Toby sets up the screen with our names. “You’re up first. Pick your ball.”

For a second I consider playing the girly card, pretending I don’t know what I’m doing. But the truth is, I’m a decent bowler. Or I was at nine. I get a ball that’s pretty light and step up to the line. Eyeing the pins, I line up my shot. I’m a little rusty, but I knock down all but three pins.

“Not bad.” Toby nods as I wait for my ball to return.

“My dad was on the bowling team. I guess it’s in my genes.”

“Then I fully expect you to get a spare with your next shot.” He smiles and my stomach flips. Does he have any clue the effect he has on me?

I take my ball and line up my second shot. I don’t get a spare, missing by one pin. I shrug and sit down.

“I’m still impressed.” Toby gets a ball, but instead of walking up to the lane, he stops in front of me. “You know some girls wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this.”

What does that mean? “Then why’d you ask me to come?”

“Relax, Daniels. I meant that as a compliment. You read into things too much.” He walks up to the lane, and I wonder if he means I’m reading too much into this outing.

An hour later, we’re finished with both games, each winning one.

“You’re good,” Toby says, changing back into his shoes.

“Yeah, well, don’t tell my dad, okay?”

“I can’t. Tori might find out.”

I put my rental shoes on the seat next to me. “You’re really worried about her knowing we’re hanging out, huh?”

“She’s your best friend. I don’t want to mess that up.”

Me either. “What about your relationship with her?”

He shrugs. “We’re twins. She can’t stay mad at me.”

It seems like there’s more to the story. Like maybe this has happened before. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Do you remember Allison Woodbury?”

“Wow, I haven’t thought about her in years. She moved away after junior high.”

“Yeah, well, remember how close she and Tori used to be?”

“In elementary school. We all used to hang out.” I squint, remembering how Allison just stopped hanging out with us all of a sudden. “But then one day, it was just me and Tori. It has been ever since.”

“Yeah, well…” He sighs.

“What?”

“Allison told Tori she had a crush on me.”

“And Tori dumped her as a friend because of it?” How did I not know this? Allison was one of my best friends. Wouldn’t she have told me?

“This was before Tori enforced the ‘no hanging out with her friends’ rule. Allison asked me to teach her how to skateboard. So I did.”

“That’s it? You hung out once and Tori defriended her?”

“Yup. She told Allison it was me or her. Allison didn’t want to have to choose, so Tori stopped talking to her.”

I shake my head. “But why did Allison stop talking to me?”

“Because Tori said you two were a package deal. She thought Allison would choose you guys. She was wrong.”

“Wow.” It was years ago, but still, I’m pissed. “That really sucks. I can’t believe Tori did that to me.”

He reaches across the aisle and places his hand on mine. “Please don’t tell her I told you. She’ll kill me.”

“And probably defriend me.”

“No, she wouldn’t. But like I said, I don’t want to cause problems for you two.”

I can’t stand this. I can’t take not knowing what this is. What I’m risking my best friend for. “Toby, why did you ask me to come here today?”

He lets go of my hand and looks away. “I guess I thought it would be fun to hang out.”

“Oh.” So it is about being friends. My stomach lurches.

He meets my gaze. “Do you wish you hadn’t come?”

“No.” I don’t even have to think about it. I want to be here with Toby.

“Good. Then it’s our little secret.” He winks.

***

After the bowling alley, I drive home more confused than ever. I don’t pay attention at all through dinner, and Mom and Dad are convinced I’m having boy trouble. If they only knew. I go to my room and flop on my bed. I have to call Tori. I can’t put it off, especially since I have no intention of going to her house tonight.

She picks up on the first ring. “About time. I thought the diseases from the bowling alley had already hospitalized you.”

“Not yet.” My attempt at humor is pathetic, but I’m still pissed with her about the whole Allison thing. And it’s not even like I can confront her about it without her finding out Toby told me. That would lead to an even bigger problem. I swallow my feelings…for the moment.

“So, do you really have to go out for the bowling team?” She crunches in my ear, probably eating pretzels in bed again.

“Nah. I’ll get out of it.”

“What time are you coming over?”

“Um, I don’t think I am.”

The crunching stops. “Why not?” I hear her shuffling on the other end. “Becca, what’s going on? Are you avoiding me?”

“No. Not at all.”

“Sure seems like it.”

“I swear I’m not.”

“Then why are you blowing off your tutoring session with Toby?”

“We didn’t have plans to study tonight.”

“Not what he said.”

Toby told Tori we were studying tonight? He never mentioned it to me. “Guess I forgot.”

“Well, get your ass over here.”

“Twenty minutes.”

I hang up and stare at the wall. Seeing Toby twice in one day? Maybe I wasn’t wrong to read into us hanging out. He’s risking a lot to spend time with me. We both are. This can’t just be about being friends. There has to be something more going on. I know there is on my end. And what about the way he touched my hand? The way he paid for our “not a date?”

I have to find out how he really feels about me. Because I’m falling for him. Hard.

Chapter Seven

“Does that make sense to you?” Toby asks, but I’m so lost in his blue eyes that I’m not processing anything.

“Um, sort of?”

He laughs and puts the book aside, leaning back against his headboard. “Let’s take a break. You deserve it.”

No, I don’t. I haven’t been paying attention at all. “How come you didn’t mention us studying tonight to me? You only told Tori.”

He shrugs. “I figured it was a regular thing.”

Makes sense. “Did Tori ask where you were earlier?”

“Nah. She never cares where I go.”

“Okay. Good.”

“You worried?” He turns on his side, and he’s so close I can barely breathe. My heart pounds inside my chest, and I’m suddenly worried that my minty gum has lost its flavor.

“A little, after what you told me about Allison.”

“We don’t have to hang out anymore if you think it’s a bad idea.”

“No,” I answer way too quickly.

He laughs. “Good.”

“You always do that.”

“Do what?” He shifts closer to me. God, he smells good. A combination of mint and shampoo.

“You’re…” Why am I such a chicken? I should just say it and get it out there. Then I’d know how he feels.

“Flirting with you.” He smiles.

Holy crap! I swallow and look up at the ceiling.

“Sorry. I’ve been told I’m a flirt.”

So he does this with everyone? That would put me back where I was twenty seconds ago. “How’s that girl you were telling me about?”

“What girl?”

“The one you said you liked. The one who’s standing in Meredith’s way.”

He laughs. “There’s a lot more than a girl standing in Meredith’s way.”

That doesn’t answer my question at all. I’m about to burst. Just tell me who you like and put me out of my misery already! “But there is a girl.”

“Yeah.”

“Then why would you admit to flirting with me? Wouldn’t she mind?”

“I’m trying to figure that out.” He sits up slightly and tilts my chin toward him with his finger. I forget how to breathe. His lips are so close to mine, and his eyes are slowly going back and forth between mine and my mouth. Oh God! Is he going to kiss me?