The Summer We Found Us | BoyxBoy Romance (18+)

Chapter 24 | Elijah

"Please don't...tell your Dad about what I told you in the car, okay?" Tobias said as we parked in front of the lake house.

"Wait, you mean he has no idea?" I was shocked. For all the time they spend with each other, I'd think they would've shared some specifics.

Tobias shrugged. "He knows some but not all. We sort of made an unspoken pact not to fully speak about it." Tobias looked back at the house and I could tell whatever he was about to say next was going to be hard for him. I grabbed his hand again and squeezed hard. That seemed to calm him down before.

"Him and Gwen actually found me one morning when I was in a pretty bad spot last summer. I was sleeping in my car to get away from my Dad and I was pretty banged up. They took care of me, fed me and nursed me back to health."

"Oh, Jesus." I breathed.

"I think I would've died that day had they not found me. I was giving up, Elijah. Your Dad was my guardian angel that day." Tobias broke. Tears streamed down his face and I couldn't help but lunge for him again.

"Tobias...this is...I had no idea it was that bad." I squeezed him so hard wrapping my arms around him tightly. No wonder he found such a safe place in my Dad. Everything just makes so much sense now and I just feel even worse for not understanding earlier. All the pain and drama I put him through.

"So please," He sniffed. "Don't tell your Dad any of this. I...I don't want him to know because I want him to be there for me because he wants to be, not out of pity but just because he cares about me. Because he likes who I am as a person." He wiped his nose on his arm.

I smiled, cupping his face. "Elijah, he loves who you are as a person." I brushed his hair back from his eyes.

We both looked back up at the house. Guilt returned to me quickly after realizing what I had done. I had broken up the only safety he had ever known.

"Come on. We're going to solve this right now." I said opening up the car door.

Tobias followed me closely behind as we made our way back inside the house. I was going to demand Dad's forgiveness if it's the last thing I did.

"We're home," I called out, slipping off my shoes.

I looked behind me and shook my head to see Tobias lining up my shoes and his by the door. He always did that and it was precious.

"Out here!" Dad shouted from the backyard.

"Let's go." I tilted my head to lead the way.

We crossed the house and entered the backyard only to be met by a huge surprise.

My eyes widened. "Gwen!" I yelled.

There she was sitting by the firepit beside Dad, roasting a marshmallow. The fire illuminated her face like the angel she was. She stuck her stick in the ground and ran up to us with the biggest smile on her face.

"I thought you two were going to beat me here. I was so wrong." She said squeezing us both. Tobias was as shocked as I was.

"What? How? When? Huh?" He stammered.

"I just had to come after you two came to get me. You were right. You both were so right." She said holding our hands. I thought back to what I said to her at the office.

I feel like it came out partly for her and the rest was because of how I felt about Tobias.

I smiled, thankful that my words did what they were supposed to do.

"Now come on, my boys apparently promised my man some smores tonight."

"We did?" Tobias asked, looking over at Dad.