Page 136 of We Shouldn't Be Together
I groan, flinging my head back against the couch and staring at the ceiling. “I was just trying to talk to you. But now I see it was one of my worst ideas yet.”
“Ditto, because this is a conspiracy I can’t follow,” she says. “Tabitha being a helpless little lamb. Yeah, right. Of all the things you’ve ever shown suspicion about, this is the kookiest.”
“Okay, you’ve got to stop talking before we both say something we regret.”
She scoffs. “What the hell? Why are we fighting over this? It’s so dumb.”
I deadpan her. “Because you can’t accept that people can change.”
“And you think Tabitha has changed?”
“I know it. I have proof.”
“You having a soft spot for Tabitha is making me ill.” Jamie backs away toward the staircase. “You’re sure you didn’t suffer a head injury today?”
“Seriously,” I say, standing from the couch. “You’re being the worst. I didn’t get a head injury. I was with Tabitha.”
Her mouth falls open, and her gasp sounds like someone turned the vacuum on.
I take another step forward. “She’s not a bad person.”
“The fact you even said those words to me is such a betrayal,” Jamie says in a low, almost unsteady tone.
Jamie’s about to say something else, but my mom’s voice interrupts her.
“Jamie!” Mom calls from downstairs. “Your aunt has just pulled up.”
Jamie hugs her middle, shaking her head at me. “Perfect timing to get me out of this twilight zone.”
I huff and take another step forward, even though she’s on the first step down the staircase. “I don’t want you to leave when we’re in the middle of a fight.”
Her jaw rocks from side to side, and I glance at her hand because I wouldn’t put it past her to sock me one. “Why are we fighting?”
“Look, I didn’t realize bringing up Tabitha would be so painful.”
“And I didn’t realize you’re such a dumbass.”
It’s like a knife in my gut, and I take a step back. “Really? That’s your takeaway?”
“Look,” she says, taking another step down the staircase. “I can’t stay for the entirety of your soccer game tomorrow. Maddy will need me back at the cafe.”
Some of my muscle cramps ease. “But you will be at my game?”
“Yes, Kai. If strange thoughts going through your head were a deal breaker for our friendship, I would’ve ditched you in middle school when you told everyone the Egyptian pharaohs wore big hats to hide their alien-shaped heads.”
I smile at the glimmer of the light-hearted version of Jamie, who usually has my back. “Hey, no one has disproven that yet.”
Jamie smirks. “You’re ridiculous. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Sure thing. Is your game at seven?”
She hisses. “Yeah, so early.”
“I’ll be on the sidelines.”
She nods and keeps moving down the stairs. “Bye, Kai.”
“Bye, Jamie.”
