His eyes opened.He had a lot to be thankful for.He really did.
Morty was back baking, which meant he was back to his daily consumption of éclairs.The limited hours to accommodate the childcare meant Toby had to be fast at boxing and hiding his treat.
Hector was doing his share, more than, he loved to have Kaya strapped to him in one of the many colorful baby slings Hector had bought to try out while he worked in his home office.It seemed Kaya loved to nestle on Hector more than Morty.
He chuckled at how miffed Morty got just that morning, talking about when he’d gone up to relieve Hector of daddy duties, then had come back down two minutes later when Hector had already gone out for a walk with Kaya strapped to him.
“What are you laughing at?”asked Niall, appearing in front of him silently, making Toby jerk and the trays rattle he’d picked up.
“Can’t you make a bit more noise?You gave me a fright,” Toby huffed, readjusting the stack of trays to walk past Niall, embarrassed to be caught looking like a spare part for no reason.
“What would be the point in that when I’ve been standing watching you for the last three minutes, and you didn’t even notice I was here with your eyes shut?What’s with you?”
His friend’s smirk had Toby shaking his head.“Nothing.”
“Then why the glum expression?”
Toby twisted to glance at Niall.Had he looked glum?“You asked me what I was laughing at?”he pointed out.
“You were, but before that, you had the ‘I have to count my blessings’ look.”
Toby blew out a breath at how easily Niall pegged his thoughts.He debated for a second too long, noticing Niall reaching for the flyer he’d placed back on the counter.
His friend could be a dog with a bone, unwilling to release a subject, and Toby wasn’t sure he wanted to get into it and sound a little pathetic.
“What’s this?”
Toby shrugged and went into the empty kitchen, going straight to the big sink they washed the large trays in.The sound of sneakers squeaking on the tiled floor caused Toby to roll his eyes heavenward as he switched on the hot tap and squirted in detergent.“It’s nothing,” he tried.
“Liar.You wanna try your hand at a bucket list event to see if you can find a mate, too?”
Toby’s gaze flew to Niall, who was now leaning on the drainer at the side of him.“Don’t be silly.The chances of that are zero!”Hector and Morty were fated mates and met at a bucket list buddies event.It also turned out that Lionel, Hector’s best friend, and Brad, the builder who had done the renovations in the building, had attended the last bucket list event and, lo and behold, they were fated mates too.
Had Toby secretly thought he might have a chance?He couldn’t say for sure because he really had wanted to do the whole hot air balloon experience, just with an existing boyfriend.
“Zero…nah, I think Bucket List Buddies are batting a hundred right now with fated mates meeting at the two differing events.”Niall tapped the glossy flyer he’d brought with him.“Haven’t you mentioned doing this kind of thing before?”
Niall had an excellent memory, so Toby didn’t doubt him.Toby could hardly remember where he’d put his house keys most days.“Maybe,” he hedged.Yet his earlier excitement hummed under his skin, and he gave in and asked, “Wanna go with me?”
Niall’s head shake was quick and firm.“Not my thing.That shouldn’t stop you from booking to go.”Niall glanced at the flyer, his eyes widening.“Though after what you spent on your new bed and TV, you probably can’t afford this.”
Toby snatched back the flyer, causing soap suds to flick over Niall’s T-shirt and jeans.“Hey,” Niall snapped, rubbing at the spreading wetness.“I got a hot date, and now I’ll have wet stains on me.”
Distracted, Toby giggled at Niall’s obsession with Vene, the plasterer who worked with Brad.“You got the courage to ask Vene out, did you?”
Niall’s cheeks got a rosy glow as he glanced up, and something about the look in his eyes had Toby’s eyes narrowing on his friend.“He asked me out, came by this morning, said he needed to check something in my apartment—”
Toby pointed at Niall with the flyer.“You had sex!”he exclaimed, understanding exactly what had happened.“How could you when you haven’t been on a date?”
“We aren’t all like you, Mr.Three Date Rule.I don’t always average a second or fucking third date.”
Niall’s tone held something that made Toby get an uneasy feeling at the base of his skull.He nudged Niall with his shoulder, aware that putting his wet hands on Niall would only piss him off more.“Then those guys are fools for not seeing what a great guy you are.Accomplished.Business owner.Talented with marketing—”
“You missed drop-dead gorgeous,” Niall cut him off, clearly embarrassed.
Toby laughed as he was supposed to.Niall was clearly done with the subject, so, for now, Toby let it go.“I was getting there.”He looked at the flyer and the details on the cost.It was steep, three hundred dollars, and then he gave Niall big puppy dog eyes.“Don’t suppose you could loan a guy three hundred bucks?”
“You know those damn eyes do me in every time.I don’t have the cash, but I’ll use my card and book it for you.You won’t need to pay me back either, ‘cause I know you’ll meet your mate flying above the clouds.Then I’ll get lifetime bragging rights like I have for Morty and Hector’s meeting.”
