Page 108 of Tobias

xo, Tobias

I hold the paper to my chest and close my eyes. I need to fix this before I destroy everything—especially him. There’s only one way to fix this. When Marianne gets back from New York, I’m going to tell her the truth.

Chapter Forty-Two

Tobias

Theo and I show up at The Butterfly around eight. It’s packed with the regulars and a ton of other people I don’t know but who are having a great time. I’ve never seen the place so full before. There are black and silver streamers hanging from the ceiling, and plastic tablecloths in the same colors on the tables. Patrons are wearing hats and headbands supporting the New Year. Pete is behind the bar, and Emmet is all cozy in the corner with some guy I’ve never seen before. Guessing it’s theone who got away, or whatever Luca said about him. They look amazing together. Like two models.

“You made it!” Luca runs over, arms wide.

“We made it,” I say, hanging up mine and Theo’s coats.

“Nathanial said you weren’t going to come.” He hooks one arm in mine and the other in Theo’s, leading us to the bar. “Pete, get these boys a drink!”

“Well, hey, Tobias,” Pete says, grabbing glasses. “What can I get you?”

“Whiskey sour?” I ask Theo.

“Perfect.”

Nathanial is up on stage singing his heart out, but there are so many people here I can hardly see him. People dance on the floor while others fill the tables and the bar stools.

There were three ways for us to spend the New Year. Here, at the bar. With Charlie, because I did tell Theo about that, to which he laughed. And the third option was home, just us and Biscuit. We decided Charlie’s was a no and that we’d come here for a bit because it’s been a while and something to do that will be fun.

When we have our drinks, Luca leads us to the table where all my friends are, along with two others I don’t know.

“Theo and Tobias, this is Greyson and Johnny,” Luca announces. We wave when he lets go of our arms, and we take a seat at the end. The booth is full with everyone sitting, but Luca leaves and returns with two chairs. “Tobias has been coming around for a while, but Theo is relatively new. He’s cool though.”

“Thanks, Luca,” Theo says with a smile. Luca winks in response.

“And we met Benton at yoga,” Greyson comments.

He’s a big guy. I can tell even from him sitting he’s got to be at least 6’4”. His hair is dark, both on his head and his face. But he has these crystal blue eyes that you can see from a mile away, and he’s built with a ton of tattoos up and down his arms. Very different from the people who hang out here.

“Benton at yoga?” I say, laughing.

“I was trying something new,” Benton defends with a shrug.

“So were we,” Johnny says. “We’re new to the area, and thought it was a good way to meet people. Turns out it was.”

Johnny is much smaller than Greyson. Half his size in body weight at least, and I can’t tell his height from the way he’s sitting, but smaller than Greyson. His hair is lighter brown, and he doesn’t have facial hair.

“Where did you move from?” Theo asks.

“Georgia,” Greyson answers.

“Oh, what area? I’ve spent time in Savannah,” Theo adds.

“Not far from there,” Greyson says.

“So, our little group has gotten bigger,” Luca says with a grin. “Now, if only you’d show your face a little more…” He pins me with a stare.

I roll my eyes. “I come as often as I can.”

Theo snickers, and enough people catch it that we all start laughing. Then his cheeks go pink. Luca gives me a knowing look, but I look away not wanting to get into that conversation. It’s not that I don’t want to talk about it, I just don’t want my night filled with them gushing over it and asking a million questions. They all know I haven’t dated anyone in years, so this is a big deal. We can talk about it later. Or never, if it were up to me.

The drinks keep coming, and so does the conversation. Before I know it, my cheeks are warm and I’m feeling tipsy.Theo keeps flashing me heated looks and I’m tempted to take him into the bathroom to fuck him, but the place is too busy. That bathroom probably has a mile-long line. There’s no way we’d get away with it.

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