Her Best Friend's Brother by T. Dell (read the beginning after the end novel .TXT) 📕

was a part of or even al of the attraction for her friend. And, much to Libby’s displeasure, Mel rarely missed out on an opportunity to dissect their dysfunctional relationship.

Mel flicked her wrist dismissively. “He’s a bit of a bad habit with me, but he is a great dancer, and he makes me laugh. Besides he is going to look great in pictures…” Her eyes widened. “You are changing the subject!”

“I am not.”

“I am not.”

“Last month you told me you had had it with al things Cory and you were boycotting al future references to him and our relationship. Am I supposed to believe you have suddenly regained interest? “

“Last month I had to drive across town to pick you up from that party at like midnight because you refused to let him take you home.”

“Helo! He was practicaly drooling on Sherri Munski. I was so humiliated and…STOP! This is not going to work. We have got to talk.” Mel wiggled a little on the stool at the counter as if to settle in. “I know I kind of encouraged you at Christmas, but that was when I thought Tony was going to come to his senses.” She took a deep breath. “And I don’t think he is.” She waited for that to sink in.

“He kissed me.” Libby hoped her words came out as nonchalant as possible.

“I saw. At the wedding and that looked like some kiss.” Mel’s face twitched thoughtfuly. “I think he’s too old for you.”

???? “When did you decide this? He is only three and a half years older. What happened to make himsee you as a grown up?”

“Wel… That is hardly going to happen if you sit around at home every weekend!” Mel shifted uncomfortably. “Effie has been hanging around a lot lately.

I think she is spending the summer in New Jersey with him when he goes back to The Herald.”

“Examiner.” Libby corrected absently. “Who’s Effie?”

“You remember I told you about her before the wedding. Cat’s eye glasses, always cold?”

“You said her name was Stephanie. What kind of a name is Effie?” Geez—how many girls was she competing with. Not that she was actualy in the competition, because she was in North Carolina and he—

wel he wasn’t.

“Did I?” Mel didn’t seem overly concerned about that detail. Mel wasn’t realy a detail kind of person.

I must have been mixed up. “It is Effie. I think she’s I must have been mixed up. “It is Effie. I think she’s Greek, or Italian, or something.”

This just got better and better. Exotic, probably had an accent, and she was obviously smart. They would hardly let dummies in at Columbia.

“He didn’t mention it to you? In any of his emails?”

Libby froze. “What do you mean?” Mel didn’t know about the emails. Unless Tony told her. Was Tony talking to Mel about her? Did she want him to?

“Don’t play dumb Lib. He emails you al the time right? And you were texting him al through the movie last weekend. I think we might have to watch something else tonight. It’s possible I am actualy outgrowing The Little Mermaid. Wel maybe we can just fast forward to the songs.”

She had been texting him during the movie.

Maybe she could have been a bit sneakier about it, but who has time for sneaky when Tony Marchetti needed her help in a crisis? Libby smiled at the memory.

Tony: whats the difference in salted or unsalted butter?

Libby: one has salt

Libby: why

Tony: I am baking cookies.

Libby: ???????

Tony: Ive seen you do it 1000 times! I am sure I can handle it. Salted or unsalted?

Libby: unsalted… you know you can buy cookies right? Premade and everything

Tony: I want to smel them baking!

***

Tony: It burned and the inside is stil raw Libby: I am almost afraid to ask … it?

Tony: The cookie

Tony: I made one big cookie

Tony: Are you stil there?

Libby: Sorry I was laughing so hard Mel kicked me out of the room you probably needed a lower temp did you at least enjoy the smel?

Tony: No it was different but I am eating the middle with a spoon now… not bad

Libby: you could get sick eating raw cookies!

Tony: after al that trouble I went to? I am wiling to risk it

The next day Libby had packed up a dozen of his favorite chocolate chip cookies and shipped them off to Tony.

Okay so Mel might have figured out the texts were from her brother. “He told you he emails me?”

“Duh—Lib. I figured it out. He knows more about what’s going on in your life than I do these days. But that isn’t my point. If you, for some reason I wil never comprehend, want to be buddies with Tony then fine. But please stop moping around the house waiting for him! I have al this teen angst and you are making me deal with it alone.” Mel smiled to show she was, mostly, joking.

“So tel me about Effie.” Libby sighed resignedly.

“Not much to tel, but they are moving in together.” There was a long pause while seemed to be waiting for a reaction. She was so not going to get one.

“You understand what I am saying right?”

“Duh, Mel.” Libby smiled halfheartedly.

Maybe she should go to prom. “I think I am going to cal Sam.”

Mel grinned, and turned to saunter out the door.

Happy end of school. I bet you are really lookingforward to having the summer off. How does it feel tobe a senior?

-t-

Thanks. You too. Except I guess you won’t behaving the whole summer off since you are workingagain. Are you looking forward to New Jersey?

-L-

Libby knew she shouldn’t be fishing. But if Tony was her friend why wouldn’t he want to tel her about his living arrangements.

Yeah I guess I am probably done with summervacations. Just wait though, when you get a little olderyou kinda would rather work than lay on the beach.

-T-

A little older my ass! Libby didn’t write him back for three days.

Chapter four

“We missed you at the beach this