Josh laughed. “I love you guys, too. You taught me what it meant to have a family.”
I teared up a little at that. Josh hadn’t always had an easy time of it, and I was so glad that he was in a better place.
“Sometimes I think we should have done more for you,” I admitted.
“Everything happens for a reason. I really think that. It all turned out for the best in the end, and it made me the strong person I am today.”
“I’m gonna use that in a book,” Toby said, and we all chuckled a little.
I heard something drop in the kitchen, and Josh turned around, heading back to help.
Toby made a face at Corbin, sort of raising and lowering his eyebrows. Corbin didn’t move or acknowledge it. Toby cleared his throat, looking at Corbin again. Finally, he said, “I think they need you in the kitchen.”
“No, I don’t think they do,” Corbin answered.
I stifled a laugh, and Toby rolled his eyes and threw up his hands.
I turned and gave Corbin a peck on the lips. “I think Toby wants to talk to me with you not right here. I’m okay. He’s my best friend. We can’t remain attached at the hip forever, either.”
“Why not?” Corbin asked.
“Well, going to the bathroom,” I said.
Corbin opened his mouth to respond, but Toby put a hand up, cutting him off. “No, you guys cannot come into the bathroom with us every freaking time. It’s a human thing.”
Corbin sighed, like he was dealing with a bunch of irrational kids, but he got up, kissing the top of my head. “I’ll be right back. Five minutes.” Then he walked over toward Liam.
I looked at Toby, who rolled his eyes. “Okay, so wetotallyneed to have a drinking and gossip session where we can chat about all the ways to deal with a hellhound. We should write a manual or something. Because sometimes they’retotallyclueless.”
“You’re the writer, Toby,” I said, laughing while I grabbed another cracker with cheese. “But give me the abridged scoop, because you know he really did mean only five minutes.”
“First, are youreallyokay?”
I smiled. Toby had his mind on his characters a lot of the time, but he really did care, and he was a great friend. I thought over his question before I answered, because this was Toby. I could tell him anything.WasI okay?
“I’m not sure. It’s a lot. The hellhound thing doesn’t even seem surprising, weirdly enough. It’s the wholemething that I’m having a hard time with. But Corbin helps. A lot. He’s always with me,” I answered.
“Good,” Toby said, nodding. “I’m glad. And you know I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
“I know. I don’t think I can right now, though.”
“And that’s perfectly fine,” Toby assured me. “So, then let’s talk about the hellhound thing.”
I laughed, because Toby had a mischievous smirk on his face.
“So, have you gotten knotted yet?” he asked.
I looked at him. What the hell was he talking about? “Knotted? Like tied a knot?”
“No, silly. Like, you know”—Toby made an obscene jerking off gesture with his hand—“knotted.” I must have still looked confused, because he went on to do the jerking off motion again, then he exaggerated the dick gettingwaybigger.
Suddenly, it clicked in place. “Holy shit,” I whispered. “They haveknots?”
“Yup!” Toby said proudly, like he was responsible for the whole thing.
“Oh my god, I think he did knot me. I just thought it was, like, a transcendent sexual experience, because I cametwice. Like holy shit, it was phenomenal,” I whispered.
“And…” Toby said, drawing it out, “they also havetails.”
