Page 255 of We Shouldn't Be Together
I make it back to the table and sit by Kai. He’s deep in conversation with his dad and grandpa, and didn’t notice my brief altercation. Thank goodness. I breathe out slowly, but it’s shaky as hell. I suck in another breath, but it hitches, making a whiny sound.
Kai jolts, turning toward me and double-taking. His hand is quick on my shoulder, and his head dips to check on me. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head, staring at my lap. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
“You’re clearly not.”
I suck in another breath. “Really, it’s fine.”
Kai doesn’t believe me. He keeps an arm around me as he goes back to his conversation. I spy where I left Jamie and notice Milo talking with her. They’re turned away, making sure no one can catch what they’re saying. Oh my gosh, I can only imagine he saw us talking and decided I was the villain of the piece.
I am. Aren’t I?
I didn’t know these two were close. From what Kai has said, I suspected he and his brother didn’t share any friends. But I guess copious tutoring sessions, plus an extra credit assignment, can change the dynamic between people. I certainly wouldn’t be sitting in this café right now if Kai and I hadn’t studied together.
44
CoachOliverblowsherwhistle once the school bell rings on Monday. “Okay, girls. That’s it for today. Charlene and Renee, help me get all the balls back into the storage room. The rest of you, hit the locker room.”
I successfully avoided Camila and Yvette for the entire phys-ed class. Coach Oliver had us wait in lines to run drills, and I had hung back, letting other girls create distance between us.
Being at the back of the line, I hurry my pace to make it to the locker room first. Jamie isn’t far behind me, having the same thought.
“Hi,” I whisper to her.
She looks at me with disinterest. “Hi.”
I can’t let this frosty awkwardness hang over us. For goodness’ sake, I’ll be back at her café this afternoon for that freaking society meeting. Things have to go better than they did yesterday at breakfast. I can’t blow it again.
“How’d things go when Coach Anders came in to check on your extra credit assignment?”
She grimaces. “Fine.”
My stomach flips. She’s remembering what I said about her mom. I’m so stupid.
“Hey, so that society meeting will be at your café this afternoon,” I say, less than tactfully. “Are you excited about the idea of them hiring you guys as caters?”
“Not really,” she mutters. “My aunt is the one who wants this, but she buzzed off to Hawaii and left me stuck with hosting these vipers.”
Oh boy. Not a good start.
“Well, they mostly like hearing the sounds of their own voices, if that helps settle your nerves.”
“Doesn’t take away the fact I need to speak in front of them all.”
Jamie and I part ways in the locker room. As I change, I take the time to regroup. Heck, if she doesn’t realize I’m part of the planning committee, I should inform her. I don’t want her scowling at me the entire time. I can just imagine my mother reading into that and asking why I’ve become so bratty again.
Jamie leaves the locker room when I’m putting on my shoes. When I move past the other girls to leave, Camila throws out an elbow and knocks me to the ground.
“Whoa! What was that for?”
She scowls at me. “Watch where you’re going, Tabitha.”
“I was.” I pull myself up. “I watched you run into me.”
Camila’s eyes roll. “Get over yourself.”
I step to her. “No.”
