Page 148 of We Shouldn't Be Together
“Oh,” Kai replies, and his fingers play against mine. “Well, that’s okay. You’re still here.”
“You played really well,” I sputter giddily. “It was really fun watching you. But I have to side with your mom. It was scary, seeing you knock into that other player.”
“I can’t believe the ref sided with him. He barged into me. Coach said it was because he had possession of the ball, but he really whacked me one.”
“Are you okay?” I curl my fingers around his.
He clasps our hands tight. “Yeah, I’m good.”
“This was the most I’ve ever seen Tabby pay attention to a game,” Freddy comments. “You should consider it a big compliment, Kai.”
Kai grins. “Hmm. Maybe you need to get out on the field?”
I laugh. “I don’t think so.”
He tilts his head, becoming more adorable. “Didn’t you want to be my running buddy?”
“Because it went so well last time?” I joke, embarrassed at the memory of jogging up a hill in my full school uniform.
Freddy points at Kai. “If I leave my sister with you, don’t get her hurt this time. Got it?”
Kai raises his hands, taking a step back. “I won’t hurt her.”
I whack Freddy’s arm, forcing it down. “Kai didn’t hurt me last time. I stepped off the curb. It was all on me.”
“Then how come Drew said Dad was up in Kai’s face?”
“Because he doesn’t like me,” Kai blurts.
I wince, knowing Freddy’s natural instinct to side with Dad on any matter. “Dad already knew Kai, and won’t give up his rotten impression of him. You know how stubborn he can be.”
“Game injuries?” Freddy questions Kai, trying to find a bright side. “Dad can’t give you a hard time over those.”
“Some were from games,” Kai replies coyly.
Freddy pulls out his phone, checks a message, and then pockets it again. “Tabby, are you sure he didn’t hurt you?”
“Oh my gosh, Freddy, stop. Kai was a gentleman.”
“I’m just checking,” Freddy says defensively, “because I’ve gotta go, and I don’t wanna leave you if you’re not safe.”
I fold my arms. “I thought you told me you’d turned around on Kai.”
“You’re happy to stay?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then are you hanging around here?” Freddy asks. “Or do you guys want me to drop you somewhere?”
I chew my bottom lip, watching as Kai’s chest rises and falls. “I guess if you got hold of a soccer ball, you could teach me one of your fancy moves.”
Kai’s face eases with mischief. “Is passing a ball a fancy skill to you?”
“Okay, so maybe I’ve only touched a soccer ball when forced to in phys-ed,” I defend. “But you made it look really cool. The thought of touching the ball no longer repulses me.”
Kai laughs. “Good to know. Let me grab my stuff from the locker room and I’ll be right back.”
“Aww, that’s cute,” Freddy comments as Kai jogs toward the locker room. “You’re about to do something sporty on your date.”
