One Look at You

Real? Or Just a Summer Fling

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*2 Weeks Later*

Toby woke to the sound of the garage door opening and sunlight pouring into the garage. Spencer was snuggled up next to him, eyes scrunched up from the sudden light. They had been out to a concert and didn't get back until 2 am and had collapsed on the bed in exhaustion.

Spencer had been spending the majority of the nights sleeping over. Between Toby's work during the day and off the books work in the evening they didn't nearly get as much time together as either of them would have liked.

Toby squinted adjusting to the sunlight as he planted a kiss on Spencer's forehead to wake her before untangling himself from her and standing. Spencer stretched getting up from the bed with a yawn. His dad smiled at them, he had gotten used to their sleepovers especially when Toby promised they weren't having sex.

"Hi Mr. Cavanaugh" Spencer said sleepily.

"Good morning Spencer" he said as he opened the other garage doors.

"I have to go home and change, I'm supposed to meet the girls for lunch in half an hour." Spencer said to Toby.

"Ok" he replied with a smile before giving her a peck on the lips "I'll see you later"

Toby poured himself a cup of coffee before he began setting up the shop. Toby felt a heaviness in the air as he and his father got everything in order. He hoped it was only his imagination.

"I talked to your mother" his dad said in an unsuccessful attempt to sound casual.

"My mother, as in your wife or my mother" Toby asked trying to keep calm. His parents only spoke when he was in trouble since they have gotten the divorce.

"Your mother" his dad said in a lower & more assertive tone as he scowled Toby's smart comment. "she says you haven't been visiting her, something about a spat?" He then picked up the mug of coffee & took a sip whilst waiting for Toby to answer him.

"I did visit her but I'm not going to go over there so she can subtly tell me how much of a disappointment I am to her" Toby huffed tossing the wrench he'd picked up a moment ago back into the tool box.

"You're not a disappointment to her, Toby" his father replied.

"She acts like a saint" Toby said "Like there's something wrong with me just being a mechanic. You were 'just a mechanic' and now you own the place. Some day I'll own it."

"Yeah, you will own it someday. If you want to" his dad hesitated.

Toby looked at him blankly.

"Your mother and I are worried about you and Spencer" his dad said finally coming out with the reason for their awkward conversation.

"Don't" Toby said, waving his hand as he shook his head, not wanting to talk about it.

"Have you thought about what is going to happen when the summer ends?" His dad pressed.

"I'm going to tie Spencer up and stuff her in the trunk of my car so she can never leave" Toby said dryly.

"I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you" his dad said exasperated.

"Spencer and I will figure it out" Toby sighed.

"Your mom and I got married right out of high school. After we got married, we were so happy. The happiness began to dwindle. Our parents suggested having kids the way parents do. So we had you and we were happy again, for awhile" his father trailed off "we tried to have more children but it wasn't in the cards for us, I guess. Your mom began working in the church and when they announced the missionary trip to Africa she decided to go and I let her"

"I get it" Toby yelled "Spencer and I are too young and we won't make it. I get the point to your story"

"I don't think you do" his dad said somberly "I took her to the airport, and there was a moment, I don't know how long it lasted but it was a defining moment. She was too self-righteous to ask me to go with her and I was too proud to ask her to stay."

Toby was quiet for a long time.

"I can't ask Spencer to stay" Toby said "she has a life and plans."

"You don't have to stay here" his dad whispered.

Toby just stared at his dad. Was he really suggesting he pick up and follow Spencer back to Pennsylvania.

"There's nothing to hold you here. You can get a job anywhere and you could always visit"

"I can't" Toby began objecting.

"Take it from me & just go. Nothing is worse than wondering what might have been."

"Is this you talking or mom?" Toby asked.

"We're in agreement" his dad said "follow your heart. If it doesn't work out you can always come home."

"I need to think" Toby said feeling overwhelmed. He left and decided to go for a drive to clear his head. He drove around aimlessly, his thoughts and doubts filling his mind.

He loved Spencer, he knew he did, but would their relationship survive when they weren't in their summer fling bubble and were in the real world.

When he finally parked the car he realized he was at the house he had planned to buy and fix up. He almost had saved up enough money to buy it. Toby sat on the porch and looked up to the sky.

"What do I do?" He said to the sky.

As he sat there his phone rang. He pulled his phone out to see Spencer's smiling face with the words Spencer calling...

"Hey babe" he said answering his phone "can you meet me?"