“Awesome,” I grumble, pushing myself off my bed. I reach for my mug of coffee—which is still full and now cold—and head downstairs. I’m sure to tip-toe past Greyston’s closed bedroom door.
As I step into the kitchen, I’m surprised to see the refrigerator light on and Greyston’s lower half. “Oh!” I exclaim, making him stand up.
Only, it’s not Greyston. And he’s not wearing a shirt.
I immediately look away. “Sorry, I didn’t think anyone was up,” I tell Toby. “I fell asleep studying and came down to dump my cold coffee and grab a glass of water.”
Toby laughs quietly, bringing a glass of orange juice to his lips. “No worries, Juliette. Can I get you anything?”
He’s sweet, just like Greyston. Exactly the type of person he should be with.
“Thanks. Um, where are the glasses?”
“Cupboard to the left of the sink,” Toby says, stepping off to the side.
I grab a glass and fill it with tap water. With my back turned, I sip my water and stare out the window at the night sky that overlooks the desert. I want to talk to Toby, not necessarily about his relationship, but just to get to know him. I mean, he’s got to be a pretty big part of Greyston’s life; it probably isn’t a bad idea to become friends.
“So, how do you feel about Greyston leaving on this trip?” Toby asks before I get a chance to speak.
I turn around and see him sitting at the counter, both of his large hands wrapped around the slender glass before him. “Fine.”
Toby smiles, his dimples deepening, and stares down into his glass. “He’s worried you won’t feel safe,” he confesses. “I’m just making sure you’re okay with staying here. If not, I’d be happy to make other arrangements.”
Smiling genuinely at his concern, I walk around the island and sit next to him. “It’s a big house,” I say. “But I have a couple of friends I can invite over.”
“Guys?” Why does it sound like he’s fishing for my relationship status?
I shake my head. “No. Boys are so not on my radar at the moment.”
Toby quirks an eyebrow. “Oh? None at all?”
I laugh. “No.” My cheeks warm at my half-truth, and I drop my eyes from his. “Well, there was one, but he’s not exactly available,” I explain quietly.
“His loss,” Toby says, bumping my shoulder lightly with his fist.
I look back up at him, shrugging one shoulder. “Nah. He’s with someone pretty great from what I can tell,” I tell him honestly, not wanting to divulge that my crush is on Greyston.
“How is it you haven’t been snatched up yet?” Toby asks, leaning in. “You’re adorable.”
I can feel myself blushing, and I’m thankful it’s dark in the kitchen so he can’t see it as I drop my gaze and giggle. “Um, thanks?”
“So, you’re sure you’re going to be okay here alone for a few days? If not—”
“Thanks,” I say, interrupting him. “I’ll be fine. Even if none of my friends can stay here, I can take care of myself.”
This seems to intrigue Toby. “Oh?”
“I’ve taken more self-defense classes than you can imagine, and I’m kind of a crack shot,” I brag.
Toby’s head begins to bob up and down, his smile widening even more. “Badass.”
I’m just about to thank him for his concern when a gravelly voice comes from behind me. “Hey. What’s going on down here?”
I turn around to see a sleepy-eyed Greyston scratching the back of his head as he eyes us, confused.
“Oh,” I say, hopping up off my chair. “I fell asleep and was just bringing my cold coffee down and grabbing a glass of water when I ran into Toby, and we got to talking.”
Greyston’s eyes go wide, almost like he’s worried about something. Then they travel to Toby, and he rolls them. “Jesus, man. Put a shirt on. There’s a lady living here now.”
I laugh. “That’s okay. I’m actually going to head back up to bed. I’ll see you guys in a few more hours.”
“Actually,” Toby speaks up, pushing his stool away from the counter and standing. “I’m going to head home. I didn’t mean to fall asleep here as it was.”
“Oh?” I stop in the doorway, looking between him and Greyston.
“Yeah, Greyston and I were just so into fucking around”—I swallow thickly, trying to keep my expression neutral—“that we lost track of time and just passed out upstairs.”
“Gotcha.” I nod. “Well, I’ll see you soon then?”