Hope everyone enjoys this chapter!
Chapter Three: Kiss of Relief
Spencer collapsed on her bed face first and the events of that day set themselves on a loop in her mind. After leaving Toby, she had went home to change into athletic wear and to the high school where she was going to tutor in an hour and a half. She set her bag down on the bleachers and hit the track. The coffee she had drank hadn't help the nervous excitement that being near Toby had sparked in her, and now she needed an outlet.
She had tried to concentrate on simply running, the now cloudy sky a perfect match for her mood. But Toby's smile kept drifting in, making her own lips tug upwards at the corners as she ran. She thought of the way he still seemed to know her so well, teasing her about her coffee addiction and calling her by her old shortened name. Most of all she had thought about the job offer. Had it been anyone but Toby offering her a job in a dusty, noisy car repair shop, Spencer would have scoffed mentally and politely but firmly turned it down. Spencer needed a more mentally stimulating job than that. But with Toby around, it could mentally stimulating, not to mention physically…
"Ugh!" Spencer groaned with frustration, stuffing her head into the pillows. Toby was her past. After the pregnancy scare during her sophomore year, they had both realized that they just weren't compatible anymore. Toby loved small town life, and despite all the trauma and tragedy that they had both experienced there, he loved Rosewood too. He was content to work with his hands, to work for the community, and to start a family. Spencer had loved Toby and did want children someday, but she also wanted a career and to experience more of life before settling down. Luckily she hadn't been pregnant, but it was enough to scare her into breaking things off with Toby. She wanted an education, and she was young. Her and Toby had so much passion between them that being together was too much of a risk.
She was about to be a senior, and she had to stay focused. But it was just for the summer…
A lot of things can happen in 8 weeks, Spencer.
The voice of reason in her head was a real pain sometimes.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Spencer flipped over and grabbed her phone from her nightstand.
"Hanna, hi!" she said with enthusiasm after she checked the caller ID and answered.
"Hey! How are you? I saw your tweet about looking for a summer job. What's up with that?" Hanna asked curiously. Spencer grinned. Hanna was the queen of social media. You couldn't comment on a picture of a cute puppy on Facebook without her bringing it up later.
"I just want to work for my own money for a change, I guess. Spending mommy and daddy's money is starting to feel weird, ya know?" Spencer replied, propping herself up on an elbow.
"Oh, I totally get that. So, any luck?"
Spencer bit her lip. Should she talk to Hanna about Toby?
"Um, maybe."
"Spencer? What's that mean? Come on, spill," Hanna nearly gushed, always in the mood for some gossip.
"I ran into Toby," Spencer said quietly. Hanna gasped. Spencer proceeded to tell her about the day's events and Toby's offer.
"Well, how do you feel about Toby?" Hanna asked quietly. "Hasn't it been like 2 years?"
"That's just it, Han. I don't know if I could stay professional with him. I know it's been awhile since we ended things, but I'm still really attracted to him. Han, he has gotten so much hotter," Spencer divulged with an exasperated sigh.
Hanna laughed. "Toby is hotter than he was? How's that even possible?" she teased.
"Ugh, he's not a boy anymore, that's all I'm saying. My response to him was scary."
"You should take the job, Spencer. Toby is a good guy and I know he won't take advantage of you with you being so conflicted. Ooh, you should totally wear that pink dress for your first day of work! The one you bought when you came up to New York over spring break," Hanna said with excitement.
Spencer laughed. Her blonde and optimistic best friend was refreshingly always the same.
Toby is a good guy and I know he won't take advantage of you with you being so conflicted.
She has a point, Spencer thought.
Spencer walked into Murray Brothers Auto Shop the next morning promptly at 10 AM, and Toby's smile as he looked up from the reception desk was so unfair. How am I supposed to resist a guy who still looks at me like I'm his favorite person ever? Spencer thought to herself.
"Good morning," she said in greeting, not being able to help the wide smile that spread across her face.
Toby came over and surprised her by hugging her. She instinctively responded, wrapping her arms around his narrow waist and nestling her face into his firm chest. He smelled like he always had, soapy and outdoorsy, like hard work and car oil and wood chips. "Way to make a girl feel welcome," Spencer chuckled as Toby seemed to reluctantly let her go. She knew her face was flushed and something deep in the pit of her stomach was hot at the hardness of Toby's body against the softness of hers.
