Page 85 of We Shouldn't Be Together
“If you say so. By the way, I’m kinda surprised you agreed to come here. It’s almost like returning to a scene of a crime,” I quip. “Like, this is where we created a big scene before storming off on each other.”
“Not exactly a crime. Social faux pas maybe.”
“Could’ve been the start of something.” My mind fixates on a true crime podcast. “There was an episode of Crime Spree’d about a couple, who always fought in their local coffee shop. No one ever questioned it. Turns out their arguing was the tip of the iceberg. The abuse at home was way worse.”
Kai’s eyes widen and he slowly blinks.
I swallow roughly and feel a blush come on. “What, too morbid?”
His gaze softens as he blinks normally. “Umm, you listen to that podcast?”
“Yeah. Do you?” Please do. I’m slightly embarrassed I let that all tumble out of my mouth.
“It’s on my rotation.”
“How many podcasts do you listen to?”
He shrugs. “A lot. Depends if there’s something particular I want to find out more about.”
“And what kind of stuff do you find out about?”
“Recently I was deep-diving into the vault behind Mount Rushmore.”
I sit back in my seat with a nervous laugh. “Oh, that’s right. You’re a conspiracy theory guy.”
“I’m a truth seeker.”
I sink into my laughter. “Kai, that makes it sound worse.”
“Sorry, I won’t accept what the government mandates I learn. I need all the facts.”
“Okay.” I pat my chemistry textbook. “Is that why you avoid our assignment?”
“Huh?”
“You hassle me for not working, but with your last partner, you weren’t doing the work either.”
“Excuse me for standing up to the man.”
I snigger. “And is Mrs. Field the man?”
“For this one particular thing, yes.”
It’s hard to stifle the laugh and I ask, “So, there’s a lot of men you stand up to?”
“I wouldn’t phrase it like that, but, yeah. Dude, I don’t know how my brother turned out the way he did.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’scommittedto the man,“ Kai overemphasized the word. “He’s such a goody-goody. You know, following rules and being a stickler for homework. It’s enough to make me see him as the enemy.”
“He probably looks at you and questions how you turned out the way you did.”’
There’s a cockiness to his crooked grin. “You mean, awesome?”
“Whatever.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I have massive loyalty to him. We just don’t see eye to eye on most things.”
