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Tyler makes a gagging noise. “You two. So in love. Gross.”
Becca rolls her eyes but smiles and shoves Tyler’s arm.
“Okay, okay, I’ll tell him,” Tyler says through a laugh. He looks at me. “Thanks again for sharing your cookie with me, Tori.”
When he winks at me, I have to swallow back a giggle. God, this guy. So playful and charming. I should be annoyed with him. I really should. But I can’t help it. Tyler is hot, playful, and flirty. That’s my catnip.
“You’re welcome,” I say. “Now get going before that ice cream melts and your dad murders you.”
He grins at me. “We still on for dinner at your place tomorrow night?”
I nod and try to ignore the flip in my stomach. Friends have dinner at each other’s houses all the time. I shouldn’t get so excited.
“Yup. Your turn to cook.”
He flashes a thumbs up. “Get ready, I’ve got a new sandwich I wanna try out on you.”
“Can’t wait.”
He walks out the back door and to the work van that he’s driving for his dad’s restaurant. As I turn to the sink and wash my hands, I spot Becca looking at me from the corner of my eye.
“What?” I say without even looking at her.
“Nothing,” she says quickly.
I dry my hands and look over at her as she grabs two cans of whipped cream from the walk-in. I can tell by the look on her face and the way she’s pursing her lips, she wants to say something.
“Bec, come on. Out with it.”
She sighs before blowing a chunk of her long blonde hair out of her face. She tucks it behind her ear before touching the messy bun at the top of her head. “It’s just, Tyler was being pretty flirty with you.”
She nods at the ice cream counter.
“Yeah. That’s nothing new,” I say.
I take the cans of whipped cream from her and head back out to the front, set them in the mini-fridge, and smile at the dad and kid who just finished their ice cream and are walking out the door.
When I turn back around, she’s frowning at me slightly. Like she’s concerned.
“I just want to make sure you’re okay,” she says.
“What do you mean?”
She hesitates for a second. “It’s just that Tyler can be really flirty with you sometimes…and I know you like him…but I also know what a terrible track record he has when it comes to dating…”
She pauses to clear her throat, and I wait patiently even though I know what she’s going to say.
“I think Tyler is great,” she says. “He’s my boyfriend’s brother so of course I adore him. But I know what a tease he can be too.” She bites her lip, her blue eyes shining with concern. “I just don’t want him to lead you on so much that you get your hopes up. And then you get hurt. You don’t deserve that.”
A weird mix of emotions hurtles through me. Gratitude that I have such a caring best friend who looks out for me. Slightly humiliated that at my age, my love life is reminiscent of a middle schooler with a crush.
“Wow. Am I that pathetic?” My attempt at a joke falls flat when Becca rushes forward and lays a comforting hand on my arm.
“Oh my gosh, Tori, no way. You’re not even close to pathetic. That’s not what I meant, I’m sorry.”
I touch her hand. “I know, Bec. I was kidding.”
She steps back, relieved.
