"Come on baby, harder!" Katelyn moaned. I gripped her hips and thrust into her over and over again. I had positioned her perfectly in the direction of my headboard so that she had no choice but to lean her hands on the wall.

I'd only hope we were making enough sounds to truly pierce through this wall. Thankfully, Dad's room is on the other side of the house so there's a good chance he can't hear anything.

"You like that?" I breathed.

"Yeah, baby. So good." She moaned.

I feel bad but I have to break it off with her after this trip. She's a nice girl but damn, I just don't feel anything for her.

It's hard work enough trying to keep this stiff one up and my wandering thoughts weren't helping.

"I'm going to come." I lied. I amped up the swinging of my hips so I would hit her G-spot in the way she likes.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" She groaned, hitting her fist against the wall.

I couldn't help but smile. He would've heard that, for sure. "That's a good girl." I smiled as she laid her head down on the pillow below her.

"Mmmm, thank you." She smiled, lying flat on the bed.

"I'm going to go and shower and then you can right after me," I said, slipping out of her and slinking out of the bed.

"Okay, babe." She winked, making fun of my word choice last night.

I shook my head and left to go get cleaned up in the bathroom. Blue balls are going to suck but honestly, a nice cold shower should help and just what I need.

Thoughts about being back home was overwhelming me and I just needed a second to catch my breath.

Once we both were cleaned up and dressed, we headed downstairs.

Immediately, I was hit in the face with the smell of French toast and bacon. My favorite combination. 

"Morning, sleepy heads." Jude said giving us both a once over while flipping some bread in a pan. Gwen smiled sheepishly over her coffee at the kitchen island still dressed in her pajamas and silk robe. I smiled awkwardly realizing how quiet the house was. They definitely would've heard us upstairs.

"There's breakfast ready for you both here. Katelyn, I made yours in a separate pan away from the bacon." Dad wiped his hands clean on his apron before taking it off and placing it down on the counter. "Tobias and I have to run around town today before work but you're more than welcome to tag along." He said to me.

My face dropped. "You're going together?"

He laughed, placing two breakfast plates beside Gwen. "Yeah? That's kind of how we do things." He walked over and shuffled my hair around with his fingers.

I cringed. "Dad." I said, shaking my hair back and grooming it back in place. I don't leave it as messy as I used to anymore and I'd like to keep it like that.

"You are more than welcome to come along. You know how much fun we use to have on our ride-alongs."

"Sure, yeah. I'll join you guys." I shrugged.

"Well, while they're doing boring errands, want to come and join me shopping, Katelyn?" Gwen piped up.

"Sure! That sounds like fun." Katelyn smiled, digging into her French toast.

I smiled, grateful for Gwen.

A thought crossed my mind. "Wait, where is Tobias?"

"He went for his morning run. Didn't you hear him leave? He left pretty early." Dad said passing me for the stairs.

"Why? You miss me?"

His deep voice vibrated through the hallways and all the way to my ears, hitting me like a brute force. I turned to see him walking through and closing the front door.

I swallowed deeply, looking him over. He clearly had a great run. His topless body glistened underneath all of his sweat. I couldn't help but notice his rippling physic. His pecs, abs and arms put mine to shame. I'd like to think I'm pretty fit but damn. He has one of those athlete bodies that takes hard work. My eyes followed down to see his black soccer shorts that hugged his thighs perfectly.

He shook his head which forced his hair into his eyes. His sandy blonde hair looked more like cinnamon brown in this light.

His mouth perked up on one side, smirking at me, which made me realize I was totally gawking at him. Quickly trying to think of a witty response, I answered, "I was just wondering why the house was so quiet." I shrugged, trying to stay as nonchalant as possible.

His eyebrows rose and dropped. "Sure. Because I'm the loud one."

He shoved past me and headed up the stairs.

Maybe he did hear me this morning?

Fuck. Those shorts looked great from behind too.

Fuck. I'm staring again.

☀️☀️☀️

"So, who gets the front seat?" Dad asked, swinging his keys around his finger.

