This summer has quickly turned into the best summer of my life. It's no surprise that Tobias Voss plays 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.

Tobias had the genius idea to set an alarm in the morning 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. His presence 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 Birtthhhday–" 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 covered my lower half as 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 give me a kiss 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 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 actually 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. Been collecting movie posters for it and little trinkets that I found online for it ever since. I loved this so much! It was one of the werewolf soldiers from the film.

"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 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 which I loved.

Thank you, Mr.Bartendar.

After lunch, we decided to walk along the boardwalk of the touristy part of the town. Filled with gift shops, cool restaurants, and plenty of people walking down by the water, this place looked straight out of a summer movie.

I watched as Tobias and Jude 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 in my ear, hooking her arm in mine. I looked back at the two guys just 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 that it was never about that.

Once I put my selfishness aside, I'm happy to see how happy they are being a 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, it seems like you step into another version of yourself. You become more...you." She shrugged, squeezing my hand.

That's exactly how it feels benign 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...tell Dad what I just said. About Tobias, I mean."

Her eyebrows furrowed and she looked like that hurt her more than I 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." I whined.

"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.

I looked at Tobias who had his eyebrows raised, 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). It's like our hands were magnetic to each other's body. I love the way he kept his hand on my lower back as we browsed antique shops or how I grazed his fingertips every time he passed me something to look at.

It's like the smallest little touches were sending zaps throughout my whole body.

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 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 inside 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 more inside and looking all around me. Lingerie and sex toys of all kinds lined the walls.

"You have 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 registered what he was thinking and laughed.

"No! Not— " I dropped the dildo and walked over to him.

He looked shocked at what was in my hand. I looked down, registering what he was 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 which filled up 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.

"I'll meet you out there. I've got to deal with something." He said turning away from me. I love how easily he got aroused.

I smiled, nodding my head, exiting the store to catch up. 

☀️

Authors Note: 

Happy Birthday to Elijah! I think because his birthday is the end of summer, that makes him our lil Virgo baby. Which...you know what? YEAH. He is a Virgo 😂😂

I'm an Aquarius, myself. What are you?

We celebrated Tobias's birthday back in early Jan which makes him a Capricorn. Awww! Both of them are Earth signs. 

This is their compatibility via quick af google search: 

Capricorn and Virgo are two Earth signs that rely on stability, practicality, and logic in life. Thus, they have a fair amount of similarities and can build their relationship on common ground. They will understand each other on almost every level and will not have a problem in connecting from the word go.

Do you believe in zodiac signs? I sure do!