Page 210 of We Shouldn't Be Together
I cup her chin. “Why would I want to ditch you? Did you not see me ignore Jamie’s text message earlier?”
The pout curls into a smile. “Oh, I saw.”
I open her door. “Get in, beautiful. Last thing we need is you catching a cold.”
Tabby takes her seat inside the car, and she tears up again, looking at her damaged finger. “Oh, no.”
“What is it?”
She winces, looking up at me. “Now I have the same injury as Camila.”
“You mean, from the day she slapped you?”
“Yeah. I don’t want to have anything the same as her.”
I lean into the car and kiss her tear-stained cheek. “It’s not the same. You haven’t gone into a rampage and taken a swing at me.”
She sniffs and her voice is so small when she asks, “Do you really think I’m not like her?”
“I know so. You’re sweet and kind.”
“I can still be mean.”
I brush back her curls as I lean out of the car. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
She hugs herself, nodding, as I close the car door on her.
When I get into the car, I’m about to check Jamie’s text message, but my dashboard entertainment screen lights up with:"Mom Calling."As I pull the car onto the road, I groan and hit answer.
“Yeah?”
“Where are you?” Mom’s voice asks through the car speakers. “Your grandparents will be here soon.”
I didn’t hear: Malakai, so I have time to spare. “Just driving Tabitha home.”
“Oh,” Mom hesitates. “Hello, Tabitha.”
Tabitha shifts uncomfortably, holding herself tight. “Hi, Mrs. Nelson.”
I give her a reassuring smile and pat her thigh.
“Well, you need to hurry up,” Mom’s tone gets snappy again. “We’re about to head out.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be there,” I reply dismissively. “Just go and I’ll meet you at the bus station.”
“Malakai, since when do I take orders from you?”
I grit my teeth. Dang it. She full-named me. “Look, I’ll just…”
Tabby places a hand on my forearm and leans forward, staring at the display screen. “Umm, Mrs. Nelson?”
“Yes, Tabitha?”
“Umm, if my, umm… If my dad calls you, can you please ignore it?”
My eyes go circular and my chin drops. What the heck? Why did she just say that?
Mom’s groan vibrates through the speakers. “What did my son do now?”
