Chapter 9
TOBIAS SIGHED AS HE powered down the computer in the front of the gym. The six a.m. class had just finished and everyone was making their way out into the cold.
Christmas was two days before and he had worked hard to give Madison the magical holiday she deserved. He even managed to enjoy most of it, but frustration was still eating at him.
He didn’t want to think about why he was so frustrated that Chase had the day off and he didn’t get to see him.
It was probably because he had to deal with the class all by himself and he was getting used to Chase being there to help him.
Yeah, that had to be it.
‘Sure, it’s totally not anything else.’
Be quiet, brain.
‘Couldn’t be his sweet smile that makes you melt a little bit every time you see it.’
Nope, not at all.
‘Or the way his ass looks in those leggings.’
“Shut up!” he shouted, his voice echoing in the empty gym.
“Uh, you all right, Tobes?”
Apparently not as empty as he thought.
Cole frowned at him, concern in his gaze.
“Yeah, sorry, I didn’t…” he said, then cleared his throat. “What are you still doing here?”
Cole shot him a surprised glance, probably thanks to the hint of vulnerability Tobias let slip before adopting his typical frown.
“Soooo, I wanted to check with you about maybe hosting my friend Abby’s going away party next week.”
“I already said no, Cole.”
“You did say no, but I didn’t get to give you my whole pitch.”
Tobias gave him a withering glare that did nothing to quell Cole’s eagerness. “Still no.”
“What if I told you I would clean up everything before and after so you won’t even know a party had been here?”
“Still no. I don’t want to have to worry about people touching things they shouldn’t or messing with the equipment.”
“What if I also clean the gym bathroom every Saturday after class for the next month?”
Tobias couldn’t help furrowing his brow.
“Can’t you just use someone’s house?”
“Everybody’s houses are still in holiday mode and no one wants to host. None of our houses are made to entertain more than ten people.”
Tobias understood the problem. The holidays were a wonderful time of year, but they were also exhausting. Now that he was in charge of a child, the holidays wore him out more than a two-week road trip with the Inferno.
“I dunno, Cole. It’s a lot.”
“Okay, here’s my final offer. I’ll clean everything before and after the party, and during if needed, I’ll clean the bathroom once a week for the next month, and I’ll owe you a favor you can redeem at any time. In case you need help with any new friends or employees or… anyone.”
Tobias squared his shoulders and crossed his arms.
The pose scared most people, but not Cole. The guy had some kind of death wish.
He narrowed his gaze and stared Cole down.
“A favor?”
“Yup, anything you want,” Cole confirmed, nodding.
“Anything, huh? What if I asked you to quit the gym?”
Cole looked aghast, and then confused. “Wouldn’t it be easier to make me go to one of the classes you don’t teach so you could still take my money every month?”
Tobias couldn’t really argue with that. He didn’t plan on kicking Cole out of his class, let alone his gym, but he couldn’t help but fuck with the guy after all the shit he’d pulled over the years.
“Okay, what if I ask you to change to a different class?”
He took a deep breath and stared Tobias right in the eye when he answered.
“If that’s the favor you want, then I would be more than happy to change classes, but I think you should save it for something else.
Especially since I have lots of background knowledge on a certain yoga instructor you might need help with. ”
“And why would I need help?”
With that question, Cole furrowed his brows, looking far more serious than usual.
“I’m not saying you will need help, but sometimes it’s nice to have. It’s what friends do.”
As much as Cole drove him nuts, Tobias couldn’t help warming at the thought he considered Tobias a friend.
“And, hey, bonus for you,” Cole continued.
“You mentioned starting those classes for kids? Abby’s sister Alyssa and their parents work in family law so she might be able to help you out with liability stuff or whatever you might need.
I actually have no idea if the two things are related, but I figured I’d throw it out there.
Her son, Colin, is six so maybe they’d even do your classes. ”
That… was actually a great idea. Then he wouldn’t have to call a lawyer to set that up.
