tales end with somebody getting their arms cut off or cooked in an oven.”
“I know.”
Ernest half-turned to Toby. “Seriously, I figured I committed, at least in my own mind, to get you to a decision. If you got the job, fantastic. If not, at least we’d know we gave it our best shot.” A crease popped above the bridge of his sunglasses. “But that’s not what happened. While I can’t imagine why they’d still be considering that asshole, Justin, I guess they are. No way I want you to lose just because of their stupid preference for married people. So here I am.” He smiled.
Toby glanced at Ernest. “Can you tell me about the business issue?”
“Not allowed, or I would have already.” He quietly petted Cat and Batshit in turn.
There wasn’t much about any of what Ernest said that fit a young guy’s fantasies, although what excuse for disappearing from Toby’s life for over twenty-four hours and not returning calls would have been ideal? Kidnapping maybe? But at least, now he knew. Ernest was with him for the weekend, and then he was gone. Probably forever.
He gave Ernest a sharp glance. “Is it safe for you to be here? Are you telling me that this dude who’s following you is a good guy and he didn’t want you to come with me for some good reason—and now you’re escaping from him? I’m thinking we need to turn around.”
“No, no, don’t do that. Seriously. He’s just being hyper, uh, private. He wants me to stay where he can keep tabs on me.”
“For your own freaking good, right?” Toby raised his voice enough that Batshit barked and Cat gave her a look. Toby sucked a breath. He needed to calm down.
Ernest said, “One weekend in a very isolated place isn’t going to hurt anyone.”
“Isn’t he going to freak out?”
“Yeah. But he may not know I’m gone yet. When he does, he’ll see my side.”
“Really?”
“No.”
Despite the fact that this was so likely not a funny situation, Toby laughed and Ernest joined in.
Ernest said, “I’ll bet we can get some great bread, cheese, and wine in Los Olivos.”
Toby sighed, settled back in the driver’s seat, and decided when fun was inevitable, you might as well enjoy it. He had Ernest for four days. Damn if he’d spend the whole time worrying.
They did stop in the tiny town of Los Olivos, even though it was a little bit of a detour. At a favorite restaurant of Ernest’s, they sat on the patio with Bat and Cat in attendance and ate big salmon salads with a glass of red zinfandel, the wine the central coast was most famous for.
Back on the road, they shared favorite movies like a real dating couple. Interestingly, Ernest favored romantic comedies like Tin Cup and Love, Actually, while Toby went for the dark laughs in Pulp Fiction and I Care A Lot.
Amazingly, it seemed like having Cat had calmed Batshit. Her level of anxiety decreased noticeably and she mostly napped or munched her chicken chew.
As it got dark, they pulled into the out-of-the-way Central Coast Lodge, a sprawling collection of cottages surrounding a central lobby and dining building next to a swimming pool area. All of it was tucked into trees and bushes against a deep forest panorama.
Ernest said, “Looks nice. I’ve never been here.”
“Me either.” Toby stared through the windshield toward the sign that said Guest Registration and realized he was about to get a room with a dog, a cat—and Ernest Freaking Ross. Ho-ly shit. He parked outside the check-in area. “It looks like we’ll have to drive to our room, so I’ll go in and register. You stay with the menagerie.” Toby opened the door and Batshit’s big ears pricked.
“Woof, woof.”
“You stay with Ernest, girl. I’ll be right back.”
She turned her head toward Ernest and he laughed. “That’s what I’d call a deeply suspicious look.”
Toby chuckled as he slid out of the car and walked into the lobby. Inside, several people from the school including the headmaster, Ron Cordoza, were lined up at the desk. Toby stood behind him.
Ron said, “Toby, so glad you were able to make it on such short notice.”
Toby said the obvious. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”
Ron looked over Toby’s head. “Is Ernest with you?”
The sheer relief at getting to say yes almost made Toby light-headed. “He sure is. He’s in the car with our zoo. Emily told me the hotel accepts pets, which is why I was able to come. I’m dog-sitting for