Page 54 of Spar
“You’re not coming Friday?”
“No. I have a very hot date with Reed.” Then she said his name a second time and drew each syllable out slowly. “Rr-r-re-eed.”
“Oh, God. You’re not going to say his name like that every time you talk about him, are you?”
“Rr-r-re-eed,” she said again and winked.
Tori laughed in spite of herself and opened the first big box waiting in her closet. She pulled out a dress and was hit with the familiar smell of Chris. She threw the dress back in the box and joined Claire on the bed.
“I’ll do the round cards,” Tori offered
Claire passed the black marker. “You’re avoiding unpacking.”
Busted. Her normal need for control and organization was being overtaken by a greater pull to leave everything boxed up and pretend she hadn’t just moved out of the only place that had felt like home. “I hate organizing my stuff. That closet in there is way too small.”
Claire didn’t look convinced. “Is that the only reason?”
“Alright, I might miss Chris a little. Ugh. I hate being this girl.”
“What girl? The girl in love?”
“Love schmove.” Tori went to work on round cards for the fundraiser.
“What did Chris say when you moved out? I can’t imagine he took that well.”
Tori focused on keeping her lines straight, already wishing she’d just bought cards for the event. She wasn’t nearly neat enough to pull these off without looking sloppy. “He was the perfect gentleman. He said I could stay as long as I needed, and even offered to have his guys move me back if I wanted.”
“I’m surprised he let you go without a fight. This whole Travis-thing must really have him out of sorts.”
“I dunno, maybe. I can’t help feel like I’m his secret hookup buddy.”
“Secret?” Claire looked up from her poster, marker in hand. “Honey, it’s hardly a secret. Everyone knows you two are crazy about each other. We knew before you two figured it out.”
Tori thought about that and wondered how it was possible everyone had known before she did. She was usually good at reading the vibes guys sent out, especially if they were interested in her. But Chris hadn’t given any indication. If anything, he had treated her worse than everyone else. He’d picked fights. He’d been standoffish. Was that some sort of revert-back-to-childhood thing where boys were mean to the girls they had a crush on? She didn’t like the idea any more now than she had in second grade. It was stupid.
“Everyone but Ryan.”
“Ryan’s not an idiot.”
“No, but if he knew...” Tori cringed at the thought. She didn’t want to cause trouble between Ryan and Chris. They had been friends longer than she could remember.
“Knew what? That you’re in love? Isn’t it better just to tell him the truth than to let him assume you two are just hooking up?”
“I’m not so sure.”
“You need Elle.” Claire’s eyes sparkled as she picked up her phone and began pressing buttons.
Elle showed up ten minutes later with more wine and Chinese takeout. They plopped down on the living room floor with half-finished signs and markers scattered around them.
“Ryan dropped me off on his way to the gym. I have one hour. What’s the emergency?”
Tori ran to the kitchen for plates and silverware, calling out over her shoulder. “Wait, what’s Ryan doing going back to the gym at nine o’clock at night?”
“He didn’t say exactly. Some sort of preparation for the fundraiser. What’s the emergency?!” Elle repeated once Tori was settled back beside her.
Tori bit her lip and stared hard at her brother’s girlfriend. Involving her was a terrible idea. “What does Ryan know about me and Chris?” She grabbed a pillow from the couch behind her and buried her head under it, her muffled voice speaking over Claire’s and Elle’s giggles. “Oh my God. I feel twelve years old.”
She sat up and looked at Elle, waiting for her response.
