“I would hate to have to call home.”
Even worse. “No need. I’ll make sure to do some extra reading tonight, and I’ll have my homework all ready for you tomorrow.”
“And what is the homework? I don’t recall you writing it down.” He laces his fingers in front of him, knowing he’s got me.
“Unit six?”
“No, Miss Daniels. Unit six was the one we finished last week. Though it wouldn’t hurt you to review that too, considering your performance on the test. Section one of unit seven is due tomorrow. No excuses. And be prepared to show the class how to work out some of the problems on the board.”
Ugh. “Yes, Mr. Rollar.” I walk away before he can make me feel any lower.
***
Tori’s cell rings for the fourth time since I came over. She checks the screen and yells something that doesn’t even sound human before answering the call. “This isn’t Toby’s cell, so stop calling!” She slams the phone down on the bed. “My brilliant father had to list both our numbers in the school directory under T. Michaels. If another girl calls my cell thinking it’s Toby’s, I’m going to scream.”
I don’t mention that she’s already screaming.
“It’s so disgusting! I mean, what is it about him that makes every girl turn into a drooling idiot?”
His piercing blue eyes, his sexy, messy hair, the way his smile is slightly crooked.
“Becca, are you even listening to me?”
“Huh?” I jump. Please don’t let me be drooling. I’m just as bad as those other girls. “Sorry, I was thinking about the trig test.”
“The trig test?” She arches a brow. “Since when do you think about a test that’s, like, a week away?”
“Uh—” The floorboards in the hallway creak as Toby steps into the doorway. I bite my lip to keep from blurting out my undying love for my best friend’s brother.
Tori whips her head around, glaring at him. “Tell your girlfriends to call your cell. I’m not your messaging service.”
“They don’t call my cell because I don’t give them my number.” He shifts his gaze to me, and I can’t help feeling what he’s about to say is meant for my benefit. “Besides, they’re not my girlfriends. I’m not looking for their attention. I have no interest in them.” The corner of his mouth curves up slightly.
My stomach is aflutter with thoughts of Toby giving me his number. Of Toby wanting my attention. But that’s crazy. I’ve known him for years. He’s never looked at me as anything but Tori’s best friend. I grab Tori’s pillow and squeeze it to my chest, keeping my eyes on anything but Toby. I have to make these feelings go away before Tori finds out and I lose my best friend.
“Whatever. They keep looking it up and dialing me by mistake. Just tell them not to call my cell anymore or I’ll rip every hair out of their heads.”
“What’s got you all bothered, sis? That time of the month?”
Oh, he did not just go there! I meet his eyes, and he winks at me. Winks! My insides melt again.
“How would you feel if all your guy friends were calling you about me?”
“How do you know they don’t?” Toby smiles again, and this time Tori is the one to melt.
“Do they? Which ones?” She flings herself at him, grabbing his shirt in her fists. “Tell me! Is it Ryder?”
Toby backs up and laughs. “Easy, sis. You wouldn’t want to seem desperate.”
“Just tell me who!”
“Fine. Jeff.”
“Jeff?” She lets go of his shirt and turns to me. “Jeff?”
I shrug. Toby has a lot of friends. It’s hard to keep track of them, especially when I’m busy staring at Toby.
“He was here two days ago. You probably didn’t notice him because you were too busy throwing yourself at Ryder.”
Tori’s face reddens. “I do not throw myself at Ryder!”
“Sure.” Toby shakes his head. “You know, before you go complaining about the girls calling you to talk to me, you should take a good look in the mirror. You aren’t that much different from them.”
“Get out!” Tori shoves him hard in the chest and slams the door behind him. “Can you believe him?”
He has a point. Tori has been drooling over Ryder for months. She finds every excuse possible to talk to him. She really isn’t any better than the girls throwing themselves at Toby. No better than me. Although, I choose to keep my feelings hidden and let them explode in the privacy of my diary.
I shrug. “He said he doesn’t want their attention.”
She scoffs. “And you believe that? Come on.”
“Why would he lie?”
She sits down on the bed. “I guess you’re right. I mean, it’s just us. Why would he care what we thought?”
Right. Because Tori’s his sister, and I’m practically family. God, does he really see me as his second sister? That would be the kiss of death.
“Who is your brother interested in? You must have some idea.” I hope I don’t sound too curious as I mentally chant my own name.
“No idea. All he talks about is basketball. I don’t listen much.”
I can’t imagine not listening to Toby. His voice is deep, and it sends chills through me.
“He does let Meredith hang all over him though, so I guess he must like her—at least a little.”
“Did Meredith call your cell?”
“No, and she’s lucky she didn’t. I’m about to rip someone’s head off.”
Yeah, but if she didn’t call Tori’s cell, that might mean she already has Toby’s number. I shouldn’t be surprised. Toby and Meredith make sense. They both like basketball. They’re both popular. Meredith would be the perfect girl for Toby.
Only I don’t want her to be.
Chapter Two
I open my trig book, determined to actually understand this unit, but the truth is numbers make my head hurt. What’s the point in learning all this when they make calculators to do the math for you? I push the book aside and pick up my cell. 6:35. Toby should be home by now. Basketball season is over, but the guys still get together every day to shoot hoops. I dial Tori.
“I’m bored out of my mind. Want to do something?” she blurts out the second she picks up.
“Hello to you too.” I laugh.
“Sorry. I had to silence my phone after the seventh—seventh—call for Toby. This is seriously ridiculous. I need to go out, do something to get my mind off the fact that the entire female population of Lansfield High wants to date my brother. You’re the only one I can be around without having to hear how amazing Toby is.”
That’s because I don’t tell you. “What do you want to do?”
“Go shopping. I need some retail therapy.”
“Sounds good.” No, wait! If we go to the mall, I’ll miss seeing Toby. “Um, do you think after we shop you could help me with trig? Mr. Rollar is threatening to call my mother if I don’t get my grades up.”
“Ick. Why do teachers always pull the mom card?”
“I don’t know, but I need help.”
“I barely managed a B on the last test, but I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks, Tori.”
“Pick you up in ten.”
I hang up and search my closet for a cute outfit. Something that will get Toby’s attention. I need him to stop looking at me as Tori’s best friend. It’s like he doesn’t even notice I’m a girl. After flipping through my entire wardrobe twice, I slump on my desk chair. I need new clothes. I settle for skinny jeans, gray boots, and a black top, figuring I’ll buy a cute new top at the mall and conveniently spill something on this one so I can change before we go to Tori’s.
Twenty minutes later—because Tori’s always late—we’re on our way. “I have to break in my new credit card,” Tori says, wagging her eyebrows.
“I’m sure your mom will love that.”
“What? Credit cards teach responsibility. That’s a good thing.”
“I’ll remind you of that when you’re in debt with interest.”
“See? That’s what I was telling Toby earlier.”
I sit up straight in my seat. “You were talking to Toby about me?”
She narrows her eyes at me quickly before focusing on the road again. “So? What’s the big deal?”