“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.

“Can you see her point now?” He pushes the cupcake toward me and the giant cake box.

“Do you think I’m making a mistake?”

He smiles, looking really sympathetic. “Are you asking me what I would do in your situation?”

I nod and swallow hard.

“Have you met my wife?”

I didn’t even know he was married. “No.”

“Hold on a minute.” He disappears in the back room. I try to peek around the edge of the curtain, but it’s too dark. A minute or two later, he steps back out with a woman behind him. She’s tiny like he is, and she has a flower tucked behind her ear.

She extends a hand to me. “My husband tells me you wanted to meet me.”

“Hi. Um, I’m Becca.”

“Nice to meet you, Becca. I’m Kim.” She lets go of my hand and nods at her husband.

Mr. Kwan smiles at me and says, “The cake is on the house. Tell Toby and Tori I wish them a wonderful birthday.”

“Thank you.” He really is such a sweet man. He disappears behind the curtain again.

“So, Kim, why did Mr. Kwan—your husband—want me to meet you?”

“Because I was friends with his sister.”

“You were?” Mr. Kwan was like Toby, drawing the attention of his sister’s friend.

“Oh yes. We were good friends, and she made it clear to everyone that she didn’t want any of her friends dating her older brother.”

“So why did you?”

“I imagine for the same reason you started dating Toby.”

How much does she know about me? I’ve never met her. I didn’t even know she existed until two minutes ago.

“Being around him, in the same house and school, I couldn’t help noticing what a good man he was.” She laughs. “Even before he was a man. And when I found out he liked me too, well, there was no turning back.”

“What did your friend say? Was she mad?”

She nods. “Oh yes. Very. But when she saw that we really cared about each other, she stopped being angry and saw that this was a good thing.”

“Just like that?” No way would Tori get over this so easily.

“No. It took some time and distance, but now she’s my sister-in-law. So you see, the situation brought us closer in the end.”

“How much time?” I swallow hard as I wait for her answer.

Kim sighs and clasps her hands in front of her. “It was years later when we got engaged. Then she knew we were serious, and she gave us her blessing.” She smiles at me. “I hope my story helps you in some way.”

“Thanks for meeting me,” I say because I can’t bear to tell her how awful her story actually makes me feel.

“Enjoy your party.” She hands me the box, placing the cupcake in a bag on top.

“Good-bye.” I walk out of the bakery feeling worse than before. Things might have worked out in the end for Mr. and Mrs. Kwan, but it took years for Kim and her friend to make up. What if Tori and I are the same? What if I lose her until I’m old enough to even think about getting married? And who knows if I’ll even still be with Toby. I know Kim meant well, but her story scared me more than anything else.

As I get the cakes into the car, my cell phone rings with a text.

Toby: It’s go time.

Yeah. Time to decide if my new relationship with Toby is worth losing my best friend for years—maybe forever.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“What took you so long?” Toby takes the cake from my hands.

“Sorry. I got caught up at the bakery.”

“Mr. Kwan talk your ear off?” He smiles at me as he puts the cake on the counter. “He’s nice, but once he corners you, you’re done for.”

I smile because I don’t want him to know I’m actually late because I drove around the block eight times before coming here. I was trying to clear my head and weigh my options, but my mind is still as muddled as before.

“So, what do you think?” He motions to the living room. There are balloons and confetti everywhere. “Mom’s going to die when she sees how much confetti is in the carpet, but Tori loves the stuff, so whatever.” He shrugs, but I know he’s really trying to make this party what Tori would want.

“I think it looks great.”

“Good.” He steps closer and puts one hand on my waist. “Now, is there a reason why you haven’t given me a birthday kiss?”

Yes. Because it’s killing me that I may have to choose between him and Tori. At this point, I’m not even sure who I’d pick if it really came down to that.

“Hey, you okay?”

I nod, but my eyes fill with tears. “I’m sorry. I should’ve said happy birthday already.”

He wipes my tears with his thumbs. “You did. On the phone this morning. You were the first person to say it to me.”

“It doesn’t matter. I should’ve said it now too. In person.”

“Bec, what’s really going on?”

I take his hand and walk him to the couch. I sit down, knowing I’m going to be covered in little confetti birthday crowns, but I don’t care. “What if she’s not okay with it? What if she wants me to choose between you two?”