25. Tobias
25
Tobias
“Okay, kids. You know the drill. Avoid bright lights, don’t get wet, and don’t eat after midnight.” Jude called out, slicking back his hair in the hallway mirror.
I shook my head, refitting my black NY baseball cap on my head. “We aren’t Gremlins.” I laughed.
“We’re watching that movie tonight,” Elijah said, coming out from around the corner and hitting me softly on my chest with the back of his hand.
“Deal.” I nodded. Movie night with Elijah sounds perfect.
“Yeah, prove me wrong, and I’ll believe you. We’ll see you later!” Jude waved, grabbing a hold of Gwen’s waist as they walked to the door. She looked lovely in a long red dress that slipped open on one of her thighs. Apparently, they were going out dancing after dinner.
“Don’t wait up for us. We’ll be getting in late.” He winked, squeezing her side, making her throw her head back and giggle.
“Ew! Gross! Goodbye, love you.” Elijah waved them off, making me laugh.
“You’re happy for them,” I cooed, leaning on the wall. I twisted the dish towel up in my hands.
“Yeah, well…” he turned past me and headed to the kitchen. “I am.” He smiled. “But making him feel old and gross is what keeps him young. I stand firm on that.” He winked.
“That doesn’t even make sense.” I laughed, whipping him with the towel.
“Ouch!” He laughed running ahead of me. His laughter is like crack in my ears. I’m addicted to it. I think I’m addicted to him. I twisted the towel up again and whipped him again. A few times. “Uncle! Uncle!” He whined, rubbing his lower back.
I straightened up and threw the towel over my right shoulder.
“Fine. What do you want to eat tonight? I can make us something.” I turned towards the stove. I’ve been loving making him food. It’s the way he hums quietly around whatever he’s eating what I made him. It’s too much.
Like he read my mind, he walked up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, and pulling me against his chest.
“You know what I'm really hungry for?” He purred in my ear while his hands explored up and down my chest.
My breathing turned choppy. He made me so fucking nervous. I’ve never felt this way before.
“What?” I swallowed deeply.
“A big…thick…” his hands slowly dipped towards my waistband while his pelvis pushed into my ass. “Grilled cheese.” He said, patting me on the stomach.
My eyes narrowed as I turned around. “Bastard.” I laughed, shoving him away.
“Damn, Tobias. Strong feelings towards grilled cheese?” He looked down at my crotch, which prompted me to cover up my semi.
“I hate you.” I smiled shyly.
“Yeah, well… I hate you, too.” He muttered, gripping the back of my neck with his hands and pulling me close.
Our lips connected in one of our fiery kisses yet again. I was insatiable for him. I could do this forever. I gripped his waist and walked him backward until his back hit the countertop. A low and sexy moan slipped from his lips, lighting me up even more.
“I could come from those sounds alone,” I whispered, kissing his jaw and down his neck.
His hands curled up into my hair, tugging and pulling as he wiggled beneath me trying to align our pelvises.
“I’d like to see that happen.” He breathed, tilting his neck back to give me more access.
Suddenly, the door slammed, breaking us apart. We quickly scattered to opposite ends of the counter: me at the stove and Elijah at the sink.
“Sorry boys! Just forgot my wallet. Imagine I get to the restaurant and can’t even pay.” Jude laughed, his voice echoing from the hallway.
“Right. Yeah.” I panted, trying to catch my breath. We listened as Jude ran up the stairs quickly and back down again.
Stopping at the kitchen, he looked us over. We hadn’t moved an inch. “You boys okay?”
“Yeah. Just going to make some grilled cheese.” Elijah smiled over his shoulder. Was he washing a spoon?
Dad nodded and smiled. “Yum! Well, see ya! Can't keep the lady waiting!” He said tapping the door frame with his hand before running back out the door.
“Holy shit, that was so close.” I laughed, feeling my heartbeat with my hand. “Do you think he saw?”
Elijah turned back around and dried his hands off. “No, he definitely didn’t.” He smiled. He walked over to the kitchen entrance and scanned the front door before turning back around to me. “We should probably talk about whether or not it’d be a good thing if he did… you know, see us?” Elijah looked over my face.
I bit my lip. “You’re right. We haven’t talked about it at all.”
Elijah nodded and walked over to the fridge to take out the cheese while I fired up the burner and took out the bread and butter.
“I can start.” He said cutting into the cheese. “I think it’s safe to say that I like you…like, a lot.” He sliced off another slice.