Was letting people throw a party in his gym easier than making a phone call to a stranger?
It shouldn’t be, but that was how Tobias’ mind worked.
Plus, if Alyssa had a son Madison’s age, maybe they could arrange a playdate.
Madison could always use more friends, after all.
He didn’t want her to turn out like him.
She was a lot more like her sociable mother, and he wanted to keep it that way.
Tobias sighed deeply before answering.
“Fine, you can have Abby’s going away party here, and I’m holding you to everything you said.”
Cole whooped and did a fist pump before pulling Tobias into a hug he didn’t return.
“You’re the best, Tobes,” he said as he pulled away.
“Thanks again, man. I’m gonna get out of here before you change your mind, but I’ll text you about details. You’re the best, Tobes,” he said as he retreated from the gym, not giving Tobias a chance to say anything else before he was walking out the door.
Tobias shook his head and chuckled. Cole may have been a pain in the ass, but he sure knew how to take advantage of a situation. At least, maybe this one would work out for him.
————————
Tobias, Madison and Grace were cozied up on the couch as they awaited the ball drop at midnight. Natalie returned to Colorado the day after Christmas and the house felt so much quieter without her.
They’d gorged on hot cocoa and what was left of the Christmas cookies as time ticked down.
There was still another couple hours to go, but both Madison and Grace were struggling to stay awake. Normally, Tobias would be in the same position, but his mind was racing with everything he wanted to discuss with Alyssa.
He figured he wouldn’t be able to talk to her about everything at the party, of course, since she’d be busy saying goodbye to her sister before she left to travel the world with her Italian boyfriend. But he figured he could ask her if they could set up a consultation to talk about his situation.
As he thought, Madison’s head bumped against his stomach. It seemed she was now having trouble holding her head up.
He adjusted her so her head was against his chest, sliding down the couch a little to give her a better angle. He figured once she was asleep, he’d carry her upstairs, but his mom had something else in mind.
“Maddie, how about you and me go to bed and we’ll have a slumber party in my room? We can watch the ball drop in there.”
Of course, Maddie was hit with a blip of energy that had her jumping off the couch. “Can Phil come with us, Gigi?”
Madison got so many toys for Christmas, but her favorite was a stuffed plushie of the Inferno’s mascot, Phil the Phoenix. It was a gift from Grace, and Madison hadn’t let it out of her sight since she opened it.
“Of course he can, so long as he doesn’t set my bed on fire.”
She giggled tiredly and spun around to give Tobias a hug goodnight. He squeezed her and gave her a kiss on top of her head.
“Happy New Year, Maddie-Moo.”
“Happy New Year, Oby. Give Phil a kiss, too.” And, of course, he did, right on his beak.
He stood to hug his mom goodnight too, and then two of his favorite girls were headed up the stairs.
Not particularly interested in the New Year’s celebrations, he turned on ESPN to catch some highlights and pulled out his knitting to keep his hands busy. They were talking about football when his phone buzzed in his pocket.
He was surprised to find a text from Chase.
CHASE: Hey, boss! Here’s a link to the acroyoga seminar we were talking about. Maybe we can hold a special advanced class every so often for people who want to give it a try.
Tobias clicked on the link and his eyes widened at the different poses they’d learn during the seminar. Most of them involved a person holding up their partner so they were doing a yoga pose in the air, while balancing on the other’s hands, feet or any other body part they could.
It was clear they would have to get pretty close during the lesson if they were going to be doing moves like that.
TOBIAS: You sure you wanna get that close to a big lug like me?
His phone showed Chase typing and stopping, then again and again before he responded.
CHASE: Are you trying to get me to say something inappropriate? I’m trying to be a good employee here ::tongue sticking out emoji::
He couldn’t help but be surprised by Chase’s candor. It seemed to shock him every time. He was even more shocked by the smile taking over his face.
But his smile turned into a frown as he remembered what day it was.
