Tori shuts her bedroom door behind us. “I thought he was going to make you study all night. Sorry he’s such a demanding prick sometimes.”
“He’s not.” I whip around to face her. “He’s really helping me.”
“Um, okay.” She shakes her head and narrows her eyes at me. “That time of the month, Becca? You don’t need to bite my head off. I’m not the one who made you study for two hours.”
Two hours? That’s how long it was? The time always goes by so fast when I’m with Toby. “Sorry.”
“Whatever.” She waves it off, over it already. “I was thinking you should just stay over. We don’t have school tomorrow.”
I’ve totally lost track of the days. It’s Friday. Toby gave up a Friday afternoon and evening to be with me. He really does like me. The kiss wasn’t a fluke. “Um, I don’t have any of my stuff.”
“I should’ve told you to bring it. I was just so pissed that Toby insisted on ruining your Friday night.”
“He didn’t.” I really need to watch how much I defend him in front of Tori.
“Yeah, he said it was your idea, but I know how he is. He has a way of suggesting something and then making it seem like you really came up with it.”
“He just knows I’ve been struggling in trig. It’s really nice of him to help me like this.”
“Whatever. I’m going to pick out some movies for us and make some popcorn. Raid my pajama drawer and find something to wear.” She points to her bottom dresser drawer, as if I don’t know where everything is in her room, and leaves.
My heart is still racing, but I take a few deep breaths and find a pair of pajamas I bought for Tori. They still have the tags on them. Somehow it doesn’t feel right to be the first person to wear them, even though I suspect she’ll never take the tags off. I opt for a cute blue tank top and matching pants. It’s always hot in the Michaels’ house, so I’ll be fine in a tank. I bring them to the bathroom in the hall and get changed. I pull my hair back into a loose ponytail and carry my clothes out.
Toby walks out of his room and eyes me. “Spending the night?”
“Um, yeah. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” He walks by me, brushing against my side. “I can’t wait to see what you look like in the morning.”
I’ve slept over plenty of times, but things are different now. The kiss changed everything between us, and I suddenly feel like this is the first time I’ll wake up under the same roof as him. I turn to face him and flirt right back. “It’s not a pretty sight.”
“I doubt that.” He smiles.
“Would you leave Becca alone?” I jump. Tori’s at the top of the stairs, holding a big bowl of popcorn in one hand and a stack of movies in the other. “Go harass your own friends.”
Toby steps back into the bathroom and out of Tori’s view. He wags his eyebrows at me before closing the door.
“Sorry about him.” Tori heads to her room, and I follow.
“He wasn’t bothering me. We ran into each other in the hall.”
“Sometimes I wish I were an only child like you.”
“I’m glad you’re not.” It slips out, and I immediately freeze.
“Why?” She whirls around on me, nearly spilling the popcorn.
“It’s boring being an only child.” I rush over to my bag and put my clothes inside it to avoid looking at her.
“Yeah, but I bet it’s peaceful.” She puts the popcorn on the bed and brings the movies over to the TV on her dresser. “Horror or romance?”
I don’t want to be dreaming about Toby while I’m under the same roof as him and Tori, so romance is definitely out. “Horror.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” She puts the movie in and sits down on the bed. “Are you going to watch while standing? Come sit.”
“I have to text my mom and tell her I’m staying over first.”
“You’re such a good little girl, Becca Daniels,” Tori says like she’s talking to a five-year-old.
I roll my eyes at her. “Another downside to being an only child. I’m the only one my parents have to worry about and check up on.”
“Point taken.” She shoves a handful of popcorn into her mouth.
Toby shows up in the doorway, holding his cell. “Hey, got an idea.”
“That’s nice. Now go away. We’re watching a movie.” Tori shoves more popcorn into her mouth.
I elbow her and give her a “be nice” look. She just rolls her eyes.
“Okay, if you don’t want me to invite Ryder over so the four of us can watch a movie, that’s fine.” He starts to walk away, but Tori is already out of bed and lunging at him.
“Wait!” she says around the mouthful of popcorn.
“Attractive, sis.”
“Shut up, loser.”
“Hey, be nice or I’m not calling Ryder.”
The four of us watching a movie. Like a double date. What is he thinking?
“Dear, sweet brother.” Tori pats Toby’s arms. “You know I was only teasing.”
“Yeah, right. So should I call him?”
“Duh!”
She really can’t be nice to him for more than two seconds.
Toby leans toward her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that. What did you say?”
Tori grits her teeth. “Yes, please.”
He pats her head, and I can tell she wants to take a swing at him but he hasn’t called Ryder yet. I walk over to her and pull her back toward the bed. “Easy, girl.”
“I have to change and brush my teeth and fix my hair!” She pushes me out of the room with Toby and shuts the door.
“Well, that’s interesting,” Toby says.
“What?”
“She practically threw you into my arms.”
Oh, I wish. I smile and rock on my feet, not sure what to do with myself. “Don’t you have to call Ryder?”
“He’s already on his way.”
I laugh. “You knew she’d say yes.”
“Of course. She’s my twin.”
“So what’s this all about?”
He pulls me down the hall and into his room. My heart hammers, wondering if he’s going to kiss me again. “I don’t want Tori to hear us.”
“Oh.” My whole body deflates.
“I thought if we all hang out, she’d open up to the idea of you and me hanging out.”
Makes sense. I nod.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“Nothing. It’s a good plan.”
“Glad you think so.” He smiles and steps toward me. “Can I just say one thing?”
Uh-oh. “Sure.”
“The next time you stay over, make sure you bring your own pajamas. It’s so weird looking at you in my sister’s clothing.”
I laugh. “Got it.”
Guess that means no stolen kisses tonight.
Chapter Eight
Ryder is a total popcorn hog, but Tori doesn’t seem to care. She’s staring at him like a lovesick puppy. Luckily, that means she hasn’t even acknowledged Toby and me. He managed to get himself a spot next to me at the head of the bed, while Ryder and Tori sit on the pillows on the floor. It really does feel like we’re on a double date, only Toby hasn’t even tried to touch me. I sneak glances at him, but he’s totally into the movie.
“Oh man, we’re out of popcorn,” Ryder says, holding up the empty bowl.
Tori hits pause on the movie and grabs Ryder’s arm. “Come on. You can help me make more.” There is nothing subtle about the look in her eye or the way she’s rubbing his arm. The girl has no shame. I kind of envy her for that.
“Be right back,” Ryder says, wagging his eyebrows at Toby.
“Does that bother you?” I motion to them as they head downstairs. “Your best friend with your sister?”
“Should it?” He cocks his head at me, and I get what he’s saying. I’m Tori’s best friend and he’s her brother.
“Is that why you did this? Do you think setting them up will make it easier for—?” I stop, realizing I just implied he and I are trying to get together. We’ve only kissed once. How could I jump to that conclusion so quickly?
He smiles. “You need to relax, Becca.”
No chance of that. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—” He reaches for my hand, and I shut up.
“I’m not going to lie to you. I have no idea if this is going to work. I’m just trying to find ways around Tori getting mad at you.”