Page 191 of We Shouldn't Be Together
"Doesn't your mother know this line of thinking makes her another cog in the wheel?"
I grin and stroke under his chin. "I'd pay to see you have that conversation with her."
"I think having your dad hate me is enough of a barrier between us."
I shrug with hopefulness. "Maybe Mom can help bring him around?"
"We can only hope." Kai hooks his pinky finger around mine. “So, is your mom intense about you dating?”
“I’ve never brought a boy home before, but I think she’ll be excited. She’s made comments before when I haven’t had a date to school dances. I think she expected me to already be dating someone.”
"It's crazy you've never had a boyfriend before."
I grin and nuzzle my nose against his. “Well, now I have you, boyfriend.”
He grins and kisses the middle of my forehead. “I like the sound of that.”
34
“Areyouserious?”Iask Kai the next day as we move through the school hallway. “You want Jamie to move into your house?”
“Temporarily,” he adds like it’s no big deal. “Her aunt’s boyfriend surprised her with a week-long trip to Hawaii. They leave on Saturday.”
“Wow, that’s soon.”
“The timing sucks,” Kai complains. “Just when Jamie is benched from soccer games and forced into tutoring, her aunt decides to blow town.”
“Hawaii for a week sounds romantic, though.”
“Yeah, whatever. Jamie found out last night while Milo was tutoring her. You know, when I was supposed to pick him up.”
I smirk. “Yeah, you conveniently forgot.”
“Jamie didn’t think that was cute or funny.”
I hug my middle. “Of course not.”
“Anyway, Jamie was ready to protest against her aunt when Milo opened his yap and suggested Jamie stay with us.”
Something sparks inside me. “You have a problem with Jamie staying at your house?”
“Heck no! It’s just Milo getting in the way that I have a problem with.”
“Oh.” The spark fizzles out. “A week is a long time. Won’t it be awkward?”
Kai snorts. “No. James has stayed over plenty of times. But the most has ever been a weekend. We’re really gonna have to con my parents this afternoon when we bring it up.”
“Hmm. Having a girl over for a week is a big ask. I don’t think my parents would ever go for it if one of my brothers asked for that.”
Kai interlaces his fingers with mine. “It’s not like I’m asking if my girlfriend can stay over.”
Blushing, I fan my face. “I know. It’s just you and Jamie are really close.”
“Like bros. That’s all.” His other hand curls under my chin. “If it wasn’t clear, you’re the girl I’m into.”
I let out a faint giggle. “I get it. Maybe I’ve become territorial about you.”
He releases my chin as we continue down the hall. “You don’t need to be jealous of Jamie.”
