28. Elijah
28
Elijah
This summer had quickly turned into the best summer of my life. It was no surprise that Tobias Voss had played a huge part in that.
As the days go by and the laughs, flirting, and playfulness continue, so do my feelings for him, and they’re only getting more and more intense. I feel as though the more time we spend together, the more I realize how deep my feelings for him have always been. My body has always known, but my brain just needed some time to catch up.
Tobias had the genius idea to set an alarm on his phone so he could stay with me throughout the night and creep back to his room before anyone woke up in the morning. Getting to sleep with him in bed was something I never knew how badly I needed until I had it. He feels like coming home. A soft, warm hug that keeps you safe from all the dangers in the world. That’s what he feels like to me.
“Haaaappy Birthdaaaay–” A loud baritone voice stormed into the room, forcing me to snap my eyes open and waking me up from my very nice dream of Tobias on a surfboard in California dripping wet.
I quickly covered my lower half with a blanket before I sat up, taking in what I was seeing.
Dad, Tobias, and Gwen walked into my room with a platter full of French toast, bacon, and lemonade, accompanied by a small vase full of Iris’s. I laughed as they all finished singing my birthday song.
“And many moreeee.” Dad finished off with jazz hands. I clapped my hands and cheered.
“Thanks guys.” I laughed.
“Okay, so we brought you these in bed, but they’re actually for all of us, so hurry up, come downstairs, and we can dig into these together.” Dad laughed, bending over to kiss me on the cheek and shuffling my hair.
“Yeah, that makes sense.” I smiled, picking up the tray and handing it back.
“Happy birthday, birthday boy.” Gwen squealed, kissing me on the cheek and hugging me tightly.
“Thanks, Gwen.”
“We have so much planned for you today!” She clapped her hands. “Come on, come on.” She waved her hand and skipped out of the room with dad.
I breathed in, looking over at Tobias, who was standing off to the side, hands behind his back.
I bit my lip. He looked so good this morning with his hair hanging in his eyes. I’ve noticed he hasn’t been pushing it back out of his face as much lately, and it looks amazing.
“I got you something.” He smiled.
I looked at him, confused. “What? When? We’ve been with each other every day since we got here.” I laughed.
He laughed back, walking up to the bed. “I got this before we came here.”
I looked at him, shocked. That was back when we still weren’t even friends, and I thought I hated him. How stupid was I?
“I knew you liked this movie since I was staying in your room—”
“Which we still have to fight about, by the way.” I winked.
He smirked. “And I gave it a watch, loved it, and thought it’d be cool to get you something from the movie. We could watch it together or something.” He shrugged.
He pulled out a box behind his back. It was a toy figure from the movie ‘American Werewolf in London.’ I saw it once a few years ago in my art class, and I loved it so much. It was one of the werewolf soldiers from the film. I had a movie poster for it that I found online, and it was the perfect addition. I loved this so much. It was perfect.
“This is so cool!” I laughed, flipping it over and checking out the back. This was definitely a collector's item. “I’ll keep this forever.” I smiled, holding it close to my chest. I know I’m being such a little mush ball about it, but I can’t help it. This was so thoughtful and sweet.
Tobias smiled down at me, pleased with himself, which he should be.
“Yeah, well…” He looked back at the doorway before leaning down to lock me in with his arms on the bed. “You deserve so much more.” He smiled, giving me a soft kiss.
I want more. I thought. I want so much more.
“Boys! I’m going to eat all of this without you if you don’t hurry your asses up!” Dad called up to us from downstairs.
***
Lunch was nice at a trendy gastro-pub down the street. Dad thought it was funny to have me try a craft beer, which I absolutely hated. Meanwhile, Tobias suggested an Amaretto Sour, which was so sweet and tart, and I loved it.
Thank you, Mr.Bartender.
After lunch, we decided to walk along the boardwalk of the touristy part of the town. This place looked straight out of a summer movie, filled with gift shops, cool restaurants, and plenty of people walking down by the water.
I watched as Tobias and dad hung off each other, laughing and chatting in each other's ears. They looked like the best of friends.
“It’s so nice, isn’t it?” Gwen said, hooking her arm in mine. I looked back at the two guys enjoying each other's company. At the beginning of the summer, it hurt me to see my dad love another like his own son, but I realize now how special that truly is.
Once I put my selfishness aside, it’s easy to see how happy they are. They’re family. They needed each other for their own reasons, and I see that now.
“Yeah, it’s so nice.” I smiled, holding her hand through the loop.
“You know, it’s nice watching you and Tobias too. You two really have such a strong, beautiful bond.” She smiled.
I looked at her. “Yeah?”
She nodded her head. “When you’re around him, you seem so… you . So carefree and light.” She shrugged, squeezing my hand.
That’s exactly how it feels being around him. It’s crazy that she can see that.
“I guess he brings it out of me.” I breathed, looking back at him. Tobias has his head thrown back in a fit of laughter as Jude is saying something seemingly hilarious. It’s like he moves in slow motion, I swear. “He’s wonderful.” I heard myself say out loud. My cheeks immediately felt hot.
