Free Saving Toby by Suzanne McKenna Link Page A

was
carrying two red plastic cups when he found us.
    “Here you go, ladies. I got one for you, too, April.” He
offered her a cup. April shook her head. “Fine,” he shrugged, turning to me.
“Claudia?”
    He grinned at me hopefully, and I honestly felt bad for him.
I reached out my hand for the cup, but then suddenly, he pitched forward.
Stumbling, soda sloshed over the cups onto his sneakers. April and I backed up.
    “Ah, shit!” He spun around to see who was responsible for
bumping into him.
    From out of nowhere, Toby appeared. I smiled for a split
second until I saw the angry expression on his face. Without a word, Toby
reached forward and, with a quick swipe, sent our drinks tumbling from his
friend’s hand. The liquid splashed up when the cups hit the ground. April and I
shrieked as it showered our shoes.
    “Faye, what the hell … ?” Devlin eyed Toby.
    Toby made a growling noise. Moving quickly, he got in
between Devlin and me.
    “Stay away from her.”
    “Toby, it’s okay.” I touched his arm, unsure why he felt the
need to protect me. “We were just talking. He got me a drink. That’s all.”
    Twisting, he acknowledged me with a stony glance. He let out
a breath, and his expression softened a bit. “That’s not all. That’s just the
beginning.”
    Devlin’s eyes narrowed. “What the fuck are you doing, man?”
    Toby whirled back to Devlin. “What, am I ruining your game
tonight?”
    “You are, and it’s starting to piss me off.” His fingers
curled into fists. “Pissing me off is always a mistake.”
    “Then leave.”
    “You going to make me?” Dev’s face warped into a sinister
mask as he leaned closer, just inches from Toby. “'Cause, I’d really like to
see you fucking try.”
    Time froze for me. This was not like two boys fighting in
the schoolyard. No teacher would come and break it up, and they both appeared
fierce enough to do some real damage to each other.
    “Come on, tough guy.” Devlin shoved Toby with open hands. Toby
stumbled back, but quickly regained his balance and swung a balled fist. We all
heard the crack as it connected with Devlin’s jaw. A group nearby jeered in
excitement, egging the guys to keep fighting. Devlin, bent over, wiped his
bloodied mouth. He appeared shocked for a moment before an even darker
expression slid over his face. Before he could fully recover, though, Toby had
him by the back of the neck and put him in a headlock.
    A crowd instantly formed in a circle around us. Alarmed, I
grabbed April’s arm. Devlin thrashed about trying to break free, but Toby
didn’t let him loose. His strength was frightening.
    “Come on, you—” Through gritted teeth, Devlin rattled off a
string of vicious curses.
    Toby twisted back hard, and we all watched as he flung Devlin
away. The momentum carried the mammoth guy into the pool several feet away. He
hit the water with a loud splash. Cheers and whistles erupted from the party
crowd.
    Devlin came up sputtering.
    “You’re going to be fucking sorry for this, motherfucker!”
Devlin hoisted himself out of the pool. Dripping wet, he spit onto the brick
patio and eyed Toby, the menacing look unmistakable, before he pushed roughly
through the crowd. People applauded his exit.
    Toby stood there, his tall form still tense and ready to
spring as he watched Devlin leave. It wasn’t until then I realized Dario
Manolo, April’s longtime boyfriend, was standing with us. With a grim face,
Dario pulled April and me to his side. At five-foot-eight, he was several
inches shorter than Toby and not quite as muscular, but Dario, who was more
likely to elicit laughs than start a fight, looked after me like a brother.
Normally it was very hard to ruffle April’s stylish main squeeze—it might have
been the first time I’d seen his dark handsome features marred with such an
angry scowl.
    “Did that baboon touch you girls?” Dario asked, giving us
the once over.
    “As if I’d let him,” April replied with a snort.
    I