Текст книги "Our Little Secret"

Автор книги: Ashelyn Drake

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Текущая страница: 11 (всего у книги 15 страниц)

Chapter Twenty-One

Before I can answer Meredith, Toby laces his fingers through mine and leads us out of the bathroom. “Excuse us,” he says, pushing Meredith aside.

“What are you doing?”

“Going to detention.”

“Why? You don’t have detention.”

He smiles. “Oh, I’m sure I do now.”

“Um, you’re holding my hand.”

He looks down at our hands. “Oh. Guess we can’t do this in public yet.” He lets go and motions for me to go into detention first.

About ten seconds later, once I’m in my seat, he walks in. Vice Principal Davidson raises his head. “Can I help you, Mr. Michaels?”

“Well, sir, I’m afraid I let curiosity take over and I might have scared two girls from your detention.”

“Excuse me?” Davidson raises his brow in confusion.

“I heard some of the girls talking about how their bathrooms are much better than the guys and, well, I had to see for myself.”

Davidson rises and leans forward with his hands on the desk. “Are you telling me you went into the girls’ bathroom?”

“Yes, sir.” Toby doesn’t even look phased.

“I see.” Davidson points to a seat in the back of the room. “Then you came to the right place. In fact, I’d get comfortable because you just earned yourself a week’s worth of detention.”

Toby nods. “Yes, sir. I understand.” He walks down my aisle, giving me a small smile on the way. The boy took a week’s worth of detention for me.

Meredith stands in the doorway, shaking her head. She clearly doesn’t know what to make of Toby’s bold move. He left her with nothing to use against us. She wouldn’t tell people we were together because then she’d look bad. She’s utterly speechless.

As boring as detention is, I enjoy every minute.

***

Friday comes and goes, which means it’s D-day. The party. The day I have to come clean to my best friend. I’m so not ready for this. Toby and I went over the details last night, in between making out and him singing me my song again. We still haven’t exactly said “I love you” out loud in those exact words, but we both know how we feel.

My cell rings just as I’m waking up. “Hello?”

“So when am I supposed to show up, and where is the party?”

“You don’t get the meaning of surprise, do you?” I rub the sleep from my eyes and stretch.

“Details, girl. I have to tell Ryder when to pick me up.”

“Tell you what. I’ll have Toby text Ryder the details, and then he’ll know.”

“Then at least tell me how to dress.”

“Really? It’s a party. You know how to dress.”

“Ugh, you’re no fun.” She hangs up, and I text Toby.

Becca: You awake?

 

Toby: Yup.

 

Becca: Happy birthday.

 

Toby: Thanks.

 

As I’m typing my response, Toby calls. “Hey, birthday boy.”

“Good morning, beautiful.”

“Making eggs again?”

“Nope. Not even in the kitchen.”

“Well, in that case, thank you.” I sit up and hug my pillow. I’m not sure the butterflies in my stomach will ever go away. No matter how much time I spend with Toby, I’m always excited to hear his voice.

“Have you spoken to my lesser half?”

“If you’re referring to Tori, then yes. She wanted details about the party, but I told her you’d text Ryder.”

“Will do.”

“What time do you want me over there?”

“Now.”

“Why am I thinking it has nothing to do with the party?”

“Because you’re smart.” I can just picture the sexy smile on his face.

“Thank you again. Have Ryder get Tori out of the house, and then I’ll come over.”

“Deal. Text you when she’s gone.”

“I’ll get ready.” I hang up and take a long shower. As much as I want to see Toby and wish him a happy birthday, I don’t want to face Tori. We have to tell her today. We agreed on it, and this has gone on long enough.

I just finish wrapping Tori’s boots and Toby’s gift when Mom walks into the room. “You all ready?”

“I think so.”

She walks over and brushes my hair behind my shoulder. “You don’t sound very excited.”

“I am. I’m just worried.”

“Tori’s been talking about those boots for a while now. She’ll love them.” Mom knows how tough Tori is to please sometimes.

“I know.”

“Is it Toby’s gift you’re worried about?”

Toby’s gift was a challenge, but in the end I think I got him something he’ll like. At least I hope so. “It’s not that either.”

She cocks her head and sighs. “Let me guess. This is about a boy. Someone who was supposed to ask you to the party maybe?”

“I planned the party. No one was supposed to ask me.”

