Page 19 of The Bro Date
“By the dumpster?” he retorts.
I just shrug.
“Crazy kid. Got a few screws loose,” he mumbles under his breath.
I ignore his insults because if I don’t, I’ll be going to jail for a very, very long time.
“Break’s over. Get back to work before Jaycee burns my kitchen down,” Raúl demands, disappearing back inside.
I glance at Toby and his date one last time, weighing my options as the guy brushes Toby’s hair off his forehead, most likely making him blush.
That should be me touching his curls and making his skin flush.
The thought hits me out of nowhere, putting me in a chokehold.
Fuck.
What?
I shake my head in confusion and retreat inside, leaving Toby to finish his date without me stalking him from a dark alley. I grab my apron and slip it back on, taking my position in front of the flat top and zoning out once again.
“You okay?” Jaycee asks, popping her head into the kitchen to check on me.
“Fine,” I grunt, not wanting to talk right now.
She frowns and disappears back into the busy dining area.
My mind is spinning. I can’t believe Toby’s on a date and didn’t tell me.
As soon as my shift ends, I check theFind My Friendsapp and sigh in relief when I zoom in and see that Toby is safe at home. I grab the rest of my stuff from my locker and rush out the door before Raúl can stop me.
The need to see Toby and make sure he’s okay overcomes me, so I slip into his dark bedroom unannounced. He’s been a vital part of my life for a decade, and as selfish as it sounds, I can’t lose him to some random guy. It would kill me.
“Shane?” Toby murmurs groggily. “Is that you?”
“Yeah. It’s me. Shh.”
“What’re you doing?”
“Just checking on you,” I whisper. “Go back to sleep.”
“Miss you,” he murmurs before his eyes flutter shut and a soft snore escapes him.
The hallway light gently illuminates his delicate features, my eyes roaming his peaceful, sleeping face. I brush the curls off his forehead, standing there watching him sleep for longer than I probably should.
Before I go, I set a white paper swan on his nightstand. I made it on my break after witnessing Toby’s first date. I’m not sure why it bothers me so much, and I’m not sure why I feel the need to make sure I’m not forgotten.
Sunday is my day to rest and reset, so I sleep in until eight-thirty, lounging in bed for another hour before I get up and take my time in the bathroom.
The kitchen is empty and quiet; everyone else is still in their rooms. The first thing I do is make a pot of coffee with the expensive coffee machine Toby’s parents bought him as a housewarming gift. The rich, nutty aroma fills the kitchen andmost likely drifts upstairs, waking my roommates so that I don’t have to. I pour myself an oversized mug, adding a generous amount of hazelnut creamer to cool it down.
Slipping in my AirPods, I choose my recent playlist obsession and turn the stove on, ready to get lost in music and cooking. When I don’t have Raúl breathing down my neck, I actually love it. I sip my coffee and wait for the skillet to get nice and hot before adding the bacon, filling up the house with more delicious smells. Today’s menu is poached eggs with homemade hollandaise sauce and crispy bacon crumbles.
Jake wanders in first, his messy hair sticking up in every direction. He sits at the island in nothing but a pair of basketball shorts.
“Hey, morning breath,” I tease, knowing he probably rolled out of bed and wandered down here with his eyes closed.
“’Sup, morning wood,” he retorts, rubbing his tired eyes. “Is there coffee?”