"I'm glad you're here," Toby said with a grin. "I'll take you back to the office."
Spencer followed Toby back down the hall where she had followed the Aly look alike to the restroom the day before. An office was on the other side of the hall, and the door was open. Toby knocked. Scott looked up from the small, messy desk where he was working on a desktop computer that looked about 20 years old.
"Miss Hastings! Welcome." They shook hands and Spencer took the seat Toby gestured for her to sit in. He left the room and after a quick and easy interview, Scott offered Spencer the receptionist job and she accepted.
She got started right away, sitting at the receptionist desk and starting paperwork. Toby had to leave to buy parts and she was left to the instruction of Scott for a few hours. Scott left at 12:30 for lunch and locked the door behind him. Spencer ate her tuna salad sandwich and apple while the shop was closed. She looked up from the book she was reading for her summer school work when there was a timid knocking on the glass door. She looked up and saw a dark-haired woman standing outside.
Spencer walked over. "We're closed for lunch hour," she told the woman through the door.
"I know, I just wanted to talk to you, actually," the woman replied.
"Um, okay," Spencer shrugged, opening the door and letting the woman come in past her and then locking it again. "Can I help you?"
The woman stared at Spencer for an uncomfortably long time. She had golden skin, large brown eyes, and thick eyebrows. She was actually very pretty, but a stranger staring at you was always weird no matter what they looked like.
"You're Spencer," the woman said, and Spencer noticed that she had a slight Spanish accent.
What the hell? Spencer thought.
"Um, yeah. Who are you?"
All of a sudden, the door unlocked and swung open behind her. Spencer turned and Toby stormed in, brushing past her to grab the woman's arm.
"What the hell are you doing here, Andrea? I told you to stay away from my job!" Toby snapped. Spencer stood, stunned. She had rarely seen Toby this aggressive, especially with a woman.
Andrea was staring into Toby's eyes like she had just gained the ability to see colors after being color blind from birth. "Tobias, I-I'm-" Andrea stammered. Tobias? No one calls Toby Tobias. "This is her. This is your Spencer," she continued, shooting a glance at Spencer that could only be described as awed, slightly manic. Spencer looked from Andrea to Toby with confusion. Toby looked from Spencer and back to Andrea slowly. His expression had changed from angry to slightly afraid and very much determined.
"Andy, stay away from Spencer. I'm not kidding," Toby said in an almost venomous tone. Andrea was staring at Spencer, her eyes seeming to study every detail from the top of her brown haired head down her long legs to the soles of her brown knee high boots. Spencer was staring anywhere but at Andrea. "Don't look at her!" Toby grabbed Andrea by her chin, his large hand firm on her face. "Don't ever even look at her again!" With that last shout Toby dragged Andrea to the door and pushed her out onto the sidewalk. Andrea stumbled, looked back once, and then ran.
Toby was shaking as he turned and ran his hands over Spencer's hair, his eyes scouring her face, her arms, her legs. "Did she hurt you?" he asked frantically.
"No, Toby, who the hell was-" Spencer began.
Spencer's words were cut off as Toby covered her mouth with his. Spencer's knees buckled but Toby dragged her body to his until there wasn't an inch of air between them. His mouth was warm as he brushed his lips over hers again and again. Spencer couldn't help but respond with zeal. She clutched at his biceps as he held her face in his hands. "God, Spencer," Toby breathed as he pulled away only to set his forehead against hers. Spencer gasped for breath, resisting the urge to bring her mouth back to his. His calloused fingers were threaded through her hair on both sides of her head, fingertips against her skull.
"Toby, tell me-"
A throat was cleared behind the pair and they both jumped away from each other as if electrocuted.
They turned to see Scott staring at them with disapproval. "Well, maybe this isn't going to work out after all," the older man said gruffly.
Spencer's heart sank even as it hammered in her chest.
So, what'd you think? Criticism is welcome and encouraged! Please review and hit the follow button so you won't miss the next chapter ;)
Charlotte