“I like you too… a lot.” I smiled, buttering the bread.
“Good.” He beamed at me. “But, I think it’s also safe to say that we kind of share my dad. We’re kind of brothers.” Elijah laughed.
“Not by blood.” I shrugged.
“No, not by blood. But,” he hesitated. I understood his point. We were a family either way.
“I get it.” I nodded. “You’re right, it’s kind of…close.” I bit my lip, looking at the pan.
“But, there’s no part of me that wants to stop. Like, at all.” He said, coming up beside me with the cheese. I placed the bread in the pan and layered the cheese on while putting the other slices of bread on top. Perfect–two sandwiches for us both.
“Me either. And I really, really want to keep going,” I breathed. I glanced at him and noticed he was smiling, his gaze fixed on my lips.
“Good. That’s good.” He nodded. “So, we could keep…going and just… keep it between you and me? For now, at least. While we sort out what this even is.” He said, looping his fingers in my belt loop.
“Yeah, let’s do that.” I inhaled sharply, leaning in.
“Plus, it’s kind of hot.” He whispered, our lips grazing each other.
“What is?” I smiled, laying a soft kiss on his lower lip.
“Being brothers. Sneaking around to avoid our dad catching us.” He teased.
“You’re sick.” I shook my head, pulling him into my groin.
“You fucking love it.” He breathed before connecting his lips with mine.
***
Once we finally pulled ourselves away from each other long enough to flip the grilled cheese, they actually came out looking alright. Besides the one side being burnt, they were delicious.
“You have to be fucking with me. You two dated for the majority of the tenth grade.” Elijah laughed.
I shook my head and threw up my hands. “I swear, Brittany Rogers and I never did more than over-the-pants stuff.”
“Wow, who knew you were such a square.” Elijah laughed, taking a sip of his glass filled with lemonade.
“Hey!” I laughed, throwing my balled-up napkin at him from across the kitchen table. It was getting late, and we just kept talking after dinner. I could talk to him for hours. It was nice to feel so relaxed with him. Everything felt so easy.
“So, Tobias the virgin.” Elijah leaned back in his chair and hoisted his feet on the chair next to him.
“Woah, I never said I was a virgin. I just never lost it to Brittany Rogers.” I smirked. This made Elijah’s ears perk up, and from where I was sitting, he looked pretty jealous.
“What? Seriously? Who’d you lose it to? When?” His questions came out rushed, which made me laugh.
“I don’t kiss and tell,” I said, getting up from my seat and picking up both of our plates.
“Hell fucking yeah, you do. You better. Tell me right now.” He said, following me and tugging on my elbow.
“Or what?” I teased.
“Or… or… I don’t know. Just tell me. I need to know.” His eyebrows furrowed.
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, fine.” I sighed. I was done torturing him. “Jessica Martins. Eleventh grade, house party, her parents' bedroom. You happy?” I said, shouldering him as I passed him back to the table.
“Jessica Martins? The public school girl from Central?
My eyebrow arched. “Yeah, why? Got a problem with public school girls, Mr.Prep?” I said, poking him in the chest.
“No, and ouch.” He said, rubbing his now sore spot. “Just… how’d she do it?”
“How’d she do what? ”
“Get in your pants?…” He exhaled, a slight blush rising on his cheeks.
I looked him over. “I don’t know…” I thought about my answer. “She was pretty and was really kind to me. Everyone knew her as a really sweet girl. I liked how nice she was.” I shrugged.
Elijah thought this over while I wiped down the table. “You’re a sucker for the nice ones.” He finally said.
I laughed. “Yeah, I guess I am. I like it when people care for others, I guess. It’s pretty attractive.” I leaned into the table with my arm, blocking him in.
He bit his lip and looked down. “Was it good?”
“The sex?” I looked away. “I mean…yeah, sure.” I shrugged. “It was alright given the circumstances. I was super nervous and the house was crowded. Kind of took me a while to get things going if you know what I mean.” I laughed.
“No, I meant with a girl. Was it good with a girl?”
I knew what he was asking. “Sorry, I shouldn’t pressure you to—“ He said, shaking his head.
“Honestly,” I cut in. “It felt strange and a little forced. I sort of did it because I felt like I should. Don’t get me wrong, it was nice and she was great. Sweet girl, but… if I'm being honest with myself. If it was really up to me… I wouldn’t have.” I looked down at my feet feeling a rush of shame.