“You know, you bring it out in him too. You bring it out in all of us.” She smiled.
“Thank you.” I smiled back. A thought passed through my mind. “Please don’t…don’t tell dad what I just said. About Tobias, I mean.”
Her eyebrows furrowed, and she looked like that hurt her more than I had thought. “I’d never tell him anything you don’t want me to, Eli.”
“Thank you.” I smiled.
“For the record, though, I think he’d be happy for you. He’d be happy for you both.” She leaned in to whisper.
“You think so?” I looked over at my dad. The happiest guy in the world, right there.
“He’s filled with so much love, Eli. As long as you’re happy, he’s happy. You know that.”
“Yeah.” I smiled.
“Oh, honey! A car show!” Dad said, pointing across the street to a nearby parking lot filled with fancy old cars.
I groaned. “Aw, no way! Those are so boring.”
“Okay, okay.” Gwen patted my arm. “How about I take the old man to the car show, and you and Tobias go get up to some trouble.” She said, reaching into her pocket to give me twenty dollars. Whatever I buy, I buy with my own money, but it’s a sweet gesture.
I looked at Tobias, who was beaming at me and practically bouncing on his toes. I bit my lip. This guy was going to be the death of me.
“Sure. That sounds alright.” I played my excitement off.
“See you in a few.” She winked at us, hooping her arm through dad and walking off.
“She’s the best.” Tobias smiled, nudging me on the shoulder before walking in the opposite direction.
“She is.” I smiled back, following him. I’d follow him anywhere.
***
Time flew as we skipped from store to store.
We stopped in one store to try on funky hats and oversized glasses. One store even had a short little haunted maze that we got lost in–and stole a few kisses inside. Our fingers were constantly intertwining with each other. It’s like our bodies were attached by an invisible magnet. I love the way he kept his hand on my lower back as we browsed antique shops or how our fingertips lingered every time he passed me something to look at.
The smallest little touches were sending zaps throughout my whole body, and I could barely stand it.
“Let’s go over here!” He said, running off into a dimly lit store.
Very quickly after stepping inside, I realized what type of store we were in.
“IDs please.” The cashier said beside us, making us jump at the same time. She had fiery red hair and hoops and studs decorated all over her face. “You must be at least nineteen to enter.” She continued.
“Oh! Right.” I said, shuffling inside my pockets for my wallet. Tobias did the same, and we both handed over our driver's licenses.
“Great.” She said, looking at Tobias’s ID. Clearly liking what she was seeing, she scanned him up and down. I felt something angry stirring up in the pit of my stomach. Could she not?
She turned her attention back to me and my ID. “Happy birthday.” She said to me before passing them both back and returning to her magazine on the counter.
“Woah.” I exhaled, walking deeper into the store. Lingerie and sex toys of all kinds lined the walls.
“Have you never been in a sex shop before?” Tobias laughed, picking up a small purple vibrator in its package and turning to show me.
“No!” I said, grabbing it from his hands and putting it back. “Have you?” I asked quietly.
“No.” Tobias shook his head, smiling. “But, I’ve always wanted to.” He shrugged.
Picking up some red fuzzy handcuffs, I dangled them in the air. “You have, have you?”
He snatched them from my hands and laughed. “Haven’t you ever wondered about what your kink is?”
My eyebrows rose so high. “Tobias Michael Voss. Who would’ve thought you’d be so dirty.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “That’s not my middle name.”
We explored separate aisles, still staying beside each other but looking at different items.
“Do you know what your kink is?” I asked, shyly.
He shook his head. “Nah, I don’t think I have one. I like whatever.”
I rolled my eyes. “You have one,” I said, picking up a huge black dildo.
He looked shocked at what was in my hand. I dropped it and laughed.
“No! Not— “ I dropped the dildo and walked over to him. “You like it when I praise you. You have a praise kink.” I whispered.
Tobias’s cheeks reddened as he looked away. “I do?” He asked.
“Yeah, it’s really hot. I love it, actually.” I smiled. Tobias looked at me like he was surprised by my answer.
How could I not think it was insanely hot? If anything, he’s awakened this kink in me, too.
“How come you know so many things?” He said, looking down at my lips.
I thought about that. “I guess I always had the freedom to explore and find out.”
He looked down at the ground. I swallowed deeply.
“Tobias, I’m sorry you were meant to feel like you couldn’t.” I lifted his chin with my finger so he was looking back at me. “For the record, you can explore with me all you want. I’ll be your guinea pig.” I winked.
This made him laugh, and it filled my heart.
Out of the corner of my eye, past his face, I could see dad and Gwen walking by the store. Thankfully, they didn’t look in our direction.
“Parental alert.” I smiled, dropping my hand from his face.
“I’ll meet you out there. I’ve got to deal with something.” He said, turning away from me. He must’ve popped a boner. I love how easily he got aroused.
I smiled, nodding my head, exiting the store to catch up.