“But it is about a boy, isn’t it?”

“If I said I didn’t want to talk about it, would you let it go?” I can’t confess to Mom before Tori.

She holds her hands up. “Okay. Go. Have fun. Tell Tori and Toby your father and I wish them both a very happy birthday.”

“I will. Thanks, Mom.”

“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?”

He squeezes my hand. “She won’t.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because she’s my twin. I’m supposed to know these things about her.”

“But you were worried before too. You thought I might lose her as a friend. What’s changed?”

“We have. Look at us. We’re not two people hanging out and sneaking around behind her back anymore. We care about each other. Love each other. That has to count for something.”

I want to agree with him because I think it should count for something, but I’m not the one who needs convincing. Tori is. And she’s not an easy person to sway. “What if she won’t listen to us long enough to see how much we want to be together? She might storm out of here on her birthday. We could ruin her party and everything.” The tears are flowing freely now, and Toby pulls me into his chest. He lets me get it out because he knows me well enough to know I have to think the worst before I can hope for the best.

“I’m sorry.” I lift my head and stare up at him through swollen eyes. “It’s your birthday too, and I’m totally ruining it.”

“No, you’re not.”

“You don’t have to be so sweet all the time. You can tell me when I’m acting like a five-year-old.”

“Caring about the people you love isn’t acting like a five-year-old.”

“Maybe not, but dating you behind Tori’s back isn’t exactly as harmless as stealing her favorite toy either.”

“Touché.”

“I’m not sure you can say that since I think I just proved your point instead of mine.” I laugh because I don’t have any tears left to cry.

“Look, people are going to be here any minute. Go upstairs. Get yourself together, and we’ll figure out the rest later.”

“When are we going to tell her?”

“We’ll let her enjoy the party for a while first, but it is my birthday too, and I want to be able to dance with my girlfriend.”

I smile, and my heart skips at the word girlfriend. I lean forward and kiss him. “Happy birthday.”

“Now it is.”

I kiss him again for being so sweet, but we’re interrupted by the doorbell.

“Go get ready. I’ll get the door.”

I squeeze his leg before getting up and heading upstairs. I don’t even want to know who’s coming to this party. Tori’s crowd has changed since she started dating Ryder. She hangs out with some of Toby’s friends now. Although not all of Toby’s friends are talking to him after the incident with Meredith. A lot of people are still taking Meredith’s side in the breakup. If only they knew what really happened.

I wash up in the bathroom, getting rid of any evidence of tears. Then I head to Tori’s room to fix my hair and makeup. In about ten minutes, I’m presentable. I walk downstairs, peeking around the corner to see who’s here. I’m shocked to see almost the entire junior class spread out between the living room, kitchen, dining room, and den. No way did Toby really invite all these people. Word must have gotten out, and party crashers came out of the woodworks.

“There you are,” Toby says, coming out of the kitchen with his cell in hand. “Ryder just texted me. They’re on their way.”

“How’s he getting her here?” We knew better than to tell Tori her party’s at her house. She would’ve flipped. I’m just hoping once we get her here and she’s having fun, she’ll forget about the fact that we didn’t spring for an actual event room at a hotel or restaurant.

“He told her he left his lucky hat here and that he couldn’t go to the party without it. Naturally, she’s pissed.”

Great. I don’t need her angry before Toby and I talk to her.

“Hey.” He reaches for me, but stops. There are people everywhere, and we can’t let anyone suspect anything before we talk to Tori. “Relax. We’re going to get through this.”

“If you say so.”

“I do.”

“Practicing for your wedding day, man?” Jeff claps Toby on the back.

“Very funny.” Toby rolls his eyes, but I can’t help thinking about Kim Kwan’s story. It took almost until her wedding day to get her friend back. I feel sick.

“Shouldn’t we get everyone to hide or something?” Jeff asks.

“Yeah. Good thinking.” Toby looks around. “Take them all into the dining room and den. Tori won’t see them from there.”

“Wait. What about all the cars outside?”

Toby smiles. “We had everyone park behind the school and walk. Even the people who crashed caught on to the plan. We’re all good.”

We’re so far from good. Maybe the cars were out of sight, but they aren’t what’s going to ruin Tori’s birthday. Toby and I are.

