Page 115 of We Shouldn't Be Together
"Where?"
I look up before Jamie notices I’m looking at my phone. She’ll assume it’s one of the guys and want to know what they’re saying.
I could reply to Tabitha with Village Coffee, but I’m not sure I wanna risk getting caught there. Three visits feel like a bad omen. Besides, I don’t really want to study. I just want an excuse to be around her again.
With nimble fingers, I text a reply before anyone notices."Mall?"
"Okies!"she replies.
Okies? If one of my friends said that, I’d wanna hurl. But when Tabitha does it, man, it’s adorable.
“Psst,“ Jamie whispers out the side of her mouth. “Can your mom drive me to work?”
“Huh?”
“You’re going to the mall, right? You’ll be going to Main Street, anyway.”
“Yeah, no, can’t.”
“What do you mean, can’t?”
“I’m going to see Coach Lyle after class and Mom’s getting here later. You’d be late to work if you waited.”
Jamie shrugs it off. “Fine. I’ll text Parker to give me a ride.”
My gut squeezes with the need to be alone with Tabitha. Any time she and Jamie get in close proximity, they both turn in the other direction. I don’t want to put Tabitha under more tension. I want her to feel safe.
I want her to want to be with me.
Lying to Jamie sucks, but it’s one time. Once Tabitha and I have this time together, things will get easier. If I can get Tabitha away from those wicked girls, Jamie will have no choice but to see her as the sweet girl I now know.
After class, Jamie waves goodbye, on route to find Parker in the foyer.
Tabitha edges toward me. “Is it okay if I stand near you?”
I grin at her. “My friends have left the building. I just need to hang back for a bit.”
Her eyebrow arches. “Why’s that?”
“I kinda said I was meeting up with my coach. I needed a reason to not leave with them.”
“And telling them you were studying with me wasn’t better than a lie?”
“I lied to you, too.”
Her chin drops, startled.
I grin, grazing my finger against her chin. “I don’t want to study, Tabitha. I just want to have you all to myself.”
“Oh.” She lights up with a thrill. “In that case, shall we walk the long way out of school?”
“Let’s do it.”
We walk with a foot of distance between us. I’d be lying if I didn’t want to be closer to her, but somehow it feels close enough. Her floral scent wafts toward me and I enjoy watching the way her curls bounce as she walks.
On our way to Main Street, the conversation is annoyingly small, commenting on nearby houses and the weather. It’s a good thing this side isn’t as hilly as the one toward our houses.
“You don’t want to run there today?” I joke.
