Page 131 of We Shouldn't Be Together
She nods, grinning. “Hopefully, see you tonight.”
“Tonight?” Drew looks between us. “Are you coming to Freddy’s game?”
“Umm… I…” Should I say yes? Would that impress Tabitha?
“Drew, just drive us home,” Tabitha says, fidgeting awkwardly.
Drew grins, giving me a wave. “See ya later, loverboy.”
They drive away and my muscles are tense. Something about the way Drew was looking at me and his tone makes me cringe at the thought of being in the same restaurant as her family. Her dad despises me, and her brothers ask too many questions. Am I crazy to think this could work? My mom certainlywon’t want to take the heat from Dr. Jones again. And will she even be able to stand Tabitha’s mother?
Ugh. It’s official. This is crazy.
How did I think I could just walk into my house and ask my parents to go out to dinner and, somehow, I’d be able to run off with Tabitha?
When I walk inside the house, Mom is passing through the living room. “Hi hon. Your friends are upstairs.”
I stop in my tracks. “What was that?”
“Yourfriends,“ Mom drags out the second word. “They’reupstairs.”
Granted, it’s not surprising. But tonight, it’s less than ideal.
I take the stairs two at a time and find the four of them gathered around the couch and armchairs as they yell at the TV screen.
Moving over to my regular armchair, I bonk Tyler on the back of the head and say, “Hey guys. Been here long?”
“Yeah,” Tyler says, moving over to squeeze in next to Jamie and Lewis on the couch. “Where the heck have you been?”
“I figured you guys were still at the café.” I avoid the question. “James, were you let out early?”
Jamie shrugs, tapping on her controller. “It wasn’t busy. Maddy was dying to go out with Mr. Stuffy, so she closed up early.”
“Soooo,“ Parker drags out the word as he smashes controller buttons. “What ya been up to, Kai?”
This is it. This is where I tell them. I admit to my friend I’m into Tabitha Jones. That I spent the afternoon with her. That we’ve been texting like crazy. That we made out today.
“Nowhere.” I plonk down on the armchair like a coward.
Locking lips with Tabby plays over in my mind. I feel like such a sap to admit it. Okay, I’ll just ease in. I’ll just say I’ve been hanging out with Tabitha. Test the waters.
“When you didn’t come by, we figured you were here,” Tyler says, smirking.
“Why are you guys looking at me like there’s some big story to unravel?”
“Because you’re usually with us, telling us what to do,” Lewis replies with a laugh.
“Well, I’m sorry you guys can’t function without me.” Ugh, what am I doing? Just tell them. Spit it out, you big baby.
“It’s just odd that your mom said nothing about you guys going to the mall,” Jamie says, narrowing her eyes at me.
It takes all my willpower not to gulp. Keeping my face stony, I shrug. “Yeah, I didn’t go with her.”
Jamie’s lips twist. “But you were at the mall?”
I suck in a breath, nodding. Okay, I’ll tell them. I’ll just flat-out say I was with Tabitha. I can dodge questions like I dodge other players on the soccer field.
“Kai!” Milo calls out from the bottom of the stairs. “Mom wants you!”
