“I know. That’s one of the things I like about you. You don’t throw yourself at guys. You let them come to you.”

“And even then I don’t throw myself at them,” I mutter.

He runs his hands up and down my arms. “And like I said, I’m okay with that. Want to know another reason why I’m afraid of relationships?”

Afraid of them? When did he go from not liking titles to being afraid of relationships? “Okay,” I say, even though I’m pretty sure I don’t want to hear this.

“The best part of being with someone is getting to know them. Wanting to touch them and kiss them every time you see them. After a while, that newness goes away, and it’s not as fun.”

“And that’s when people break up.”

“Right.”

“But we probably know each other better than every couple at school combined.”

He smiles. “I know.”

Does that mean he’s decided he doesn’t want to be in a relationship with me?

“Yet you keep surprising me.”

“How?” I’m not exactly daring or spontaneous.

“Because no matter what, you are who you are.”

“I don’t follow.” I wish he’d just spit it out already because I’m not sure my heart can take this.

“As soon as I asked Meredith out, she changed. She turned into…” I can tell he’s searching for a polite word for slut. “She offered to sleep with me on the first date.”

“Oh my God! Did you?” I can’t help asking. I don’t want him to be the kind of guy who would do that.

“No, and that made her try harder.” He raises my chin so I’m looking in his eyes. “It’s hard to want something if it’s thrown in your face.”

I smile and then lower my lips to his.

An hour later, he walks me downstairs. It was the perfect day of listening to music, dancing, and kissing. Just kissing. Which is enough. For now.

“You want to study tonight?”

“No, better skip it. Tori is going to want to fill me in on every detail of her date. You might want to let Ryder know that I’m going to hear how good a kisser he is and other things that he probably doesn’t want me to know.”

“I think I’ll spare him that humiliation.” He pulls the front door open and leans down to kiss me again.

I pull away from the kiss to see Meredith standing on the front porch.

“Oh my God!” she shrieks.

Chapter Sixteen

My heart stops. Just stops. Meredith is staring at us like she’s seen a ghost. Maybe she has because I sure feel like I died.

“You? How?” Her hand is on her chest like she’s having trouble breathing. I can relate.

“Um, this isn’t what it looks like.” I look at Toby for help, but he opens the door wider and motions for Meredith to come in.

“No. I don’t want to step into whatever this is.” She motions between us. Toby reaches for her and pulls her inside. I step out of the way, wanting to sink right into the floor.

Toby shuts the door, closing us all inside. “Meredith, this is the girl I was telling you about. See? I’m not making her up.”

“But it’s Becca! Becca Daniels!” She gestures to me as if Toby isn’t sure who I am. “I mean, how could you?”

It’s the Barbie lunchbox all over again, but this is so much worse.

Toby steps toward me. “Why not? Becca’s amazing.”

“She’s—” Meredith turns away and presses her hands to the sides of her head. “I don’t even know what to make of this.”

“Meredith, please.” I can’t believe I’m about to beg her, of all people, but that’s exactly what’s going to happen. “You can’t mention this to Tori. She doesn’t know.” I’m still pissed at Tori, but that doesn’t mean I want to lose her as a friend.

She lowers her hands and turns back to us. “No, she doesn’t, does she?” She looks back and forth between us. “Is that why Ryder took her out today? To help you two sneak around?”

“No!” My God. Why does she think so little of me? “Ryder likes Tori.”

“Sure. It’s like I stepped into bizarro world. Ryder and Tori, you and Toby. It’s insane. You get that, don’t you? You must or you wouldn’t be sneaking around.” She steps toward Toby. “Why? Why would you leave me for her?”

He backs away from her. “I didn’t leave you. We were never together.”

“Oh, so I guess we weren’t sleeping together? I must have imagined that.” She looks at me, making sure I know what happened between them. I cringe. Hearing it from her is too much to take. “You got me to sleep with you and then you tossed me to the curb. You’re no better than―”

“That’s not what happened and you know it. We hung out for a while, but it didn’t work out. That’s it. I’m sorry if you got hurt, but I don’t know what you want me to say.” Toby’s voice is small, like he realizes for the first time just how much he hurt Meredith. Maybe he’ll see his “no relationship” thing isn’t working for anyone but him.

“You could say you didn’t give us a fair chance. You always had other girls hanging around. You never committed to just me. Not even after we…” Meredith’s eyes are full of tears, and I can’t help feeling sorry for her.

“I was honest with you from the start. I’m not sure what else I could’ve done. I don’t feel the same way. I’m sorry, but it’s true.” Toby takes a step toward me. “I like Becca. I have for a year.”

“For a year?” Meredith practically screams. Oh, Toby, that was so not the right thing to say. “So you were with me and wishing I was her?” She jabs her finger in my direction. At least I can understand her hating me after that revelation.

“Maybe we should all sit down.” I’m not sure how that will help, but I can’t think of anything else to do.

“You sit down.” It’s a weak insult for Meredith, but she’s not exactly herself right now, so I throw her a bone and pretend the comment stings.

“Um, okay.” I sit down in the armchair next to me.

Meredith moves toward Toby, and at first I think she’s going to shove him or slap him across the face. But she places her hands on his chest. He couldn’t look more uncomfortable. “Why? Why can’t you see that I’m the perfect girl for you? Everyone else does.” She turns her head and looks at me. “What does she have that I don’t?”

Morals? But then again, I’m sneaking around with my best friend’s brother. My morals aren’t exactly model worthy right now.

“I don’t want to hurt you any more than I already have. I’m really sorry, but I can’t change how I feel, and I don’t see how telling you why I like Becca is going to make you feel any better.”

“You want me to feel better?” She leans toward him, so close their faces are almost touching. I grip the armrest of the chair and wonder why Toby isn’t pushing her away. “Go out with me tonight. Give me a chance to show you what a big mistake you made.”

“Why, so you can throw yourself at him again?” Before I can realize what I’m doing, I’m on my feet and tugging her away from Toby. “That worked so well for you last time.”

She lunges for me, but Toby grabs my waist and pulls me away.

“This isn’t happening,” he says, positioning himself between us. “Meredith, I’m not dating you. It’s over. I’m with Becca. You’re just going to have to accept that.”

She’s breathing so heavily her entire body is heaving. “You think so?” Oh, this isn’t going to be good. “Tori has no idea what you two have been doing. But that can change.”

Toby lets go of me, and we exchange a worried look.

Meredith scoffs. “That’s what I thought. So let me tell you what’s going to happen.”

“Meredith—”

“Shut up, Becca. I’m talking. I’ll keep my mouth shut about what I saw here today on one condition.”

“One really big condition, right?” Toby asks.

“See, you do know me well.”

“Just spit it out already.” She’s only prolonging the torture. Just drop the bomb already.

“Toby and I are getting back together. This”—she points between Toby and me—“is over.”