Page 20 of The Bro Date
I chuckle, grabbing a mug from the cabinet and pouring him a cup. I set it on the counter in front of him before getting the creamer out of the fridge again.
He fixes his coffee how he likes it, taking a sip and humming at the flavor. “Thanks, man.”
Spencer strolls in next, freshly showered and ready for the day. His dark hair is shaved on the sides and long on top, and he’s rocking a neatly trimmed five o’clock shadow. “Jake, you bum,” he laughs when he sees the state Jake is in. He makes himself a cup of coffee before sitting next to Jake and likely scrolling social media or checking stocks.
“Anyone seen Toby?” I ask. “Breakfast is almost ready.”
The sauce is simmering, but I won’t start the eggs until everyone’s here.
“I heard him giggling like a schoolgirl in his room just now,” Spencer says absentmindedly, still focused on his phone.
“Yeah, he’s been acting weird lately,” Jake adds. “I think he’s talking to someone.”
“You think?” Spencer says sarcastically before I shut this shit down.
“Enough,” I interrupt with a loud bark. “I’ll go get him, or no one eats.”
Jake and Spencer hold their hands up in surrender.
“Sir, yes, sir!” Jake salutes me, and I leave the room before I knock him off his barstool.
I quietly make my way upstairs, stopping when I reach Toby’s room and carefully pressing my ear to the door.
Muffled giggling meets my ear, followed by a playful, “Stop it!”
I swallow thickly, nearly choking on the lump in my throat. It’s not even ten in the morning, and he’s already talking to that guy?
I take a deep breath, steeling my resolve and knocking on the door three times. “Breakfast is ready,” I inform him.
“Be right there!” he hollers, ignoring me to say goodbye to some asshole.
I stand there a moment, my mind racing with thoughts of protecting Toby.
“Yo! Toby!” Jake hollers from the kitchen. “Hurry up and finish jerking off! We’re hungry!”
Rolling my eyes at my ridiculous roommate downstairs, I lean against the wall opposite Toby’s door, propping one leg up and folding my arms across my chest. I can wait for him.
Quiet murmurs and more giggles escape Toby’s room before the door suddenly opens, and he freezes when he finds me waiting.
“Hey,” he says, smiling shyly, pushing his curls back, only for them to flop over his forehead again.
“Breakfast is ready,” I repeat, continuing to stare intensely at him, making him squirm.
“How long have you been waiting there?” he asks hesitantly.
“Long enough,” I murmur, pushing off the wall and taking one large step into his space. “Are you seeing someone?” I ask without hesitation because I need to know these things.
“Just talking,” he admits. “Nothing serious.”
“I want to meet him.”
“What?!” Toby shrieks with panic written all over his face.
“You heard me.”
“Absolutely not.” He slips past me and scurries to the stairs in an attempt to avoid the conversation.
“Toby!” I whisper-shout.
