Page 206 of We Shouldn't Be Together
“Don’t get mad at me,” Tyler replies, “just because you’re jealous about Jamie hanging out with your brother.”
Jealous?
There’s a sharp pain in my gut.
Tyler thinks Kai is jealous that Jamie left to be with Milo. Is that because he suspects there’s something more going on between them?
I watch Kai’s side profile for clues.
Is there something more?
“I’m not jealous,” Kai mutters. “I’m annoyed.”
“About what?” I whisper.
He turns to me. “That she’s changed.”
“Don’t you want her to keep her scholarship?”
He shrugs. “I just wish it weren’t an issue.”
“But it is. She needs to study.” I lean into him, hoping to cheer him up. “Besides, when we started studying, it turned out to be the best thing ever.”
“True. We wouldn’t have had any reason to talk otherwise.”
I shrug. “Except for the times you yelled at me.”
He kisses the top of my head. “I’m sorry about that.”
“Ooooh,“ the boys mock, watching Kai’s tender act.
Kai grabs some fries from his plate and hurls them at his friends. “Shut up.”
37
OnWednesdayafternoon,theplan was for Tabby and I to work on our chemistry assignment. I can’t help that I started driving out of town and toward Logan’s Point. My subconscious obviously wants some adventure, and when the other option is collating our observations from today’s chemistry class, I think I made the right call.
No complaints from Tabitha, especially when I put on the latest episode of her favorite podcast. To be honest, Crime Spree’d has had a lot more prominence in my rotation lately. What can I say? I like my girl’s taste.
The car’s entertainment display screen pops up with a notification.“New Text Message: Jamie.”
I reach across and flick the notification off the screen.
“You don’t want to read it?” Tabby asks.
“Not when we’re listening to how they found the body.”
Tabby and I share guilt-ridden smiles. It’s weird how humans can find pleasure in hearing about other people’s pain.
On the winding drive through the mountains, my car windscreen wipers get a workout as the rain drizzles on and off. I’m back in my Ashworth Academy Hawks hoodie, a pair of running shorts, and my beat up sneakers. Across from me, Tabby is in her gym clothes. She’s not happy about it being her onlyoption. When I brought up the fact I’d told her to pack a change of clothes, she told me to shut up.
Apparently I’m a broken record.
I pull the car to a stop on the side road, and Tabby gasps at the view of the valley. “Wow. That’s so pretty.”
I brush back her curls. “Is it? I hadn’t noticed.”
Her shoulders bunch higher and she giggles bashfully as I caress the side of her face.
