Room for One

6

The usual monthly fete was set for the following Friday, and Toby was torn between making an awkward appearance or acting like a dick by staying away the whole night. Dakota had been MIA since the morning he stormed out, and Toby was not too sure what he was going to say to him anyway, so he took the reprieve in the spirit of a man getting a free day before execution.

What ended up happening was that Steff locked him in the garage Friday afternoon before he could decide to escape or not.

"Open!" He pounded once on the door with his fist.

"No!"

The door opened into the garage, so Toby wondered how the hell she had jammed it from the other side. "Steff, come on."

"Are you staying for dinner?"

"This really isn't any of your business."

"Yes or no."

"Yes! Damn it! Open the door!"

"Hold on."

There was some scuffling on the other side before the door was pushed open. Toby stepped back, ready to flay Steff alive, but instead Dakota tumbled through.

"Don't make me move out because your gay-boy emo moping drives me insane. Fix this." Steff pointed at both of them and shut the door again with a loud slam. Toby stared at it, wondering if she had somehow jammed it locked again and a little scared to find out.

"I told her to stay out of it." Dakota stood with his hands spread out to his sides, frustrated and looking at the wall past Toby's shoulder.

"So did I."

"Well, we're both pretty ineffectual."

Toby laughed despite himself. After a second, they both awkwardly maneuvered around to arm's length, facing each other.

"Look, I didn't mean—"

Dakota stopped him. "Don't care. Really, really don't. I made a mistake, I made an assumption, and it's my own damn fault. Lesson learned."

Toby squinted at him. "Okay?"

"Good. Next time I'll stick with the band's groupies." Dakota crossed his arms defensively, still staring at the wall.

Toby did not have anything to add to that, and kept quiet. He had a hunch that Dakota was not quite done yet.

"I just...I thought we clicked. I haven't been involved with anyone seriously for a while; maybe I just misread the signs. I don't want you to think I was cruising you in your own living room."

Toby nodded. "I know that."

"Because I like the arrangement. I mean, the tenant part." Dakota flushed red, but Toby could not find it in himself to laugh. It was his fault that Dakota thought they'd just had an awkward one-night stand.

Which was when he realized that was exactly what they had done, despite what he had said to Dakota that night. "Well, shit."

Dakota went from red to pale in a heartbeat. "Okay, fine, I can be out by Monday."

"No!" Toby stepped forward and grabbed Dakota's arm, dropping his hand quickly when Dakota flinched. "Sorry. I—."

"The only thing keeping me from grabbing you and shaking some sense into you is knowing about your past, okay? So hands off." Dakota stepped backward.

Toby stared at him. "Thank you."

"No problem. We done?"

"No. No, we aren't. I owe you an apology."

"I accept. Now are we done?"

"Would you slow down for a damn second?"

Dakota uncrossed his arms, his shoulders slumping. Toby grabbed the reprieve and ran with it.

"I mean it: I'm sorry. I haven't had anyone really interested in me for a while, and I tend to... avoid that kind of thing."

"I noticed." Dakota rolled his eyes.

"Dakota, please." Toby pleaded, moving closer. Dakota looked directly at him for the first time since being shoved in by Steff.

"I really don't know what you want, here, Toby."

"Am I going out on a limb thinking you were interested in a relationship with me?"

Dakota paused, then nodded. "Yeah, I was."

Toby's heart clinched, and that told him what he needed to know about himself. Now he just had to figure out how to let Dakota know. "But not anymore?"

Dakota gave him a cursory, curious once-over. "Maybe."

"Maybe yes?" Toby shuffled a few inches closer.

"You shut the door on me. That was a pretty clear message, man. This isn't about apologies, or fixing things."

Toby stopped at the comment, then nodded back. "I think it's more about starting over."

He saw Dakota fighting a smile, and knew he had at least reopened the door between them. Toby reached up and gently ran his hand down Dakota's chest, pulling it away when he got to his waist. Dakota sucked in a gasp and closed his eyes for a second. He opened them, and Toby nearly drowned in the intensity of his stare, Dakota's eyes crystal blue and honest.

"Toby, don't... I mean, I really like you. If you aren't ready to be a part of this, just don't."

"That's a risk I'm willing to take if you are," Toby said, because he simply could not promise anything. Dakota studied him for a second, then nodded as if making up his mind. He stepped forward, cupped the back of Toby's neck gently and leaned in to kiss him. Toby moved into the kiss, placing his hands on Dakota's waist, pulling him closer.

It was not one of the lust-heavy kisses they'd shared before, instead soft and exploratory with small adjustments made to accommodate noses, teeth, and tongue. Dakota's hand moved up to drag his fingers through Toby's hair, and Toby moaned softly.

"Hey! Do I turn the crockpot to 'Low' now?" Steff shouted through the door and Dakota nearly fell down jumping backward. They caught each other as they stumbled and started laughing, Toby dragging Dakota into a hug. It felt good, even as awkward as they still were, and he wondered how much more awkward things might get, despite wanting what they were headed for.

"Yes! I'll be right out! ...wait, can I get out?" Dakota shouted back. Steff tentatively opened the door and peeked in.

"Oh good, fondling. But save the sex for after I leave the house, okay? You'll scar my delicate sensibilities."

Toby laughed as Dakota pushed off him to head toward the kitchen.