Chapter 21
TOBIAS HAD NOTHING TO wear.
Okay, that wasn’t technically true. His bed was filled with clothes he’d tried on and discarded after determining they were not quite right. And it had nothing to do with nerves.
‘Cough. Bullshit. Cough.’
Mind your business.
‘Never.’
He sighed and sat on the edge of his bed. In a little while, Chase would arrive to take him and Madison on a date, and he was trying not to freak out.
He took his favorite knot out of his sweatpants pocket and rubbed it, thinking through his choices as he did.
Maybe he was going about this all wrong.
Chase asked him out. Even when Tobias wore gym gear, Chase usually had trouble keeping his eyes off him.
Tobias had the same problem. No matter what Chase wore, Tobias couldn’t help but be attracted to him.
If that went both ways, it didn’t matter what Tobias put on for their date tonight.
He took a deep breath and stood up, dropping his sweats and replacing them with a pair of dark jeans, tight enough to show off his ass for Chase.
He threw a navy button-down shirt over that, leaving the top few buttons undone and then finished the look with a leather jacket his mom got him for Christmas.
After putting his lucky knot in his jeans pocket, he took one more look in the mirror and deemed himself ready.
When he checked his watch, he noticed there wasn’t much time until Chase would arrive, so it was time to see if the third member of their date was ready.
He left his bedroom and walked down the hall to find Grace putting the finishing touches on a French braid in Madison’s hair. She tied it off with a bright pink bow to match her dress, black leggings underneath.
“You ready, Maddie-moo?” he asked as he leaned in the open doorway. “Chase will be here soon.”
“Yup!” Madison said as she hopped off her vanity chair. “Gigi did my hair in a pretty braid. Do you think Chase will like it?”
“Of course he will,” he answered. “But what matters most is if you like it.”
“I love it. Gigi makes the best braids.”
“And you give the best hugs,” Grace said as she scooped up Madison in her arms, both of them giggling.
A moment later, the chime of the doorbell echoed throughout the house, and Tobias’ heart began to race, almost as fast as Madison’s legs did as she tore out of her room.
Before he could follow her, his mom grabbed his arm. He turned back to see her soft smile.
“Have fun tonight, okay?” she said. “That’s all I want you to worry about.”
Tobias released a deep breath. “I’ll do my best.”
They left Madison’s room and reached the top of the stairs to see her opening the door to Chase. He wore black jeans and a dark purple sweater, his brown hair perfectly coiffed, and he beamed when he caught Tobias smiling at him at the top of his stairs.
Why does it feel like I’m getting picked up to go to prom?
‘How would you know? You didn’t go.’
Urrrgh.
Tobias couldn’t help the excitement flooding through him, the anticipation itching at him. He wasn’t going to let his brain ruin this night, as much as it might want to try. Tonight, Tobias was in control.
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For the first time in years, Tobias was on an actual date.
Well, he was pretty sure it was a date.
Does it still count as a date if my six-year-old niece joins?
‘Considering the last “date” you had was in high school? Yeah, I think we can count this as a date.’
Okay, there’s no need to be rude.
Did his brain have to sass him about everything? Maybe it was good practice for when Madison entered her teen years.
If anything, Tobias hoped this experience would show Madison how she should be treated on a date.
When he arrived, Chase gave Madison a little bouquet of bright carnations in every color of the rainbow.
Tobias felt a little left out until Chase pulled out a single red rose for him, and Tobias hoped his cheeks didn’t match the petals.
His blush was no match for Chase’s charm.
Tobias drove them into the city, since he needed the booster seat for Madison in his car, and they spent the drive talking about their favorite movies and music.
Chase was familiar with plenty of Disney movies and songs, further endearing him to Madison.
He also enjoyed classic rock, especially Queen, which led to them introducing Madison to “Bohemian Rhapsody.” making her giggle as they sang along.
By the time they got off the highway, Tobias was desperate to touch Chase. Keeping one hand on the wheel, he reached over the center console with his other and settled it on top of Chase’s. Chase smiled and turned over his hand, intertwining their fingers.
Tobias felt a little silly at the adrenaline that flowed through him from Chase’s touch. They’d already shared orgasms together, but holding his hand somehow felt like so much more. It felt right. He was grateful Chase had the guts to ask him out.
Thanks to their flexible schedules, the three of them were able to visit Otherworld on a weekday, and they had most of the place to themselves. It helped that it was bitter cold out and few people were willing to leave the warmth of their homes to visit a… Well, it was kind of a museum.
It turned out Otherworld was appropriately named.
Tobias felt like he’d left Philly completely as they went from room to room.
There was a giant Valentine’s Day heart display meant for photos, and Chase got an employee to take their picture in front of it, like they were a happy little family.
Tobias tried not to hope too much that they could have this for real one day.
The entire experience was trippy and fun.
Some rooms featured projections of light and wild designs shifting on the walls and floor.
Others were filled with whimsical creatures big and small, some taking up entire rooms on their own.
He freaked out a little in the room filled with colorful hair.
Literally every inch of space on the walls was filled with strands of hair from every color of the rainbow.
Even the ceiling was covered in hanging tresses.
Madison especially loved the room where she could pretend to be a DJ, controlling music from a giant display, the lights in the room reacting to her changes in tempo.
Chase had a blast helping her and explaining the mechanics of a proper beat drop.
Tobias tried not to be discomfited by the two-story-tall beings in white robes standing over the room. The place could be a nightmare factory for some people, but he loved how much Madison enjoyed it.
In one room, they had to walk through a maze of nets separated by dangling neon straps. For whatever reason, Madison made herself happy running back and forth through the maze and its dizzying colors, and Chase and Tobias enjoyed a moment of not having to chase after her.
Finally, he got a chance to talk, something he never thought he’d say. Tobias was desperate to get to know Chase better, especially after he’d dealt with all of Tobias’ problems. Time to be an adult and have an actual conversation.