Boys night

Tobias

It's been a while since I came out with the guys. Tonight, Carl proposed a boy's night out and with everything that's been happening in my life recently, the drinks sounded like a great idea to wind up.

"I am glad you finally made it tonight Tobias. You've been MIA for the last month." Carl mutters taking a sip on his dry martini.

"I have been busy." I reply easily swinging the glass in my hand.

"So have we man. I have started to realise that it is always an excuse with you." Oliver stares hard at me.

Oliver, Carl, Ryke and I have had this solid friend group since we were three years old. I am glad we still are quite close despite Ryke's move to Thailand for his personal pursuits. I don't like they feel I am distant despite how inevitable it has been on my side.

"I agree with Oli this time around man. Is it because things didn't work out with Gabby?" Carl questions with an arched brow.

I am closest to Oliver out of all the guys and the mention of Gabby makes me shift in my seat uncomfortably.

Fuck Carl for bringing her into the conversation. I send him a hard stare. The mention of another woman's name wouldn't annoy me but Gabby is Oliver's little sister.

I knew I shouldn't have gotten involved with Gabby in the first place. She was off limits. That warning bell had sounded very clearly when I approached her at the New Year's party. She was looking pretty irresistible in the bodycon red dress that I convinced myself I was being friendly.

I had seen Gabby around when I hang out at Oliver's place. She also attended our parties but I had never given it so much thought till that night. Her light airy laugh was magnetic. I wanted to keep her smiling the entire night just to glimpse at her dimples. I was marveled at how intelligent she was as our conversation kept going.

The way she spoke about her ambitions and passions just elicited a need to make everything happen for her because she deserved it.

I should never have accepted to follow her to their little cabin. I had been to the cabin with Oliver so many times. I don't know why I thought something good would come from a tour of the cabin by her.

That night as the fireworks went off in the sky, I kissed my best friend's sister. I would be lying if I said I didn't like it. I loved it very much that it became too much to let go. So I gave in to my desires. No thought of Oli crossed my mind as I slept with Gabby that night.

I was hesitant to tell Oliver the following days. It was hard lying to his face. Gabby and I snuck behind his back for a fortnight until the guilt was too much to handle I just had to tell him. I expected him to be angry but nothing like even a blow came from him. That reaction scared me shitless knowing I had let her sister come between our relationship.

"I hoped that would not happen when I saw the both of you sneak away on New year's night. I just had faith you would have the decency to not touch my sister Tobias." The look of loath in Oliver's eyes wound me.

"I am really sorry Oliver. I do..."

"Don't say it to me. Gabby is a grown up woman and I can do nothing about it. But I will do something if you hurt her." It had been a warning I took serious.

The rest of the night had gone on well thankfully. It had been a relief knowing Oliver was cool with Gabby and I's relationship.

Six months is all lasted until I realized I loved Gabby too much to hold her from her ambitions. She wanted to see the world, I was stuck in Havenwood. I could not let her rearrange her life for me. That would be selfish of me.

I let her go. I could have any girl I wanted to but letting Gabby go left a huge gap in my heart.

Maybe I was avoiding the guys because I needed time for myself. It has been nine months since she left for California but sometimes my mind can't help but wonder to her.

"My absence has nothing to do with Gabby." It is a half lie. Somehow I had not wanted to see the look in Oliver's eyes. I had promised not to hurt her sister. I had gone and did exactly what I promised. How does a man heal from that?

"Prove me wrong but I know it has something to do with overthrowing the Thorntons." Oliver casts me a knowing a look.

I know it is no secret now what we are up to. It is the look of accusation in his eyes.

"Speaking of which, rumor has it that the Thornton princess is back and she's taken her father's position at the board." Carl stares at me.

Havenwood is so full of gossip and sometimes it gives me a migraine. I don't give a damn what people are gossiping about but the things you hear yourself about in this town are just out of the world insane.

"Since when are you interested in Havenwood rumors?" I arch a brow.

"Since you've holed yourself up somewhere in your little office and ditched our nights." he replies calmly.

"Speak of the devil,"

Carl and I turn out heads to the direction of Oliver's stare.

Shit!

At the entrance of the bar stands little Thornton and her little arm candy. Her eyes lift in search for something before they meet mine. If she's shocked, she doesn't show it. Her face however darkens a bit before her and her date for the night move to the other side of the bar.

Stalker.

I had known she was a fucking little stalker since high school. Tonight concretes all my thoughts that those tendencies never stopped.

"Shit, she's really gorgeous." Oliver compliments his eyes never leaving her even on the other side of the bar. He drowns the rest of his drink in one go. I resist an urge to roll my eyes. Out of the girls in the bar, she's basic, no near average even.

"Is that Liam Tarner with her?" Carl questions. I shrug nonchalantly.

"Yes. The Tarner guy had it bad for her back in school." Oliver supplies. I chug the rest of the bourbon in one gulp.

"Wow, I know why he wants her. Fuck, she's even gotten more gorgeous now." Carl murmurs.

"I remember when she had our boy Ryke really bad." he adds. I didn't know my friends had poor taste in women till tonight.

"Oh yeah, she's all he could talk about the entire time and she was oblivious to it." Oliver mentions.

"I bet she knew it but she wanted to make him jealous." I say.

"I don't think so. I remember a rumor going on that she was already dating a guy from college."

"Bullshit!" I utter quickly.

Both Carl and Oliver frown at me. Fucking hell.

"Never mind. Who wants shots?"