as they told jokes or snickered at someone else's behavior.
For years, the same scene had played out and it had never bothered Toby before.
Now it irritated him like a splinter stuck in his foot.
"Toby."
He turned, ready to pounce in anger at whoever was about to ask him for something. Instead, he closed his mouth and forced himself to listen to the red headed woman standing before him.
"What's up, Angela?" he asked. "Gabe is in the stockroom doing his job so you'll have to wait five minutes before you can attempt to stick your tongue down his throat again."
He regretted the words as soon as he said them. Angela's eyes filled with hurt tears, but she blinked them away.
"I'm sorry if the friendship between Gabe and I bothers you," she said.
"Friendship? Is that what you call it?"
"We flirt a little, but nothing is going on, and I've never stuck my tongue down his throat!"
Toby grunted his doubt.
"You sound like a bear when you make that noise!" Angela snapped. She glared at him a moment before her expression softened. "I just wanted to ask…well…I just wondered if you'd… heard from Jacqueline?"
"No." He debated with himself, and then asked the question. "Have you?"
"No. Nothing." Angela sighed. "I just don't understand what happened. Why would she suddenly decide to take a vacation? I'm supposed to be her best friend. She tells me everything, but on this one, I'm completely in the dark. I mean, it's been almost three months! What are you not telling me?"
"Nothing! I told you before, Jacqueline decided we were getting too serious, and she wanted some time to clear her head. That's why she left." Toby lied. "I don't know what else to tell you. Maybe you weren't as close to her as you thought."
"Whatever. You know nothing about the bonds of best friend sisterhood, Toby. I figured she would have called me by now just to say she was okay or to talk. Something is wrong."
"I’m sure she's fine," Toby said, irritated at her constant questioning. For weeks, they'd had a similar conversation every night. Angela would be so much easier to deal with if she was in on the truth. But Jacqueline had not wanted to rock her best friend's world with tales of wizards, banshees, and other things that went bump in the night. Out of respect, Toby kept his mouth shut.
"But how do you really know she's okay? I thought you loved her. Why aren't you more concerned?" she pushed.
"Concerned?" Toby could feel the blood rushing to his face. "I'm very concerned, Angela! But there is only so much I can do. If she doesn't want to be found, then that's that."
"That's it?" Angela shook her head. "I don't understand any of this."
"And you think I do?" Toby sighed. "Look, I'm sure she'll call you soon. Right now, why don't you go sit your little ass down at the bar and continue flirting with Gabe? Or better yet, get out of the bar and take him with you. It's not like he's getting any work done."
Angela glanced over her shoulder and Toby followed the direction of her gaze. Gabe was sweeping behind the bar. His dark hair was just a little too long and it slipped into his eyes. Toby supposed his son was handsome enough. Hell, half the girls who came into the bar went gaga over his dark, brooding look. It appeared Angela was no exception. The little twinkle that blossomed in Angela's eye when she looked at Gabe, the way her smile grew just a tad brighter--Toby could tell more than a flirtation was developing between them.
He didn't like it.
"I suppose I don't have to remind you that he's still a kid and kind of a loose cannon," Toby watched the smile slip a little on Angela's face.
"I know that I'm being a cougar," she said, lightly. "But he's not as immature as you like to think."
"Whatever you say," Toby snorted. "I'm not the one sleeping with him."
"Neither am I."
"Yet." Toby frowned. "It's not too late to back off."
"Why would I want to?"
"So that you don't get hurt, of course!" He shook his head, amazed she didn't understand. "I’m not playing around here. Gabe isn't all he might seem. And I know Jacqueline would want you to be careful, too."
"You know what? I know what she would want for you, too," Angela tossed her red hair. "To shit or get off the pot. Stop waiting around and go get her back."
Toby could practically