Tobias whispers in a sleepy voice.

How can I say no to that?

I settle back into bed, Tobias’s chest resting against my back, his arms holding me tight. Ever since we took the next step, he’s been kind of clingy. And it’s perfect. I’ve never been so happy before. Everything about this is exactly what I’ve been missing in my life.

Which makes it so much worse.

What the fuck am I doing? How am I going to fix this?

I assured Asher that I have this handled, and I’m fine. I even convinced myself of it. But each day that’s gone by since I made those promises, the weight on my shoulders has gotten heavier, dragging me under water with nothing around to grab onto to pull myself back up.

I’ve never been happier than when I’m with Tobias, but I’ve never been more terrified either.

Nothing in my life has ever scared me the way this does. Him. Us. Me when I’m with him.

“I have an idea,” Tobias says, dragging his lips along my shoulder in gentle kisses.

---