“Why? You don’t have detention.”
He smiles. “Oh, I’m sure I do now.”
“Um, you’re holding my hand.”
He looks down at our hands. “Oh. Guess we can’t do this in public yet.” He lets go and motions for me to go into detention first.
About ten seconds later, once I’m in my seat, he walks in. Vice Principal Davidson raises his head. “Can I help you, Mr. Michaels?”
“Well, sir, I’m afraid I let curiosity take over and I might have scared two girls from your detention.”
“Excuse me?” Davidson raises his brow in confusion.
“I heard some of the girls talking about how their bathrooms are much better than the guys and, well, I had to see for myself.”
Davidson rises and leans forward with his hands on the desk. “Are you telling me you went into the girls’ bathroom?”
“Yes, sir.” Toby doesn’t even look phased.
“I see.” Davidson points to a seat in the back of the room. “Then you came to the right place. In fact, I’d get comfortable because you just earned yourself a week’s worth of detention.”
Toby nods. “Yes, sir. I understand.” He walks down my aisle, giving me a small smile on the way. The boy took a week’s worth of detention for me.
Meredith stands in the doorway, shaking her head. She clearly doesn’t know what to make of Toby’s bold move. He left her with nothing to use against us. She wouldn’t tell people we were together because then she’d look bad. She’s utterly speechless.
As boring as detention is, I enjoy every minute.
***
Friday comes and goes, which means it’s D-day. The party. The day I have to come clean to my best friend. I’m so not ready for this. Toby and I went over the details last night, in between making out and him singing me my song again. We still haven’t exactly said “I love you” out loud in those exact words, but we both know how we feel.
My cell rings just as I’m waking up. “Hello?”
“So when am I supposed to show up, and where is the party?”
“You don’t get the meaning of surprise, do you?” I rub the sleep from my eyes and stretch.
“Details, girl. I have to tell Ryder when to pick me up.”
“Tell you what. I’ll have Toby text Ryder the details, and then he’ll know.”
“Then at least tell me how to dress.”
“Really? It’s a party. You know how to dress.”
“Ugh, you’re no fun.” She hangs up, and I text Toby.
Becca: You awake?
Toby: Yup.
Becca: Happy birthday.
Toby: Thanks.
As I’m typing my response, Toby calls. “Hey, birthday boy.”
“Good morning, beautiful.”
“Making eggs again?”
“Nope. Not even in the kitchen.”
“Well, in that case, thank you.” I sit up and hug my pillow. I’m not sure the butterflies in my stomach will ever go away. No matter how much time I spend with Toby, I’m always excited to hear his voice.
“Have you spoken to my lesser half?”
“If you’re referring to Tori, then yes. She wanted details about the party, but I told her you’d text Ryder.”
“Will do.”
“What time do you want me over there?”
“Now.”
“Why am I thinking it has nothing to do with the party?”
“Because you’re smart.” I can just picture the sexy smile on his face.
“Thank you again. Have Ryder get Tori out of the house, and then I’ll come over.”
“Deal. Text you when she’s gone.”
“I’ll get ready.” I hang up and take a long shower. As much as I want to see Toby and wish him a happy birthday, I don’t want to face Tori. We have to tell her today. We agreed on it, and this has gone on long enough.
I just finish wrapping Tori’s boots and Toby’s gift when Mom walks into the room. “You all ready?”
“I think so.”
She walks over and brushes my hair behind my shoulder. “You don’t sound very excited.”
“I am. I’m just worried.”
“Tori’s been talking about those boots for a while now. She’ll love them.” Mom knows how tough Tori is to please sometimes.
“I know.”
“Is it Toby’s gift you’re worried about?”
Toby’s gift was a challenge, but in the end I think I got him something he’ll like. At least I hope so. “It’s not that either.”
She cocks her head and sighs. “Let me guess. This is about a boy. Someone who was supposed to ask you to the party maybe?”
“I planned the party. No one was supposed to ask me.”
“But it is about a boy, isn’t it?”
“If I said I didn’t want to talk about it, would you let it go?” I can’t confess to Mom before Tori.
She holds her hands up. “Okay. Go. Have fun. Tell Tori and Toby your father and I wish them both a very happy birthday.”
“I will. Thanks, Mom.”
“Becca, just remember I was your age once. I do remember what it was like.”
I somehow really doubt Mom fell for her best friend’s brother. “I’m fine. Really.”
She nods and walks out. She knows I’m lying, but like always, I’ll come to her if I need her. She’s good like that. She gives me space, but lends a shoulder to cry on when I need it.
I finish getting ready and head out. I have to pick up the cake before Toby texts me with the “all clear.” I drive to Big Mama’s Bakery downtown. It’s run by Mr. Kwan. He’s not exactly big or a mama, but he makes great cakes, so no one brings it up.
“Becca,” Mr. Kwan says as I walk through the door. “I have your cake right here.”
“Thanks, Mr. Kwan.”
“And I made you a little something extra.”
“You did?” I lean over the counter, trying to see what he’s pulling out of the case. He hands me a cupcake. A very big cupcake. “What’s this for?”
“Big enough for two.”
I still have no idea where he’s going with this. Is it because Tori and Toby are twins? It would be a little weird for them to share a cupcake at seventeen. “Um, thank you.”
“It’s not for the birthday boy and girl.” He raises one eyebrow.
“It’s not? Then who is it for?”
“You.”
“Oh, well that’s—”
“And Toby.”
Me and Toby? What, is he psychic? “I don’t understand.”
“I drive by the Michaels’ house every day on my way to work.”
“Okay.” So? I’m always over there. Tori and I were basically inseparable before she started dating Ryder.
“I saw you and Toby the other week. In the doorway.”
In the doorway? Oh God! The kiss. He saw Toby kiss me in the doorway the day Meredith caught us. How could we be so stupid? Who knows how many people saw that? He lives on a main road.
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell your secret. You put the cupcake away until later.”
“Mr. Kwan, I—”
He leans forward, and his breath smells like buttercream icing. “I always wondered why you two never got together.”
“You did?”
He nods. “You grew up together. You both like the same things. It makes sense. I’m not sure why you’re hiding it.”
“That would be because of the birthday girl.” I’m not sure why I’m telling him this. Why I’ve chosen to confide in him like my own personal psychiatrist.
“Ah.” He nods. “She doesn’t want her brother dating her friend. I can understand that. My younger sister didn’t want me dating her friends, either.”
“Really? Why?” Mr. Kwan is a sweetheart. If he were my brother, I wouldn’t mind him dating my friends. Well, if he was like twenty years younger.
“Because what happens when you break up?” I step back, and he quickly adds, “I was being hypothetical. I didn’t mean you and Toby.”
“Oh.” What would happen if Toby and I broke up? Would it affect my relationship with Tori? Or Toby’s relationship with Tori? And I’d still be hanging out at their house. Or maybe I wouldn’t be able to because it would be too weird.