Tobias and I looked each other over.

Suddenly, we both were scrambling for the car door. Squeezing with all my might, I managed to squeeze past him and right into the passenger seat.

"HA! All those muscles and you're still weaker than wet cardboard." I laughed in his face.

I could see Tobias's jaw clench as he accepted defeat and opened the back door, sliding in.

"You think I have muscles." He muttered under his breath.

Fuck! I really have to watch what I say.

"Get over yourself, would you?" I spat.

"Boys! Boys. Come on. Is this how it's going to be all week?" Dad said clipping his seatbelt.

I looked at Tobias in the rearview mirror. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Probably." We both answered at the same time.

Dad laughed, shaking his head and starting up the car.

"Let's go. We have a few stops before we have to drop everything off for the dinner rush tonight."

"How has everything at the restaurant been going?" I asked, refocusing my attention back on my Dad.

"It's been great! Busier than ever. I don't know, kid. I really love this place. I'm in the works of hiring another manager actually to take over day-to-day stuff. I want to be able to spend more time with you kids–"

Kids. He means me and Tobias.

"Right." I muttered, looking out the window. "Well, that sounds good, Dad. Free time with your family is all you've ever wanted." I nodded, looking back at him.

He gave me a soft smile. "You get it, kid." He said, patting me on the hand.

I looked back at the rearview mirror. Tobias was now looking at Dad and me.

Was he jealous?

I bit my lip. I wouldn't be surprised if he was.

Me being back at home probably puts a huge kink in his plans to take over my life.

I squinted my eyes.

"Dad, I want to come to work with you tonight. Let me make some more videos for you and the restaurant." I smiled.

Dad's eyes widened. "Seriously?"

I nodded my head.

"Well, jeez. Sure! Thanks, buddy! I didn't expect you to do anything like that while being on break or anything but if you want to, that'd be amazing!" Dad laughed.

"Anything for you, Dad." I smiled. I looked back at Tobias who was now fully looked away, staring out the window.

HA. I won this round.

☀️☀️☀️

Everyone welcomed me back with open arms as soon as I stepped into the restaurant. I was caught up with 'hellos' as soon as I came in and I lost sight of my Dad and Tobias almost instantly.

"Woah! Lil, Eli is in the house!" Yari called out as soon as I walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, Eli!" "Hey Elijah!" "How's it going buddy!?" Everyone took turns welcoming me back into the restaurant. It felt weird being back. Good weird.

I missed this place. I smiled at everyone as everyone patted me on the back.

The restaurant was already getting busy. Gwen and Katelyn were here and they were sitting in a small booth off to the side.

Tobias was already changed into his uniform and walking out of the restaurant taking orders.

I promised my Dad I'd take videos and pictures for our social media so I better get to work.

I brought my professional camera since it got the best images in lighting like this.

I decided to start with the bartender. I started off by filming her pouring a Guinness pint. Slow and steady. It was cinematic.

As it was filming, something caught the corner of my eye. Tobias was leaning on the bar wood, his bicep tensed as he held himself up by the wood. He was busy typing in an order so his attention was thankfully not on me.

I was watching him closer than I should have been as he concentrated on the screen. His lower lip looked wet and plump as he bit on it softly. Occasionally he looked back at his table, his blonde hair dropping down in front of his eyes and then flipping back effortlessly on the side of his head when he looked back at the screen. I watched him slip his server pen behind his ear with his other hand before pushing his hand into his back pocket. He moved in slow motion, I swear.

I swallowed deeply. Was it hot in here?

"Did you get it?" A voice snapped me out of my daydream.

"What?" I asked, confused. That's when I realized the bartender had been waiting for me to say the shot was perfect. "Oh, right. Yeah, it's great." I looked down at my screen and replayed the last clip.

I sighed. The clip of her pouring a beer lasted about two seconds before my idiot brain veered off and started focusing the camera on Tobias.

This was going to be a long night.

☀️

Authors Note:

Do you remember your first crush?