TOBIAS: It’s New Year’s. Shouldn’t you be out partying somewhere?
CHASE: Nah, not really my scene. I prefer to stay in and read.
TOBIAS: My kinda night. I’m sitting here knitting. Reading anything good?
CHASE: Depends what you consider good. I’m reading MM romance at the moment.
TOBIAS: MM?
CHASE: Male/male. As in gay romance.
TOBIAS: What kind of story?
CHASE: Hmm, you might judge me if I tell you.
TOBIAS: Why, is it something super kinky like one of those romances where the character falls for an inanimate object or an otter shifter?
CHASE: LMAO! No, not at all!
TOBIAS: I’m not the judging kind. Try me.
CHASE: You might like it, actually. It’s about a pro hockey team.
Why would I judge him for that? Because I played hockey?
‘Maybe he’s embarrassed because he’s thinking it’s you in the story.’
No way.
‘Ask him, then!’
No way!
He really should talk to someone about the arguments he had in his head with himself.
TOBIAS: Ah, so that’s your type? Hockey players? What book is it? I’ll have to check it out.
CHASE: You’re playing with fire, boss! It’s “Bending the Rules” by Brigham Vaughn.
Tobias thumbed over to the icon for the internet on his phone and searched for the book. He took a swig of his hot cocoa and then immediately choked on it when he read what the book was about.
It wasn’t just about any hockey player. It was about a goaltender, and his major crush on a cute twink.
Oh, fuck.
Was Chase a twink? Maybe twink-ish, especially when he wore those sinful leggings of his.
He kept reading the blurb and a couple reviews. It turned out the goaltender was a redhead and the twink was a photographer and art gallery owner, so it wasn’t exactly the same as him and Chase. Plus, it took place in Toronto.
See? It’s totally different from our situation.
Tobias didn’t believe himself either.
TOBIAS: Ah, I see. You like redheads. I’m totally judging you for that. Haha! JK. CHASE: Ha! Yeah, not usually the feature I’m drawn to.
Don’t ask.
Don’t ask.
Don’t ask.
TOBIAS: What are you usually drawn to?
Sigh. I’m a terrible listener.
CHASE: I prefer dark hair. Someone bigger than me. A guy who has enough muscles to hold me up, but doesn’t mind me being in charge, taking control, making sure they’re taken care of like they deserve.
“Holy shit,” Tobias whispered to himself in the empty room.
It was like Chase was painting a picture of his deepest, darkest fantasies.
He’d had few hookups over the years, thanks to his desperation to remain in the closet, and they always expected him to top, thanks to his size.
The problem was every moment of his life was about him taking control and leading the charge and focusing on what needed to be done.
When he was in the bedroom, he just wanted to let go and feel.
He wanted someone else to be in charge so he could finally relax.
Tobias was so lost in his fantasy he didn’t even notice his hand was stroking the hard bulge in his sweatpants. Too much time must have passed because another text brought him out of his trance.
CHASE: Sorry, that was inappropriate. Forget I said anything, okay?
TOBIAS: No, you’re good. I was thinking about what you said. Must be hard to find.
CHASE: Oh, it is. Guess that’s why I’m still single, huh?
TOBIAS: Maybe the right guy is right around the corner.
CHASE: I sure do hope so.
A glance at the clock showed it was about to strike midnight. As much as he should have stopped this conversation in its tracks, he couldn’t help but be energized by the direction it went.
Sure, Chase might have been his employee, but it wasn’t like he’d get in trouble with anyone for being interested in him. He was the sole owner of the gym, and they were both adults.
Was it a mistake to crush on his newest employee?
Yes, undoubtedly.
Was he going to let that stop him from indulging in fantasies about Chase after years of no one else warming his bed at night?
Hell fucking no.
TOBIAS: Who knows what the new year has in store? Happy New Year, Chase.
CHASE: Happy New Year, Tobias ::heart emoji::
And no one would ever have to know he planned on jerking off as soon as he got in bed.