Room For One Read Online Free Page A

jammed it locked again and a little scared to find out.
    “I told her to stay out of it.” David 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….”
    David 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.” David 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 David 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.” David flushed red, but Toby could not find it in himself to laugh. It was his fault that David 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 David that night. “Well, shit.”
    David went from red to pale in a heartbeat. “Okay, well, fine, I can be out by Monday.”
    “No!” Toby stepped forward and grabbed David’s arm, dropping his hand quickly when David 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.” David 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?”
    David 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.” David rolled his eyes.
    “David, please .” Toby pleaded, moving closer to the other man. David 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?”
    David 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 David know. “But not anymore?”
    David 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 David fighting a smile, and knew he had at least reopened the door between them. Toby reached up and gently ran his hand down David’s chest, pulling it away when he got to his waist. David sucked in a gasp and closed his eyes for a second. He opened them, and Toby nearly drowned in the intensity of his stare, David’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. David 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 David’s waist, pulling him closer.
    It was not one of the lust-heavy kisses they’d shared before, instead soft and