12. Toby
Chapter 12
“He did what?” I ask, listening to Aiden tell me about Oliver standing up to his dad.
“You should have seen it,” Aiden says. “I’ve never seen him like that.”
I laugh. “I think Oliver just staked his claim.”
“Fine with me.”
I’ve known Aiden a long damn time and have never been unfortunate enough to run into his piece of shit dad. I’ve heard enough horror stories. That’s all I need. “Are you okay?” Jace asks, sitting on the couch beside him.
Aiden shrugs. “Yeah. I owe that to Oli.” He turns to look at Jace. “Thanks for pulling my head out of my ass.”
“One of these days, you’ll realize I know what I’m talking about,” Jace says dryly, making Aiden roll his eyes. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Okay?”
“I want to collar Oliver.” Aiden’s brows furrow, and Jace clears his throat. “I know what that normally means, but I need this. It doesn’t change the relationship you guys have with him.”
“This isn’t your subtle way of telling us to fuck off?” Aiden asks.
“Not at all. He needs us all, and he’s our missing piece. We each give him something different, and he gives us everything we need. Oliver’s it for me.”
“Me too,” I agree.
“Me three.” Aiden studies Jace for a second and leans back on the couch. “I’m fine with that as long as you know I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’ll kill you if you go anywhere,” Jace replies.
“So, does the collar mean you’re asking him to be your submissive?” Aiden asks.
“Yeah, and I’ll make sure I explain exactly what that means to me.”
“And if he says no?”
“Then we’ll figure something else out.”
“You’re willing to give up what you need for him?” Aiden wonders.
“In a heartbeat.”
“But he won’t say no,” I interrupt. “Where is he anyway?”
“He’s upstairs talking to Leland,” Jace answers. “He’s been worried about him.”
“Maybe we should invite him over,” Aiden suggests. “Oliver told me a little about what was happening last night.”
“You mean you actually talked around all the fucking going on?” I laugh.
Aiden flips me the middle finger. “Yes. We didn’t fuck all night.” He pauses and grins. “Just most of the night.”
“I’m surprised he can even walk today.”
“Will you two shut up?” Jace demands. “I’ll ask Oliver if he wants to invite him to dinner or take him out.”
“Are we sure Leland isn’t gay?” I muse. “I saw them at the club the night I punched that guy in the face. They looked like they were ready to fuck on the dancefloor.”
“That’s your psycho talking,” Aiden answers. “I’ve known Leland as long as I’ve known Oliver. He’s just always been supportive of Oli.”
“I think I’m going to talk to Leland about it,” I state.
“You’ll do no such thing,” Jace says. “He’s the one who helped you with Oliver. If Oli says that nothing has ever happened, then nothing has ever happened.”
“You didn’t see them that night, though. Or when Leland was dancing with another guy.”
“No, you and your stalker ways saw them. Drop it,” Jace demands. “You’re not stirring up shit between them just because you’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous of Leland. I was just wondering if he’s really straight because I think he’s at least bi or bi-curious.”
“That’s something for him to figure out,” Aiden adds. “You can’t shove someone out of the closet.”
“Nope. But you can coax them out.”
“Toby,” Jace sighs. “Do not interrogate him.”
“I won’t.”
But that doesn’t mean I won’t ask leading questions.
After Oliver got off the phone, we told him we wanted him to invite Leland out with us. It would give them a chance to talk and us a chance to get to know him. I’ll forever be thankful Leland gave my sorry ass a chance to explain, and I feel like we got close enough for me to ask questions. So, when Jace and Aiden take Oli to get a drink at the bar, I seize the opportunity.
“Can I ask you a question without you being offended?” I ask, looking at Leland on the other side of the booth.
He raises a brow. “Yeah.”
“Are you gay?”
He chokes on the drink he’s taking, laughing. “No. I’m not.”
“Bi?” Leland shakes his head. “Bi-curious?”
Leland crosses his arms on the table, completely relaxed. “I grew up with a gay best friend. Don’t you think I would have explored with him if I were the least bit curious?”
“See. I thought about that, but maybe you didn’t want to mess with the friendship. Or you didn’t find Oli attractive.”
“Oli is attractive. I can admit that. That doesn’t mean I want to put it in his ass, though. Why are you asking anyway?”
“Because I saw you that night at the club. That little guy you were dancing with? You were all over him.”
