Page 25 of The Bro Date
My dad is a drunk, and I hope I never see him again.
I had to repeat fifth grade again this year, but at least all the kids leave me alone since I’m bigger and older than them now.
Toby hands me half of his wrap, and I take it, biting into what tastes like Thanksgiving Day turkey.
“Thank you,” I mumble around a mouthful.
“You’re welcome! I can bring more food tomorrow.”
I stare at him, never having met someone so kind and generous. Money has been tight for Mom since she left my dad,and I’m not old enough to get a job yet. Free lunch only fills me up so much, so I won’t say no to the offer.
“Oh! I could ask my mom if you can come over after school on Friday and have dinner with us?” Uncertainty creeps into his expression. “If you want . . .”
I’m not great at talking to grown-ups, but I’ll do it for a chance to hang out with Toby and eat some good food.
Although I have learned to make a pretty tasty bowl of ramen.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” I ask, completely unaccustomed to it. I only met him a week ago.
“Because we’re friends, silly, and that’s what friends do. They help each other out.” His teeth sparkle, and his dimples pop out again.
He looks so much younger than me when he smiles like that.
From here on out, I vow to always protect him and always be his friend.
No one’s going to hurt Toby as long as I’m around.
“Here ya go!” Hailey exclaims, carefully setting our giant milkshakes in front of us.
“Whoa,” Toby whispers in awe. “I can’t believe I’ve never been here before.”
“Well, we just opened last summer, so we haven’t even been here a year,” Hailey informs us. “Enjoy!” She disappears again, and we both stare at our desserts for a moment, unsure where to start.
Toby picks off a peanut butter cup and dips it into the whipped cream, pulling a gummy worm out next.
I take a spoon and scoop up a chunk of cookie dough ice cream, then dip it in the whipped cream and cookie crumble ontop, holding it out for Toby. “Wanna try mine?” I offer him the first bite before I destroy it.
Toby nods, pushing his milkshake to the side and leaning forward. My gaze automatically zeroes in on his mouth. His soft pink lips part slowly, his tongue poking out as he takes the spoon into his mouth. He sucks on it, and I pull it out clean.
“Mmm,” he moans, closing his eyes and making me swallow roughly.
Shit.
What the fuck was that?
I shouldn’t be turned on by my best friend eating a bite of ice cream.
“Try mine,” Toby insists with an innocent smile, completely unaware of my thoughts. He pushes his Mason jar across the table, and I scoop out a spoonful of rainbow ice cream. “Make sure you get a gummy worm,” Toby insists, and my lip quirks.
His shake isn’t bad, but I definitely prefer something with chocolate.
We continue to enjoy our desserts in a comfortable silence.
“You’ve got some whipped cream right there . . .” Toby says, tapping his bottom lip.
I wipe the corner of my mouth, but Toby laughs and shakes his head. “Let me help you.” He reaches out and swipes at my bottom lip with his thumb, tugging on the sensitive flesh. “There. All gone.”
My gaze once again zeroes in on his plush mouth before I shake my head, snapping out of it. “Thanks,” I mumble, continuing to suck down my half-melted milkshake, hoping I don’t give myself a brain freeze.
