Page 197 of We Shouldn't Be Together
He leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead. “You don’t have to feel that way anymore. You’re safe.”
I pull an arm around him and sigh. “This class felt so good. I didn’t focus on pointing out our teacher’s flaws or making cracks about Camila’s step-sister. Who, by the way, is actually really nice.”
“You talked to her?”
“Mm-hmm.” The dance studio door opens behind me. I turn around to see Penelope leaving and wave to her. “Bye. See you next time.”
“Bye-bye. It was good to see you again,” Penelope says, waving and leaving the opposite direction.
“That’s her?” Kai asks.
“Yep. It’s so sad. She wishes she and Camila were friends.”
Kai snorts. “Did you tell her she’s better off not knowing her?”
I snigger. “Almost.”
Kai’s arm rests along my shoulders, and he walks me toward the strip mall. “Do you want a peppermint mocha before I drive you home?”
“That sounds perfect. Will you try one this time?”
“Yeah, I’m game.” He smiles down at me. “You know, with your newfound confidence, you could give that dance arcade game another try.”
I send him a wink. “I think I’d like that.”
35
“So,whathappenedwithyour mom?” Tabitha asks, buckling into my car after our peppermint mochas. Which, surprisingly, wasn’t half bad. “What did she say about Jamie moving in?”
“She kinda flipped,” I reply, starting the ignition. “My grandparents arrive tomorrow night and are staying for a week, so they’re taking the guest room.”
“Oh, so Jamie can’t stay with you?” Tabby says in a rush.
“No, she can,” I explain, pulling the car onto the street. “You didn’t think I’d go down without a fight, did you?”
“Is she staying on the couch for a week?”
“I suggested she take the pull-out bed in my room.”
Tabby’s mouth falls open until she swallows. “You want Jamie to stay in your bedroom?”
My laugh reverberates in my throat as I watch Tabby instead of the road. “You sound like my mom.”
“Okay, so what happened?”
“Mom compromised. She’s cool with Jamie staying over if she stays in Milo’s room.”
“Jamie and Milo are bunking up?”
“No. Mom’s forcing Milo to stay in my bedroom.”
“You don’t look pleased about it.”
“Umm, no. I can already hear his complaints.”
“You’re not exactly known for keeping your thoughts inside either.”
“Anyway, Jamie made me shut up. She figures she got a yes to staying over, and we can tweak the living arrangements once she’s in and Mom can’t take it back.”
