He leans closer, but I’m frozen in place. I want to kiss him. It’s all I want to do, but my stupid body is betraying me. I can’t move!

“Is this okay?” He’s not even an inch away, and his bottom lip brushes mine.

I’m screaming on the inside, but if I kiss him, I’ll be choosing him over Tori. Trading my best friend in for the guy I’ve been wanting for years. Can I do that? Is that the person I’ve become?

“Becca?” He pulls back slightly, studying my face.

“Yeah?” I manage to squeak out.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tried to kiss you.”

“It’s okay. It’s just that Tori’s not going to like this,” I say and immediately want to smack my forehead. Why did I bring up Tori? I blew my chance to kiss Toby.

“I know.” He sits up, and it’s all I can do not to grab him and pull his lips to mine.

“I don’t really know what to do here.” If I could split myself in two and have both Tori and Toby, I would.

“I put you in a bad spot. It’s totally on me. Don’t worry about it.”

But it’s all I can think about. Toby actually likes me. Me. “It’s not all you.”

He looks into my eyes and I swallow hard. Understanding washes over his face. “You wanted to kiss me, but you’re afraid you’ll lose Tori if you do.”

I nod because I don’t think I can bear to say the words.

“You’re a good friend, Becca. Tori’s lucky to have you.”

“If I was such a good friend, I wouldn’t have put myself in this situation.”

He cocks his head and leans closer to me. His scent fills my head, and it’s so intoxicating. “Forget about Tori for a minute. What do you want?” He reaches forward and brushes his thumb across my bottom lip. My lips part in response, and I lean into him. I know exactly what I want. Him.

His eyes lock on mine as he slowly inches toward my mouth. I know he’s giving me a chance to say no, but I’m not strong enough to stop him twice. His lips press against mine, so lightly. I want to devour him, but I’ve never been kissed like this before. It’s soft, yet passionate. Better than any kiss I’ve ever had. I don’t want it to end, but he pulls back and looks into my eyes again. He doesn’t say a word, just studies my face, waiting for my reaction.

“That was amazing.”

He smiles, but it quickly fades. “But it can’t happen again, right?”

No. It has to happen again. Right now. Please! “I didn’t say that.”

He slides closer to me. “You had no idea I was talking about you, did you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re the girl, Becca. You’re the one I like.”

My mind’s been in such a cloud that I didn’t put it together. I have to be dreaming. Stuff like this doesn’t happen to me. Toby is supposed to be with Meredith. Not me.

“I’ll take your silence to mean I’m right.” He reaches for my hand, our fingertips brushing against each other.

A loud knock on the door makes me jerk my hand away. Tori bursts in. “How long do you plan on torturing Becca tonight?”

Torture? This is anything but.

“She’s all yours,” Toby says. He gets up and walks over to his desk to feed Elvis, as if nothing happened. I, on the other hand, fumble with my books, totally missing my bag when I try to put them away.

Tori laughs. “Man, Becca, you are so weird lately. Totally spastic.”

Toby turns and smiles at me. Luckily Tori has her back to him so she can’t see.

“Thanks, Toby,” I say and walk out of the room before my face can get any redder.

Tori shuts her bedroom door behind us. “I thought he was going to make you study all night. Sorry he’s such a demanding prick sometimes.”

“He’s not.” I whip around to face her. “He’s really helping me.”

“Um, okay.” She shakes her head and narrows her eyes at me. “That time of the month, Becca? You don’t need to bite my head off. I’m not the one who made you study for two hours.”

Two hours? That’s how long it was? The time always goes by so fast when I’m with Toby. “Sorry.”

“Whatever.” She waves it off, over it already. “I was thinking you should just stay over. We don’t have school tomorrow.”

I’ve totally lost track of the days. It’s Friday. Toby gave up a Friday afternoon and evening to be with me. He really does like me. The kiss wasn’t a fluke. “Um, I don’t have any of my stuff.”

“I should’ve told you to bring it. I was just so pissed that Toby insisted on ruining your Friday night.”

“He didn’t.” I really need to watch how much I defend him in front of Tori.

“Yeah, he said it was your idea, but I know how he is. He has a way of suggesting something and then making it seem like you really came up with it.”

“He just knows I’ve been struggling in trig. It’s really nice of him to help me like this.”

“Whatever. I’m going to pick out some movies for us and make some popcorn. Raid my pajama drawer and find something to wear.” She points to her bottom dresser drawer, as if I don’t know where everything is in her room, and leaves.

My heart is still racing, but I take a few deep breaths and find a pair of pajamas I bought for Tori. They still have the tags on them. Somehow it doesn’t feel right to be the first person to wear them, even though I suspect she’ll never take the tags off. I opt for a cute blue tank top and matching pants. It’s always hot in the Michaels’ house, so I’ll be fine in a tank. I bring them to the bathroom in the hall and get changed. I pull my hair back into a loose ponytail and carry my clothes out.

Toby walks out of his room and eyes me. “Spending the night?”

“Um, yeah. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.” He walks by me, brushing against my side. “I can’t wait to see what you look like in the morning.”

I’ve slept over plenty of times, but things are different now. The kiss changed everything between us, and I suddenly feel like this is the first time I’ll wake up under the same roof as him. I turn to face him and flirt right back. “It’s not a pretty sight.”

“I doubt that.” He smiles.

“Would you leave Becca alone?” I jump. Tori’s at the top of the stairs, holding a big bowl of popcorn in one hand and a stack of movies in the other. “Go harass your own friends.”

Toby steps back into the bathroom and out of Tori’s view. He wags his eyebrows at me before closing the door.

“Sorry about him.” Tori heads to her room, and I follow.

“He wasn’t bothering me. We ran into each other in the hall.”

“Sometimes I wish I were an only child like you.”

“I’m glad you’re not.” It slips out, and I immediately freeze.

“Why?” She whirls around on me, nearly spilling the popcorn.

“It’s boring being an only child.” I rush over to my bag and put my clothes inside it to avoid looking at her.

“Yeah, but I bet it’s peaceful.” She puts the popcorn on the bed and brings the movies over to the TV on her dresser. “Horror or romance?”

I don’t want to be dreaming about Toby while I’m under the same roof as him and Tori, so romance is definitely out. “Horror.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” She puts the movie in and sits down on the bed. “Are you going to watch while standing? Come sit.”

“I have to text my mom and tell her I’m staying over first.”

“You’re such a good little girl, Becca Daniels,” Tori says like she’s talking to a five-year-old.

I roll my eyes at her. “Another downside to being an only child. I’m the only one my parents have to worry about and check up on.”

“Point taken.” She shoves a handful of popcorn into her mouth.

Toby shows up in the doorway, holding his cell. “Hey, got an idea.”

“That’s nice. Now go away. We’re watching a movie.” Tori shoves more popcorn into her mouth.

I elbow her and give her a “be nice” look. She just rolls her eyes.

“Okay, if you don’t want me to invite Ryder over so the four of us can watch a movie, that’s fine.” He starts to walk away, but Tori is already out of bed and lunging at him.