“I’ll find out. Don’t worry.”

Oh, I will worry. A lot.

***

Toby laughs and his shoulders bob up and down.

“It’s not funny. She isn’t going to let this go, you know.”

“What’s she going to do? Have me followed?”

“You think she would?” I look at the space under the bedroom door. Would she stoop to spying? No, she has no reason to suspect me. Not yet anyway.

“I’ll make up some fake girl if you want me to.”

“I don’t want you to have to do that.”

“Then relax. Besides, right now, we’re in here with the door closed.” His face inches closer to mine.

I press my hand to his chest and gently push him away. “And she can barge right in at any time. She’s done it before.”

“I locked the door.”

I jump up. “You can’t. That will make her suspicious.”

He reaches for my hands and pulls me back down. “She doesn’t suspect anything between us. Besides, if she tries to come in, I’ll pretend the lock’s been sticking.”

“Why are you so good at lying?” It’s not very comforting.

“I’m not. I just don’t want to see this get ruined before it has a chance to really start.”

I smile and ease back against the headboard.

He pulls me toward him, but he doesn’t kiss me or put his arm around me.

“You’re worried too. You’re trying to pretend you’re not, but you are.”

“Why do you think that?” he asks.

“Because you were going to kiss me just now, but you stopped yourself.”

He lowers his head. “Maybe we should study someplace else. Somewhere she isn’t.”

“And how would we explain that?”

“You’re right, and we aren’t going to get privacy anywhere else.”

I shift so I’m facing him. “Maybe we should—” Before I can say it, I already know I can’t go through with it. I’m in too deep already. I’ve been crushing on Toby for three years. He’s not some random guy I saw and thought was cute. I know him like I’d know my best friend. Only he’s not my best friend. Tori is. And she’s standing between us.

“You don’t want to end this, do you?”

It’s like he can read my mind lately. Why are we so in sync but he and Tori—the twins—are so different and rarely on the same train of thought? “I don’t want to end this. You know I don’t. I just don’t know what to do. It shouldn’t be this hard.”

“I have an idea.”

“What?” I’m willing to listen to any and all ideas right now.

“What if we stop looking at this as a bad thing?”

“I’m not following you.”

He turns and traces circles on the back of my hand. “What if we turn this into something fun? See how many times we can sneak out together without getting caught. How many times we can kiss with Tori just two doors away.”

“You want to turn us dating into a game?” I have to admit it does sound like fun.

“If we have to sneak around, we might as well enjoy it.” He wags his eyebrows.

I playfully smack his chest, but he grabs my hand and pulls me in for a kiss. His hand weaves through my hair and cups the back of my head so I can’t get away, not that I’m trying to. His kiss is hungry. Apparently, sneaking around can be fun, and this is a kind of fun I can get used to.

The doorknob rattles, but this time, when Toby and I pull apart, we both smile. Tori is locked out, and we already have an excuse. I pull him toward me, kissing him quickly before he goes for the door. He smiles in approval. I fix my hair as Tori yells, “What the hell? Open up.”

I stifle a laugh as Toby jiggles the handle. “Hang on. It must be stuck or something.” Finally, he opens it. “Got it.”

Tori steps into the room and stares at the doorknob. “You should have Dad fix that.”

“Yeah, I will. Definitely.” Toby winks at me as Tori turns toward me.

“You finished yet? I need you to proofread my English essay.”

“Yeah.” I slide off the bed and gather my books, putting them away as if I wasn’t just kissing my best friend’s brother. Maybe I can get used to sneaking around. I smile at Toby as I follow Tori out of the room. “Thanks again for helping me.”

“Any time.” He tickles my side, and I have to bite my bottom lip to keep from giggling.

“How can you study on his bed?” Tori asks as we walk into her room.

I throw my bag down. “Why not? He only has one chair in his room.”

“Maybe you should study in the living room.”

“Nah. We’re fine. I’d be too distracted with your parents coming home and stuff.”

“Whatever. If you can stand it, then more power to you.” She hands me her essay, but before I can start reading it, she says, “I have a mission for you anyway.”

“A mission?” What’s she up to now?

“Yeah. Since you’re in Toby’s room every night studying, you’re the perfect person to figure out who his mystery girl is.”

My throat tightens. “You’ve got to be kidding. He’s not going to tell me who he’s dating.”

“Sure he will. You’ll think of some way to get it out of him.”

Except somehow I think she’ll object to me making out with him. Especially when it’s to get my own name out of him.

Chapter Eleven

My cell vibrates on my nightstand.

Toby: You asleep?

I smile, thinking about my evening with Toby.

Becca: No, I’m still up.

 

Toby: How was the rest of your night?

 

Becca: Fine. Except your sister has a mission for me.

 

Toby: Hang on. I’m going to call you.

 

Probably better. This is too much to discuss in a text. I answer on the second ring, so I don’t seem too eager. “Hey.”

“Hey.” The sound of his deep voice brings butterflies to my stomach. “So what does she want you to do?”

“Find out who you’re dating.”

He laughs. “Well, that won’t be too difficult.”

“It’s not funny. What am I supposed to tell her?”

“That you couldn’t stay away from me any longer. It’s completely understandable.”

I can picture the smirk on his face. “Keep it up and I’ll tell her you and Ryder are secret lovers.”

“Touché.”

“Seriously, what should I tell her?”

“Tell her you’re not a spy. You don’t feel right snooping around in my private life, and it’s none of her business anyway.”

“Sometimes I think you two aren’t really related. Any chance one of you was switched at birth?”

“Tori keeps trying to prove it, but so far no luck.”

I yawn and look at the clock. Eleven-thirty.

“Go to bed. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Without Meredith attached to your arm? I might not recognize you.”

“Ha-ha. Goodnight, Becca.”

“Night.” I know he’s right. I should tell Tori it’s none of her business who Toby is dating. But considering it’s me, that isn’t exactly true. Tori or Toby? How do I choose between them? There has to be a way to keep them both. I fall asleep, wondering if I’ll ever get this sorted out.

***

“Check it out. My brother is actually walking down the hall without an entourage.”

“Leave him alone.” I put my books in my locker and grab my Spanish notebook. I totally forgot to study for our quiz today.

“I will as soon as you find out who he’s dating.” She pauses, and a smile spreads across her face. “Unless it’s someone totally gross and I can torture him about it.”

“Why?” I slam my locker shut. “Why do you have to pick on him?”

“What happened to Suzie Sunshine? I actually prefer her to”—she gestures the length of my body—“whatever this is.”

“Nothing happened. I’m just tired of you two fighting. I’m at your house all the time. I grew up with you guys. It’s annoying to constantly be in the middle of you two.”

“Why would you be in the middle? You’re my best friend. Not his. We have different friends for a reason.”