Page 187 of We Shouldn't Be Together
I check on the other two behind us. Parker tries putting an arm around Yvie, and then second-guesses himself, letting his arm fall by his side.
Laughing, I nudge Kai and whisper, “He knows she has a boyfriend, right?”
Kai grins at the impending car crash. “Not yet.”
We continue walking in no particular direction until a familiar building stands out to me.
“Oh, look, Yvie,” I say, gesturing to the left. “Our old dance studio.”
Yvie and Parker catch up to us, and she replies, “I bet Miss Taylor is still peeved we skipped out on her.”
On tippy-toes, I try to spy through the frosted windows. “I wonder if she filled out spots in the recital yet?”
“Why don’t you just admit it?” Kai mutters.
I glance at him. “Huh?”
He nudges me. “You miss it.”
I wave my hand between us. “No, no. It’s cool. I was just thinking out loud.”
Kai reaches for the front door of the dance studio. “Why don’t you go in and ask to rejoin the class?”
Yvie sucks in a rapid breath. “Cammy would kill her.”
Kai deadpans her. “Why? Because she’s jealous her step-sister is spending more time with her dad than she is?”
Yvie’s mouth forms an o as she looks at me. “You told him about Cammy’s business? Are you crazy?”
“News flash,” Kai says to Yvie. “I’m not scared of Camila. And neither should you or Tabby.”
Yvie shifts awkwardly, averting her eyes. “I’m not scared.”
Parker nudges her. “Why don’t you do it? I bet you’re a great dancer.”
“She is,” I blurt. It’s true. Yvie’s graceful, putting me and Cammy to shame.Duh. Probably another reason Cammy made us quit. I grin at Yvie. “Should we talk to Miss Taylor?”
Yvie backs away, her hands shaking. “Heck no. If you want to be on Cammy’s grudge list, go for it. But leave me out of it.”
“What happened to you being sick of her?”
“I just wanted a break. I don’t want to betray her.”
“But, Yvie…” I trail off as Yvie practically makes a run for it.
Parker hangs a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll make sure she has a ride home.”
Kai and I nod at him, and he follows Yvie along the sidewalk.
“Is she gonna rat you out to Cammy?”
“Not alone,” I reply. “Without me to fire at, Cammy will only say her nasty abuse at Yvie.” I sigh and lean against the studio’s front window. “I’ll probably hear all about this at school tomorrow.”
Kai takes my hand, and his thumb rubs a tiny circle on it. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”
I push off the window, smiling at him with adoration, when the studio door opens.
“Tabitha?” Miss Taylor asks, joining us on the sidewalk. “Hello, I thought it was you.”
