Always Been Write (Lust or Bust #6)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

TOBIAS

**Author Note: This scene was included in part of the epilogue from More Than Write. **

The Night They Met - (ten or so years ago)

“Happy birthday to one of the best guys I know, Tobias, and congratulations on your first book deal, Zane!” Beck cheers loudly before he, Zane, Simon, Hero, Graham, and I clink our shot glasses together.

The Fireball burns all the way down.

One by one, my friends slap me on the shoulder, and I fist-bump Zane before wandering back into the living room where the majority of the party is taking place.

About a year ago, the six of us met in a creative writing class, where we discovered we’re all male romance writers. We’ve been a tight group from day one. I’ve had people in the past who were supportive of my dream to write, but nothing compares to having good friends who share the same goals as you. They just get it.

A month ago, I rented an off-campus house. Beck, Simon, and Hero live here with me, while Graham and Zane have their own apartments.

This is the first party I’ve had here since we moved in. It’s June. It’s my birthday month, and tonight has been so great that I’m considering making this an annual tradition. Not just for my birthday but also because the guys and I have such busy schedules during the school year. Somehow, we manage to cram writing time into our days, but to hang out, have some beers, and enjoy ourselves, those are rare times.

As I said, we all have big goals. Bestsellers, six-figure contracts, awards, movie deals, serial show deals, audio deals, billboard signs, and so much more.

Determination and dedication aren’t something we lack.

I lean against the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. I don’t know half the people here. The turnout looks like word spread. Living in a college town can do that. But I don’t mind it.

I’m glad I could host a fun night like this for everyone.

“Dude, look,” Hero says, coming up behind me as he cracks open a new beer. “Who is that?”

He nods to the front door, where a group of girls just walked in.

“Which one?” I ask, my gaze instantly falling on the last one to step through the door. She’s taller than the others, but not by much. Maybe five ten, five eleven. She’s got on a pair of cut-off shorts, slip-on sneakers, and a pink one-shoulder top that really brings out the color of her tan skin. She has straight, shiny brown hair pulled into a high ponytail. It’s so dark that it might actually be black. I’d need to get closer to know. Her big brown doe eyes scan the room as she takes a breath. My guess is she doesn’t know anyone here. I should be a good host and introduce myself while offering her and her friends a drink.

“The one in the blue dress,” Hero says.

I smile.

I have no clue who either of them is. I’m just glad he wasn’t checking out the same woman as me.

“No clue. But this is our house, so let’s go over there.”

Hero is one step ahead of me, but I hear a crash in the kitchen behind us. Some guy just dropped a whole tray of shot glasses. I sigh, letting my buddy take over greeting our new guests.

“This is why we set out the paper cups,” I say, pointing to the stacks of cups.

“Sorry, we just wanted actual shot glasses.”

“Clearly,” I say and clean up the mess.

I’d make him do it, but his stumble on the way to the patio says he’d probably worsen the problem.

I glance at the clock. It’s only nine, and people are already this drunk.

Hell.

I grab the four bottles of hard liquor sitting out and jog them up the stairs to my room. I don’t mind sharing, but beer will be just fine for everyone here on out until the night is over. Maybe it’ll slow some of these people down.

As I descend the stairs, I glance at the door. The girl in the pink shirt isn’t anywhere in sight. But I do spot Hero chatting it up with the girl in the blue dress.

Simon and Beck are playing video games on the couch, and Graham is trying to read a book while the redhead next to him is basically trying to climb into his lap. I make my way through the kitchen, grab a fresh beer, and head out to the patio where Zane is chugging a red cup at one end of the beer pong table.

It almost feels like we’re at a frat party. I’m sure we would be if it were fall and the semester had started. But tonight, we’re basically just a bunch of college kids who either live here full-time or stay to take classes over the summer.

I chuckle to myself.

Does this mean my house is full of like-minded people who know what they want in life and are eager to get there, or is it full of nerds who like summer school?

“Is something funny?”

With a smirk still on my lips, I turn my gaze to the woman next to me, only to come face-to-face with pink shirt girl.

My smile widens.

“Hi,” I say instead of answering her question.

Under the patio lights, I can faintly spot the light pink color in her cheeks.

“Hi,” she replies.

Before I can say anything else, a Ping-Pong ball smacks her in the temple. She’s not injured for obvious reasons, but it does startle her enough to drop her drink.

Her beer spills onto the ground between us.

“Sorry!” Zane yells. “But I get a free pass tonight!”

I grab the ball and toss it back hard enough that it pegs him in the forehead.

Pink shirt girl laughs.

“Sorry, my friends are kind of crazy,” I say. “That one just got his first book deal, and he’s going insane right now to celebrate.”

She smiles wide. “You hang out with people who write books?”

“Don’t sound so surprised.”

“It’s just weird, is all. I mean, college guys barely read, and here you are with someone who writes actual books.”

Her tone is flirty, and her smile hits me right in the heart.

I fucking like that smile.

“Oh, stereotyping, are we?” I flirt back, crossing my arms and widening my stance as I wait for her reply.

She shakes her head.

“Nope. Just speaking from experience to all the college guys I’ve met so far.”

I chuckle, wink at her, and then lean closer. “Want me to blow your mind?”

She laughs, and my heart swells.

I’ve never heard a laugh that physically gives me energy. I want to listen to it again.

“Is that a sex joke I don’t get?”

“No.” I step even closer to her.

I swear she leans in, too.

“Actually,” I say in a whisper, “I write too.”

“No, you don’t. You’re just trying to impress me after the comment I just made.”

“It’s the truth. Me and my friends. There are six of us. We all write romance.”

Her smile twitches, as if she is unsure whether to smile, laugh, or just walk away because I’m now that weird guy.

“Prove it,” she says, and honestly, that wasn’t what I was expecting her to say. “Let me read something you wrote.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah”—she bumps my shoulder— “or I’ll think it’s just a line you give to get into a girl’s pants.”

“All right.” I hold out my hand. “Follow me.”

“Where to?”

“My room.”

“Oh no, I set myself up for that one, didn’t I?” But she follows me.

“I’ll be a true gentleman,” I tell her. “Unless you tell me to be different.”

“What a gentlemanly thing to say.”

I tug her behind me through the kitchen and up the stairs. Just as we reach my door, I turn to face her.

“By the way, I’m Tobias. What’s your name?”

She blushes as I open the door.

“Natalie.”