A/N: So here is Chapter 2. Hope you all enjoy it, if you do, please review. Thanks!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pretty Little Liars.
Chapter 2:
"Hey baby doll! I don't know what you do to those men, but I swear we need to set you up with a mailbox to put all these numbers in." The blonde waitress that Toby had spoke with said as she placed the card on the booth before leaving to head back out to the floor.
Picking up the card, she quickly unfolded it and raised an eyebrow at what she saw. 'Meet me tonight at The Ritz Hotel' Flipping the card back around, she read the header of the card. 'Rosewood Police Department.' She placed the card back down on the booth counter and leaned back into her chair. After a few minutes of staring at the card, she got up and made her way to the bathrooms to change.
When she returned she had pulled her brown curls up into a messy ponytail, a fitted grey tank top now covered her strapless bra, worn out blue jeans fitted tight against her legs and her black flip-flops. She had her bag resting on her shoulder and as soon as she got back to her booth, she began putting her make-up and tips inside of it. She grabbed the card and placed it into her front pocket before turning to leave the room.
"Autumn Jade! The main event of this wonderful night! " Jamie, her boss and owner of the club shouted as she entered the room. "What can I do for you darling?"
"Hey Jamie, I'm just here to get my pay before I leave."
"Of course, of course, why else would you be in here with your street clothes on." He said laughing as he reached for a closed envelope and held it out for her to take. "You did great tonight, if you keep this up, I promise a bigger payout for you."
"Thanks James, I'll see you tomorrow night." She replied as she took the envelope and placed it safely within her bag.
Walking through the back hallways, she made her way to the exit door. Once outside, she started towards her car. She smiled as she pulled the keys out of her bag and unlocked the door, sliding into the driver seat. She let her hands rest on the steering wheel and she looked around the car. She inherited this car from her grandfather when he passed away. It was a 1967 maroon colored Ford Mustang, still in great condition because her grandfather rarely drove it. She had fallen in love with the car as a child and luckily enough for her, he remembered. She placed the key in the ignition and grinned when she heard the engine roar to life.
She shifted the car into drive and pressed on the gas to start moving out of the packed club parking lot. Once onto the main road, she decided to check out the The Ritz, even against the knot it made in her stomach. She arrived in the parking lot of the fancy hotel just ten minutes later. Shifting the car in park, she sat for a few more seconds, trying to slow down her breathing. Knowing that it would take all night for her to calm down, she grabbed her bag from the passenger seat and made her way out of the car.
She made the thirty steps to the front door, and then another ten to the front desk. "Hi, I'm supposed to be meeting one of your guests here tonight and—"She started but was quickly cut-off. "If you're meeting a guest most likely they are waiting in the cocktail room to the left." The man answered as he pointed to the left, before going back to reading his book ignoring her.
She stepped back from the counter and started towards the room on her left. When she entered soft classical music was playing in the backroom, and she started to scan the room for him. She finally spotted him sitting in the corner, his eyes deeply focused on the book that rested in his lap, his left hand holding a mug of coffee that was resting on the armrest of the chair. She took a moment to take in his appearance for the first time since she last saw him.
His brown hair was just the right length that she loved to run her fingers through, short on the sides, but longer on top, stopping right before his gorgeous blue eyes. His face had not changed at all; expect that he looked like he had not shaved in a few days. She was never a fan for facial hair, but she had to admit, on Toby, anything looked good. She noticed he was wearing a tight fitted black graphic tee and a pair of blue jeans to complete his look.
She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she forced her body to start walking towards the corner of the room.
As she got closer, he suddenly looked up and instantly made eye contact with her once again. His ocean blue eyes staring deep into her brown ones. He moved his coffee to the table, placed the book down as well, and stood up, shoving his hands into his front jean pockets.
She felt uncomfortable with the way he was trying to hold her gaze, so she looked down at her feet and crossed her arms in front of her, taking another deep breath. "When did you figure out it was me?" She asked softy as she looked back up at him.
"Pretty eyes." He simply said as he smiled. "Only Spencer Hastings calls me that."
"I only speak the truth."Spencer said with a small smiling pulling at the corner of her mouth. She paused for a moment before speaking again. "When did you get back?"
"A few months ago, I am in the process of buying my parents house in Rosewood. So for now, I've been staying here." Toby said, trying to read the expression on her face.
"So you're working at the police department?" She asked as she pulled the wrinkled card from her front pocket.
On the outside, she was looking friendly and strong, like a woman who knew no pain; but on the inside, her head was screaming at her to run back to the car and drive away. This man broke her heart and left her without answers for seven years and then he suddenly pops back in her life as if nothing happened. It took every ounce of her being not to shed any tears in front of him.
"Yeah, I'm actually working as a detective, got my promotion a little over two weeks ago."
Spencer's eyes widened at the news. "A detective? I never would have guessed. Maybe one day you'll tell me the story of how that career choice was made."
Toby was about to speak when a ringing of a cell phone cut him off. He watched Spencer reach into her bag and after looking for a few seconds, she pulled out the ringing phone. "Hold that thought." She said as she placed the phone to her ear.
"Hello? … I am fine; I am on my way out of the club now. It was a busy night…There is no need to wait up for me, go to sleep!" Spencer said as she rolled her eyes slightly and moved to walk away from Toby by a few steps. "I'll be home in less than twenty minutes...No, I am not staying for another show … Alright fine; I'll see you when I get home... Bye."
"Sorry about that." She offered as she walked back to standing in front of him.
"Overly protective boyfriend?" Toby asked as he tried to keep his jealously at bay. The thought of another man claiming her as his own made his stomach knot.
Spencer suddenly burst out laughing. "Overly protective roommate is more like it. Emily. She starts to get worried when I don't show up at the apartment within half hour after my shift."
Toby's stomach relaxed after hearing that Emily was the one who called moments ago, but his heart still raced as he noted that she did not address the boyfriend statement. "That sure does sounds like Emily. Do you all live together, you and the other girls?" He asked referring to Aria and Hanna; but also to try to pry some information about her dating life.
"No, could you imagine all of us trying to share one bathroom." She laughed a little before continuing. "It's just me and Em. Aria is married to Ezra now; they own a house in Rosewood and have a little boy who just turned five a few months back. Hanna and Caleb live here in Philly; they are supposed to get married in less than a month."
"Wow, I guess I did miss a lot while I was away. It's great to hear that you all are doing so well." He said as he rocked back on his heels.
Silence fell over the pair after a few seconds, and each began to speak at the same time.
"Can I call you tomor.."
"I should get going befo.."
They both laughed nervously and Spencer quickly spoke again. "I'm going to get home before Emily sends a search party." She was already taking some steps backwards towards the exit.
"Wait, Spence, I..." He said as he reached out with his hand to stop her, and then closed his mouth not saying what he wanted. When he spoke again, he was walking towards her retreating body. "Let me at least walk you out to your car, it's not safe at this time of night."
"I stopped worrying about me a long time ago." She stated, her gaze staring right into his eyes before she broke the contact and and turned on her heel, quickly leaving the room and Toby with his thoughts.