All Chapters of When Best Friends Kiss: Chapter 101 - Chapter 110

(RORY’S POV) Aunt Ryan was seated outside in front of a large canvas, a paintbrush stuck between her teeth, another tucked behind her right ear as she used one to gently draw strokes on the canvas in front of her. She had a smile on her lips as I approached her, but she did not stop painting. Only when I got very close did she stop and look up at me, her smile turning brighter than it initially was—but then it faltered. “Hi, Aunt Ryan,” I greeted. “Hi. What’s wrong, bunny?” Aunt Ryan said, stepping away from her work and coming over to me. “Nothing. I just had a stressful day,” I lied to her with a nervous chuckle, but I am sure that by now, you have realized how much of a bad liar I am. Aunt Ryan took my hand in hers and followed me up the front porch into the house. She did not say anything as she took me to the living room and had me seated on a chair. “Do you want some water?” she asked, and I shook my head gently. “Talk to me, what’s happening?” she asked softly. “Did any

(RORY’S POV) I used to be very expressive until my mom passed away. She used to be my safe space. She taught me how to express myself, helped me articulate my feelings… and just before I turned five, she passed away in the most horrible way one could ever imagine. I lost the will to express myself then. Showing my feelings to people felt harder than ever, and that’s where this frustrating habit of avoiding emotions comes from. Whenever I go through something difficult, I find myself turning numb. My sister Rosalie has tried her best to pull me out of it, and so has Todd, but it’s something that’s hard for me to get over. Take now, for instance—I feel stressed, overwhelmed, scared, and mostly confused. I should call Todd. I should tell him what happened, what his mother told me, and I should demand a clear explanation. But I’m too scared. Too scared to find out that the story about Alana is true, and even more scared to confront the possibility that the only boy I’ve ever loved us

(RORY’S POV) I knew it the moment I saw the look in Todd’s eyes that his mother had been telling the truth. There had been an Alana, just like Martha said, and if she was anything like the girl in the picture, then I was definitely a replacement. Todd looked like he was processing different emotions in his mind, and I was not sure which was the central one. I felt like my knees had weakened, and I had to sit down on a chair so that I wouldn’t fall. Todd hurried to where I was seated and crouched in front of me. “What did she tell you?” he asked me in a pleading tone that did nothing to soothe the way I was feeling. “The truth, obviously,” I said weakly, unable to even look into his eyes. “She told me the truth that you never, for once in all these years, decided to tell me.” “Rory, I need to know what she said so that I can explain better!” he said to me. “What exactly do you want me to say to you?” I said, my voice shaky, unable to stay strong, and I had to keep quiet so that

(TODD’S POV) I was glad that I did not have to think about my mother during the drive home because Laurel needed some encouragement and advice for the game tomorrow. The game was going to be held without me and it was the first time I would not be playing for my team. I had to encourage him and give him some of my personal tips, which he was grateful for. He kept thanking me over and over again right until he dropped me off. The light in me turned off the moment Laurel’s car drove away and I started my journey to my house. I could see Mum’s car parked close to the garage. I knew she was home, but I was not expecting to see Dad’s car parked out front of the house. My Dad, being a top doctor at Daisyland General Hospital, was hardly ever at home, and so I did not keep track of his schedule, but seeing him at home did nothing to console the raging emotions I was feeling. I went to the front door and rang the doorbell, tapping my fingers impatiently on the side of the door. Maddie ope

(RORY’S POV) There I was, waiting for the end of the day so that Todd and I could get some time together. I had entirely forgotten about meeting with Jason’s mom. Todd was the one who reminded me right after school, showing me an after-school itinerary he had set up for us. “We can cancel that if you want,” he asked, lowering his iPad and giving me a teasing smirk. I groaned and leaned back in the passenger seat of his car, tired. “No,” I said. “I don’t want to see Jason, but his mom is the sweetest woman alive. She’s the reason I’m doing this.” Todd rolled his eyes, and I punched him lightly in the shoulder. “So we go to Jerky Jason’s after you take the IQ test,” Todd continued, a serious look on his face as he tapped on his iPad. “Then we take a heart-wrenching break apart from each other to rest and freshen up, attend the game together, and finally…” Todd leaned over with a sexy smile. “We get some Todd-and-Rory time.” He started blowing raspberries on my neck, and I