“I’m not following you.”
He turns and traces circles on the back of my hand. “What if we turn this into something fun? See how many times we can sneak out together without getting caught. How many times we can kiss with Tori just two doors away.”
“You want to turn us dating into a game?” I have to admit it does sound like fun.
“If we have to sneak around, we might as well enjoy it.” He wags his eyebrows.
I playfully smack his chest, but he grabs my hand and pulls me in for a kiss. His hand weaves through my hair and cups the back of my head so I can’t get away, not that I’m trying to. His kiss is hungry. Apparently, sneaking around can be fun, and this is a kind of fun I can get used to.
The doorknob rattles, but this time, when Toby and I pull apart, we both smile. Tori is locked out, and we already have an excuse. I pull him toward me, kissing him quickly before he goes for the door. He smiles in approval. I fix my hair as Tori yells, “What the hell? Open up.”
I stifle a laugh as Toby jiggles the handle. “Hang on. It must be stuck or something.” Finally, he opens it. “Got it.”
Tori steps into the room and stares at the doorknob. “You should have Dad fix that.”
“Yeah, I will. Definitely.” Toby winks at me as Tori turns toward me.
“You finished yet? I need you to proofread my English essay.”
“Yeah.” I slide off the bed and gather my books, putting them away as if I wasn’t just kissing my best friend’s brother. Maybe I can get used to sneaking around. I smile at Toby as I follow Tori out of the room. “Thanks again for helping me.”
“Any time.” He tickles my side, and I have to bite my bottom lip to keep from giggling.
“How can you study on his bed?” Tori asks as we walk into her room.
I throw my bag down. “Why not? He only has one chair in his room.”
“Maybe you should study in the living room.”
“Nah. We’re fine. I’d be too distracted with your parents coming home and stuff.”
“Whatever. If you can stand it, then more power to you.” She hands me her essay, but before I can start reading it, she says, “I have a mission for you anyway.”
“A mission?” What’s she up to now?
“Yeah. Since you’re in Toby’s room every night studying, you’re the perfect person to figure out who his mystery girl is.”
My throat tightens. “You’ve got to be kidding. He’s not going to tell me who he’s dating.”
“Sure he will. You’ll think of some way to get it out of him.”
Except somehow I think she’ll object to me making out with him. Especially when it’s to get my own name out of him.
Chapter Eleven
My cell vibrates on my nightstand.
Toby: You asleep?
I smile, thinking about my evening with Toby.
Becca: No, I’m still up.
Toby: How was the rest of your night?
Becca: Fine. Except your sister has a mission for me.
Toby: Hang on. I’m going to call you.
Probably better. This is too much to discuss in a text. I answer on the second ring, so I don’t seem too eager. “Hey.”
“Hey.” The sound of his deep voice brings butterflies to my stomach. “So what does she want you to do?”
“Find out who you’re dating.”
He laughs. “Well, that won’t be too difficult.”
“It’s not funny. What am I supposed to tell her?”
“That you couldn’t stay away from me any longer. It’s completely understandable.”
I can picture the smirk on his face. “Keep it up and I’ll tell her you and Ryder are secret lovers.”
“Touché.”
“Seriously, what should I tell her?”
“Tell her you’re not a spy. You don’t feel right snooping around in my private life, and it’s none of her business anyway.”
“Sometimes I think you two aren’t really related. Any chance one of you was switched at birth?”
“Tori keeps trying to prove it, but so far no luck.”
I yawn and look at the clock. Eleven-thirty.
“Go to bed. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Without Meredith attached to your arm? I might not recognize you.”
“Ha-ha. Goodnight, Becca.”
“Night.” I know he’s right. I should tell Tori it’s none of her business who Toby is dating. But considering it’s me, that isn’t exactly true. Tori or Toby? How do I choose between them? There has to be a way to keep them both. I fall asleep, wondering if I’ll ever get this sorted out.
***
“Check it out. My brother is actually walking down the hall without an entourage.”
“Leave him alone.” I put my books in my locker and grab my Spanish notebook. I totally forgot to study for our quiz today.
“I will as soon as you find out who he’s dating.” She pauses, and a smile spreads across her face. “Unless it’s someone totally gross and I can torture him about it.”
“Why?” I slam my locker shut. “Why do you have to pick on him?”
“What happened to Suzie Sunshine? I actually prefer her to”—she gestures the length of my body—“whatever this is.”
“Nothing happened. I’m just tired of you two fighting. I’m at your house all the time. I grew up with you guys. It’s annoying to constantly be in the middle of you two.”
“Why would you be in the middle? You’re my best friend. Not his. We have different friends for a reason.”
“What about Friday night? We all hung out together.”
“That was different. Toby was actually being decent and hooking me up with Ryder. He probably wants something. You just watch.”
“Whatever.” I steal her line and adjust my shoulder bag. “You ready to go to class?”
“No, but I guess we have to.”
Toby walks by us, but before I can say hi or even hope he’ll stop to talk, two girls step between us and flank him on both sides.
“Look at that. It’s like the girls have radar or something.”
“I’m starting to see what you mean.” I better figure this out soon because I can’t keep watching other girls hang all over him.
“It’s about time.” She loops her arm through mine, and we walk to class.
I barely pass my Spanish quiz. Senora Gomez gives me a sympathetic look. I normally do really well in her class, and apparently she heard I was sick this past weekend. She even tells me I can take a make-up exam if I’d like. I don’t want to use my fake sickness to better my grade, but I can’t exactly admit to faking either, so I agree to come in early on Thursday and retake the quiz.
By lunch I feel really guilty, but that’s quickly replaced with feelings of jealousy. Toby is sitting with Ryder and Jeff and a slew of girls.
“Why are you squeezing your sandwich to death?” Tori asks, pointing to the peanut butter oozing through my fingers.
“Oh.” I put it down and wipe my hands on a napkin.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Didn’t do so well on my Spanish quiz. I guess I’m just stressed.” I crumble the napkin and stand up. “I should go wash this off.”
“Just don’t go beating up the paper towel dispenser. It didn’t do anything to you.”
“Funny.” I roll my eyes and head to the bathroom across the hall. I stare at my reflection, not sure why Toby wants to be with me anyway. Everything about me screams average—my height, my brown hair, my brown eyes, my build. A lot of those girls at his table are prettier than me, and I don’t get the grades he does.
I throw my paper towel in the garbage and walk out of the bathroom.
“Hey,” someone whispers from the hallway on my left.
I turn and see Toby poking his head around the corner. He waves me on. I check to make sure no one is looking and duck down the hall. “What are you doing?”