Leland shrugs. “I was having fun. I’m comfortable enough in my sexuality that I’ve always been like that. Are you worried about mine and Oli’s friendship?”
“Not at all. But I also know what it does to you to fight against who you really are.”
I let that sink in and know when he realizes what I’m saying. “I appreciate you looking out for me, but I’m not fighting anything.”
Before I can say anything, I see Zac and Vince making their way through the restaurant. I wave them over, and they scoot into the booth beside Leland. “What are you guys doing here?”
“I just got off work,” Zac answers. “He met me here for dinner.”
“This is Leland. Oli’s friend,” I introduce. “Leland, this is Zac and Vince.”
Vince openly eye fucks him, and I have to smother a laugh. “Aren’t you the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen?”
Leland laughs and shakes his head. “Thanks.”
Zac leans up to look around Vince’s arm. “Maybe after dinner, you can come back to our place, and we’ll have you for dessert.”
“He doesn’t play for our team,” I say, sitting back in the seat to watch this play out. Zac and Vince don’t know when to stop pushing.
“He doesn’t?” Vince asks, tilting his head to the side. “That’s a damn shame because he’s got the prettiest dick sucking lips.” Vince reaches up and rubs his thumb across Leland’s bottom lip, and I wait for the recoil from Leland, only it never happens. “Let us show you how good it can be.”
“I’ll pass, but thanks for the offer.” Leland grins, and I know he just fucked up. Zac and Vince are going to take that as a challenge. “I’m going to get a drink.” Zac and Vince reluctantly let him slide from the booth but watch him walk all the way to the bar.
“I think I just fell in love,” Zac says, sitting back down. “Did you see those eyes?”
I roll my eyes and groan. “Please don’t harass him.” I snap my fingers in front of Vince’s face to get his attention away from Leland. “Did you hear me?”
“Why have you been hiding him?” Vince asks.
“For this very reason,” I laugh. “You guys can’t take no for an answer.”
“Maybe that’s what he needs,” Vince replies, looking back at Leland. “Someone he can’t say no to.”
I turn and see Leland with a puzzled look, staring back at Vince. I’m ninety-nine percent sure that I’m right about Leland. He doesn’t give me secure straight guy vibes. He gives me ‘someone who’s fighting who he really is’ vibes. Oli told me about Leland thinking about jumping off the bluffs, and something tells me that’s not the first time he’s thought about it. My mom told me once that you should always check on your happiest friends because they might be the ones struggling the most. Leland covers a lot with humor. I can recognize it because I used to do the same thing when I was struggling with my sexuality and how to come out to my mom. If anything happened to Leland, it would kill Oliver.
I turn back to Vince and Zac. “You can’t push him too hard.”
“He’ll come to us,” Zac says confidently. He and Vince get up from the booth and go to the bar where Leland is. Zac says something, and Leland laughs.
Jace and Aiden slide in front of me while Oliver sits beside me. Jace gives me a hard look. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything!”
Leland laughs again, and Oliver turns to look that way before looking at me. “What did you do?” he repeats, making Aiden snort a laugh.
“Okay. I might have asked him some questions about his sexuality and maybe gave Zac and Vince permission to pursue him.”
“I told you to drop it,” Jace says in a low tone, showing me he’s pissed off. “Zac and Vince are too much for him.”
“I don’t know,” Oliver says. “Leland can hold his own.”
“I thought we’d already concluded that Leland’s straight, anyway?” Aiden asks.
“Does that look like a straight man to you?” I point out, watching Vince lean in close to Leland’s ear. He doesn’t back away, and I can see his breath catch from here.
“It’s still none of your damn business,” Jace argues. “If and when he’s ready, he’ll come to Oliver. You need to stay out of it.”
“What do you think, Baby?”
Oli shrugs while taking a sip of his drink. “I see what you’re saying, but the more you pressure Leland into admitting anything, the more he’ll fight it.”
“Translation? Stay the fuck out of it,” Aiden says, grabbing Oli’s hand across the table. “He’ll make up his own mind.”
I kiss Oli’s cheek. “Then he can have what you have.”
“What? Three overbearing men? One of which can’t mind his own business?” Oli says innocently, and Jace’s booming laugh echoes around the restaurant.
I bury my face in his neck and bite gently. “You’re going to pay for that later.”
“Looking forward to it,” Oliver answers.
I can’t remember the last time I was this happy.
It’s a feeling I can get used to.