“So, who do you think it was up to?” Elijah asked.
“The team was sort of getting on me about my virginity. And…well, my dad. Derrick. I knew he’d be happy with me when I told him I lost it to a girl. He was always searching to sus out the gay in me. Call it out and ‘correct me’ for it like he likes to call it.”
Elijah’s jaw clenched, and I saw a flash of anger wash over his face.
“Honestly, he always knew. There was no hiding it from him, really.” I breathed. “He knew boys weren’t supposed to look at boys the way I’d look at you. It was as if he was always on the hunt to catch me in the act so he’d get the chance to punish me. Not that it mattered how much I stayed away from you…he always seemed to catch me staring…” I looked up at Elijah, who looked at me like he was about to cry.
“Oh, Tobias.” He breathed.
“I think my friends or so-called friends, I should say, knew too. They didn’t even tell me what they were up to the night everything went down because they knew it’d hurt me. They knew what they were doing, and they knew I wasn’t going to like it.” I looked down at the table, punching it lightly repeatedly with my fist. “It makes me so angry knowing I could’ve stopped it. You were just so… special to me.” I shrugged. “I feel like no one wanted us to be…together.” I breathed.
When our eyes connected, I realized Elijah was blushing. His face turned red, which made my stomach twist and turn in ways that only happened around him.
“I’m sorry I was so mean to you back then,” Elijah muttered, looking down at his feet.
“A part of me didn’t mind you hating me so much. At least you felt something for me. I’d take hate over nothing.” I shrugged, bumping his shoulder with my own.
He furrowed his eyebrows at me. “I could never feel nothing for you. Not when you’ve always meant everything—” He cut himself off.
“You have to stop doing that.” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Stop doing what?” He swallowed deeply.
“Cutting yourself off right when it’s about to get good,” I said, my voice quiet. My heart was beating so hard as I stared down at his lips.
“I’ll work on that…” He said in a hushed voice.
“Anyway, enough about me and my sad virginity story.” I laughed, breaking the undeniable tension. “Tell me yours.”
Elijah smiled, pushing back some of his hair from his eyes.
“Oh, easy. Ninth grade, Emily Thompson, in her basement. She was my best friend at the time, and I liked hanging out with her. We were watching a movie, and oops.” Elijah shrugged and laughed.
“Oops!” I mimicked, backing him into the table. “Wait…since you’re demisexual, that must mean you formed a bond with her, huh?” My stomach immediately twisted. “Not gonna lie, I’m feeling a little jealous.” My grip on his waist tightened.
A slow smile crept onto Elijah’s lips. "Don’t worry. She was my best friend at the time, so it was different." He paused, his expression shifting. His gaze flickered with heat, shifting to my lips. "I think now, knowing more about demisexuality, I can enjoy it in a whole new way.” His voice was softer now, more thoughtful. “But I will say—jealousy looks good on you." He winked at me playfully.
“Wait.” I pressed him against the table again, my pulse quickening. “Have you ever been with a guy?” I asked. My heart was suddenly lodged in my throat.
Elijah smirked at me.
“Nuh-uh. Looks like we’re both virgins in that department.” His eyes drifted down to my mouth.
I bit my lip. “Fuck, this will be fun.” I grabbed him by the waist again, hoisting him up on the table.
His hands quickly pushed underneath my shirt, and I gripped the back of my t-shirt to help pull it off.
Suddenly, the front door opened, and footsteps walked through the front foyer. Elijah’s eyes widened, and in one quick motion, he grabbed the deck of cards beside us and spread them out on the table. I scrambled to adjust the chairs, stifling a laugh as we tried to casually settle into our positions across from each other.
“We got rained out!” Jude called out, rushing inside.
“Oh yeah?” Elijah answered, his voice a little too casual. We exchanged a quick, nervous glance, each trying to act like we hadn’t just been super close to getting caught.
“Dinner was awesome, but there was no way we were going to make the drive out of town in this downpour,” Jude said, coming into the kitchen.
“You dropped an eight again? You’re really bad at this game.” Elijah laughed at me, shaking his head.
“Yeah. Whatever.” I breathed. I looked down at my cards. It really was a bad move to keep doing that. But damn, I wasn’t thinking straight. That was a close call.
“Once you two are done with your card game, I want you to meet Gwen and me in the living room. Rainy day calls for–”
“Movie night,” Elijah and I said in unison.