Part 11

"So, are you going to stay?" CJ asked as she pulled into the parking lot at the hotel.

"I can if you need me too," Toby looked over at her.

"It's okay if you don't. They probably need you back at work," CJ laughed nervously.

"CJ, I can stay," Toby grabbed her hand after she parked the car.

"Why are you doing this?" She looked over at him. "I mean, why have you always been there when I needed you?"

"Isn't that what friends are for?"

"All of this was beyond the call of duty, Toby. I mean, getting on a plane the last minute to be with me."

"CJ. My whole life, I've never had anything consistent that was worth a damn. Except this," Toby looked at her. "CJ, you are the one thing that has always stayed consistent. And it's something I want to keep."

"You've always told me the one thing that scares you is consistency," She smiled weakly.

"It is. But this is the only thing I have that's been that way. So I don't have a lot to compare it too," He smirked. "But it's something I want to keep. And if that means getting on a plane at the last minute to be with you, then I'll do it," He whispered.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, just looking at each other. CJ felt the grip on her hand tighten as he moved closer to her. She leaned in as well and closed her eyes. She waited for his lips to kiss her, but she didn't. When she opened her eyes, she saw him looking into her eyes. They were nose to nose when he backed away.

"I'm sorry," Toby said quickly. "I should go," He grabbed his jacket and opened the door. CJ sat in the car in shock as he walked up to his room. She didn't know what exactly happened. She could feel her body shake. Only Toby could make her feel like this. They've had over twenty years together, bantering and flirting. Yet they never did anything more. The one time they tried to kiss, they couldn't stop laughing. They were best of friends. But could there really be more there?

CJ turned the car around and drove back to the house. While driving, she kept wondering what Toby was thinking. Why did he just leave? Why couldn't he kiss her?

"Hey Claudia," Alex was sitting on the swing outside when CJ pulled up.

"Hey," CJ got out of the car and walked over, sitting on the swing next to him.

"Are you okay, you look like you just seen a ghost."

"Alex, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Well, you and I have always had a trusting relationship, right?"

"Yeah."

"And every time I had a problem, I would come to you."

"Yeah."

"And you never judged me."

"Claudia, what happened?" Alex asked worried.

"Do you see anything between me and Toby?"

"What?" Alex smiled.

"I mean. You seem to like him."

"Yeah."

"And the rest of the family like him too."

"Yeah."

"I'm just saying…"

"Claudia, I've been telling you for years my thoughts on this whole thing."

"But why do you think that way. Every time I talked to you or dad, you asked when Toby and I were getting married."

"Toby won over dad because he took care of you. He gave dad his word nothing would happen to you. Toby won me over by doing to same thing. He loves you, you can see it in his eyes."

"He does not…"

"He does. And you love him. God put you two on this planet to be with each other. Dad and I knew that, and we tried to push that to happen. But God made you two so stubborn. That's why it's been twenty years and you or Toby hasn't even realized it yet. I believe that there's one person out there for everyone. Julie is my one person. She's the love of my life. Dad was mom's one person. And Toby's your one person."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because you two are just alike on some things, and completely different in other things. Claudia, there wasn't a day that went by that Dad didn't mention you and Toby. He knew that he was dying. He joked that he could be mean and leave you a note saying his last wish was that you and Toby marry, but he wasn't that cruel," Alex laughed.

"He was going to do that?" CJ asked in mock horror.

"Yeah, but he thought you two had to find each other on your own. Look at me, I'm hardly the romantic type of guy, but I see it."

"See what?"

"The love that you two have built, yet you never ponder it," Alex stood up. "I'm going to bed. Just think about what I said," Alex bent down and kissed CJ on the head and walked into the house. CJ sat out there for about an hour, taking in all what her brother just said. Maybe he was right. Maybe there is something there that she never paid any attention to.

TBC