11
“I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE Tobias is willingly letting people he doesn’t know throw a party in his gym. Are we sure he wasn’t abducted by aliens and replaced with a pod person?” Riley said.
There was no answer from Josh, so Riley finished getting dressed for Abby and Emilio’s going away party, throwing on his long-sleeved henley and grabbing his Dior cologne, or parfum, as his sister insisted when he opened it last Christmas. He spritzed it in the air and walked through the cloud of spicy aroma, doing his best not to inhale all of it. He still remembered the first time Sophie showed him how to do it. More of it got in his lungs than on his body.
He shut down his laptop, where he was rereading old emails from CJ Rollins, grabbed Abby’s gift off his mini desk and walked out of his room to head to Josh’s. Joshwas standing in front of his mirror with a quizzical look on his face. Like usual, he looked like he stepped off a men’s magazine cover, wearing a stylish sweater with a button-down shirt underneath and jeans that always made the women they brought home jealous.
“You okay?” Riley asked, drawing him out of studying his reflection.
With a worried expression, Josh asked, “Would you do me in this outfit?”
“Uh…”
How many times had Josh asked him that question over the years? It was how he judged his looks before they left for the night, but it had never made the blood rush away from Riley's head and toward a completely different head.
Josh isn’t actually asking me to do him. He’s asking if he looks good.
Riley chose to ignore the pang of disappointment that followed that realization. He could figure that out later.
“Yeah, of course,” Riley finally said. “You look great, like always.”
The shy smile Josh sent him in return made Riley’s knees weak, a reaction that may have been more confusing than the semi he hoped wasn’t noticeable in his jeans.
“Um, I was saying how did we get away with having a party at the gym?” Riley said, hoping the change ofsubject would calm him. “I can’t believe Tobias said yes to so many people in his space… socializing. Being merry.”
“Apparently he’s pretty excited to talk to Abby’s sister about starting kids’ classes. I mean, Tobias-level excited. I think I even saw him smile when he was talking to Cole about it.”
“Holy shit, he must think it will be huge for his business or something.”
“Whatever makes him happy,” Josh said as he grabbed his wallet off the dresser and slipped it in his pocket. “You ready to go? Got the gift?”
“Yup, right here,” Riley said, holding up the gift bag.
Inside were two sleep masks with neck support that would help Abby and Emilio fall asleep anywhere they needed, plus two shirts with their new travel logo. Riley and Josh had worked on a design the couple could use for their YouTube channel and social media to make them look more legit as they tried to gain followers and viewers. They were going to look for ways to make traveling more accessible for everyone by visiting cities on a budget and chronicling their experiences. They were also planning on doing some kind of good in every city they visited, trying to leave it a little better than when they’d first arrived.
Riley couldn’t wait to see the fruits of their labor, and hopefully join them on some of their travels someday. Itwould hurt not seeing Abby for so long. She had been such a huge part of his life for years. Emilio had become a friend quickly, as well, and he’d miss having him around. It was like the end of an era, their group moving on without them.
I’m not going to cry. I’m not going to cry.
He was so going to cry.
When Josh and Riley walked into the gym later, they almost didn’t recognize it.
There was so much… life.
Balloons were spread around the space, decorating mostly tables, but also some of the gym’s squat racks. People filled the room, not just with their bodies but also with conversation that blended with music blaring from the sound system.
Riley wondered how Tobias was faring with this invasion. He saw him in a corner talking to Alyssa with a—well, it wasn’t a smile, but it was as close as he came.
Even more surprising was Chase standing next to him and looking at him with what he could only describe as awe.
They must have been super excited about those kids' classes.
“Abby!” Josh shouted above the din, drawing Riley out of his thoughts.
He watched as Josh walked over to Abby, who was standing with the rest of their friends, andlifted her in the air, spinning her before placing her safely on the ground. Riley followed with his own hug. A little but loud voice distracted him from saying hi to everyone else.
“Me next! Me next!” Colin, Abby’s adorable six-year-old nephew shouted, tugging on Josh’s sweater.
