“She’s—” Meredith turns away and presses her hands to the sides of her head. “I don’t even know what to make of this.”
“Meredith, please.” I can’t believe I’m about to beg her, of all people, but that’s exactly what’s going to happen. “You can’t mention this to Tori. She doesn’t know.” I’m still pissed at Tori, but that doesn’t mean I want to lose her as a friend.
She lowers her hands and turns back to us. “No, she doesn’t, does she?” She looks back and forth between us. “Is that why Ryder took her out today? To help you two sneak around?”
“No!” My God. Why does she think so little of me? “Ryder likes Tori.”
“Sure. It’s like I stepped into bizarro world. Ryder and Tori, you and Toby. It’s insane. You get that, don’t you? You must or you wouldn’t be sneaking around.” She steps toward Toby. “Why? Why would you leave me for her?”
He backs away from her. “I didn’t leave you. We were never together.”
“Oh, so I guess we weren’t sleeping together? I must have imagined that.” She looks at me, making sure I know what happened between them. I cringe. Hearing it from her is too much to take. “You got me to sleep with you and then you tossed me to the curb. You’re no better than―”
“That’s not what happened and you know it. We hung out for a while, but it didn’t work out. That’s it. I’m sorry if you got hurt, but I don’t know what you want me to say.” Toby’s voice is small, like he realizes for the first time just how much he hurt Meredith. Maybe he’ll see his “no relationship” thing isn’t working for anyone but him.
“You could say you didn’t give us a fair chance. You always had other girls hanging around. You never committed to just me. Not even after we…” Meredith’s eyes are full of tears, and I can’t help feeling sorry for her.
“I was honest with you from the start. I’m not sure what else I could’ve done. I don’t feel the same way. I’m sorry, but it’s true.” Toby takes a step toward me. “I like Becca. I have for a year.”
“For a year?” Meredith practically screams. Oh, Toby, that was so not the right thing to say. “So you were with me and wishing I was her?” She jabs her finger in my direction. At least I can understand her hating me after that revelation.
“Maybe we should all sit down.” I’m not sure how that will help, but I can’t think of anything else to do.
“You sit down.” It’s a weak insult for Meredith, but she’s not exactly herself right now, so I throw her a bone and pretend the comment stings.
“Um, okay.” I sit down in the armchair next to me.
Meredith moves toward Toby, and at first I think she’s going to shove him or slap him across the face. But she places her hands on his chest. He couldn’t look more uncomfortable. “Why? Why can’t you see that I’m the perfect girl for you? Everyone else does.” She turns her head and looks at me. “What does she have that I don’t?”
Morals? But then again, I’m sneaking around with my best friend’s brother. My morals aren’t exactly model worthy right now.
“I don’t want to hurt you any more than I already have. I’m really sorry, but I can’t change how I feel, and I don’t see how telling you why I like Becca is going to make you feel any better.”
“You want me to feel better?” She leans toward him, so close their faces are almost touching. I grip the armrest of the chair and wonder why Toby isn’t pushing her away. “Go out with me tonight. Give me a chance to show you what a big mistake you made.”
“Why, so you can throw yourself at him again?” Before I can realize what I’m doing, I’m on my feet and tugging her away from Toby. “That worked so well for you last time.”
She lunges for me, but Toby grabs my waist and pulls me away.
“This isn’t happening,” he says, positioning himself between us. “Meredith, I’m not dating you. It’s over. I’m with Becca. You’re just going to have to accept that.”
She’s breathing so heavily her entire body is heaving. “You think so?” Oh, this isn’t going to be good. “Tori has no idea what you two have been doing. But that can change.”
Toby lets go of me, and we exchange a worried look.
Meredith scoffs. “That’s what I thought. So let me tell you what’s going to happen.”
“Meredith—”
“Shut up, Becca. I’m talking. I’ll keep my mouth shut about what I saw here today on one condition.”
“One really big condition, right?” Toby asks.
“See, you do know me well.”
“Just spit it out already.” She’s only prolonging the torture. Just drop the bomb already.
“Toby and I are getting back together. This”—she points between Toby and me—“is over.”
Toby crosses his arms. “Forget it. You’re not telling me who I can date.”
“Fine. Then I’ll have a little talk with my old friend Tori.”
As much as Tori hates Meredith, I can’t risk Tori believing her. Especially because it’s true. I won’t be able to deny a flat-out accusation from my best friend. It’s going to kill me, but I have to go along with this.
“Toby, you have to do it,” I say, shocking both him and Meredith.
Meredith laughs. “Funny, but I never thought you’d be the sensible one, Becca.”
Toby turns to me. “What are you saying? You want to end this?”
“No, but if she tells Tori, it’s over anyway.” Looking into his baby blue eyes is painful. This isn’t what I want at all.
“I’m not giving you up that easily. I’ve waited too long to finally be with you.”
I want to kiss him so badly, but I know better than to piss off Meredith any more than she already is.
Toby turns to Meredith. “One date. That’s it. And then you’ll see we aren’t right for each other and it’s over.”
“Not good enough.” Meredith crosses her arms. “One date isn’t going to cut it, and I’m not going out with you just so you can dump me again.”
“I’m not kissing you or doing anything else with you. So if that’s what you’re looking for, you can forget it.” I’ve never seen Toby look this agitated. He’s always so together. It breaks my heart more because I can see whatever this is between us means just as much to him as it does to me.
“Fine, but you will hold my hand and make it look like we’re the perfect, happy couple.”
“Why would you do that?” I ask. It seems worse than not having Toby at all.
“Have you seen what my life has become since he decided I wasn’t good enough for him?” Her face is red with rage.
“That’s not what happened,” Toby says.
“Just shut up. I don’t want to hear it. I want my old life back. I want my old friends back. But everyone is too busy looking at me like I’m Toby’s latest castoff. They either look down on me or pity me. I can’t stand it. I’m going to rise to the top again, and you’re going to help me do it.”
“So this is about your reputation at school?” Why am I not surprised? I was stupid to think that she really loved Toby. Of course she doesn’t. All she cares about is her social status.
“Word of caution, Becca.” Meredith lowers her arms and steps right in front of me. “Toby doesn’t exactly live up to the hype.” She looks him up and down and laughs. “Which is why after a few weeks, once my reputation is fully restored, I’ll be dumping you—rather publicly.” She smiles. “Then you can see what it feels like to plummet down the social ladder. I’m sure Becca will be waiting for you at the bottom.”
“Get out,” Toby says. “I’m not going along with this, so just leave.”
“Fine.” Meredith starts for the door. “So, Ryder and Tori went to the movies, right? I’m sure I’ll be able to find them.”
“Wait!” I rush toward her and grab her arm. She eyes my fingers and shrugs them off. I turn back to Toby. “Please, just do what she wants. It’s only for appearance’s sake.” I look to Meredith for confirmation. “Right? That’s all this is?”
She nods. “He’ll have to kiss me in public. For appearance’s sake, of course.”
God, I want to smack her so hard! “Give us a minute.” I take Toby’s hand and lead him into the dining room.
“You can’t be serious about this, Bec.”
“I don’t know what else to do.” I squeeze his hand, not wanting to ever let go. I just got him. I can’t lose him already. “Are you ready for Tori to find out about us? Because I’m not. I don’t want to lose her. Or you.”