He ushers me with the rest of the group. We take a spot in the dining room, right by the door so we’ll be the first ones Tori sees. Toby whispers in my ear, “In case I forgot to tell you, you look amazing.”

“Oh no.”

“What? Do you not like being complimented on how you look?”

“No. I mean, I do. It’s just that I forgot your present and Tori’s in my car.”

“Don’t sweat it. You can get it later.”

The front door jiggles, and Toby presses a finger to my lips. I turn toward the door, wanting to see the happy expression on my best friend’s face before I tell her how I betrayed her. She opens the door and flicks on the light.

“Just find it quickly because I can’t be late to my own—”

“Surprise!” Jeff leads the group out of the den and into the living room. The rest of us follow. So much for Tori seeing Toby and me first.

She stumbles backward for a second, scanning the crowd. I’m waiting for the yelling to begin. The questions about why the party is here of all places. But instead, she smiles. “Becca Daniels, where the hell are you?” She continues to search the crowd for me.

Toby pushes me forward. “Go on.”

I work my way through the crowd as the music starts up. Tori sees me and squeals. “How did you get so many people here? And where are all the presents?”

I don’t have the heart to tell her most of the people crashed and didn’t even have the decency to bring gifts. “Um, Toby took care of the guest list, and I’m pretty sure the gifts are upstairs.”

“Well, what did you get me?”

“I left my gift in the car.”

“Why?”

“Um, I didn’t want it to get buried under all the others.” At least that sounds believable. “Why don’t you and Ryder get something to drink and then go dance? I’ll be right back.” I rush outside, and the second the cool air hits my face, I drink it in, gasping for something to fill this ache in my chest.

I fumble with my car keys and open the trunk. Both wrapped packages stare up at me. Tori and Toby’s. They’re the two most important people in my life, outside of my parents, and I don’t think I can have them both. At least not the way I want them. I’d give anything to have Tori as my sister one day. I don’t have a sister, but being her best friend, I always felt like I sort of did. And Toby, well, he’s the kind of guy you hope you end up with. I’m not looking for that kind of commitment yet, but one day, sure. It doesn’t seem fair that things can’t turn out that way for me. That I’m most likely going to lose one or both of them along the way.

“You okay?” Toby comes outside, shutting the door behind him.

“Yeah. Just getting the presents.” I can’t give him his yet, and I can’t let him open it in front of other people either. No one would understand it.

“Want me to take them upstairs for you?”

“Sure. Well, yours anyway. I think Tori wants to wear her present.”

“How do you know she knows what you got her?”

I smile at him. Tori always knows. It’s like a shopping sixth sense. She can smell shoes and clothing from a mile away. I hand him his gift. “No peeking. Promise?”

“I promise.” He smiles and walks back inside. I give him a head start, just like I’ve gotten used to doing at the end of every fifth period. Hopefully, that will end soon.

I go inside and search for Tori. She’s in the den, sitting on Ryder’s lap and holding a drink in her hand. She laughs along with a bunch of people I’m not even sure I know. I can’t help thinking that in some bizarre alternate universe, she and Meredith would’ve made good friends. They both love attention, parties, hot guys, and loud music.

I stand in the doorway watching her. Taking in her smile and how happy she is. At least I was able to give her a party before…

“Hey, Becca, come over here,” Tori says, waving two fingers around the cup in her hand. Her eyes fall on the box in my hands, and she jumps up. “Hold this, please.” She hands Ryder her cup and runs over to me. “Gimme, gimme!” She can be such a little kid sometimes. It would be annoying on anyone else, but on her, it’s endearing.

“Aren’t you at least going to pretend you don’t know what it is?”

“Hmm, let me think about it.” She pauses for a whole two seconds. “Nope. I can’t. Give me my boots!” She kicks off her shoes and tears open the box. Even though she knows what to expect, she squeals when she pulls out the boots. She slips them on her feet and does a little spin. “How do they look?”

“Amazing. Happy birthday.” I hold my arms out to hug her, and she squeezes me tight.

“You’re the best friend I could ever ask for, Becca. I mean, this party, the boots, putting up with Toby to plan everything. I love you. You know that, right?”

I inhale a shaky breath and squeeze her tighter. “I love you too.” I don’t want to let go. I want us to stay best friends forever. I want her to understand I never meant to hurt her. But everything about this hug feels like a good-bye.