Page 160 of We Shouldn't Be Together
Milo slips a hand beneath his glasses, rubbing his eyes. “Hang on a sec. Tabitha Jones? Isn’t she one of those mean girls?”
“Believe me, she’s better than those girls. You’ll see. She’ll finally get rid of them and their influence.”
“If you say so.”
“Can’t you say you’re happy for me?”
He tilts his head, getting a read on me. “Are you happy?”
I relax, letting my smile show. “I am. She’s incredible.”
“How long has this been going on for?”
“We’ve been getting closer for a while. We just didn’t want to say anything until we got to know each other better.”
“Makes sense, I guess.”
I pat Milo’s shoulder and move away from his bed. “Happy birthday, bro.”
“Happy birthday, Malakai. I’m happy for you.”
I smile at him over my shoulder. “Thanks, Milo.”
I leave Milo’s bedroom and cross the upstairs living room to reach the staircase. I leap onto the banister and slide down with a cheer.
“You’re not ten-years-old anymore,” Dad says with a chuckle, getting up from his armchair. “One day you’ll break it in two.”
“Calling me fat?” I joke.
Dad laughs. “No, I’m calling you old.” He meets me with his arms open. “Happy birthday, son.”
I hug him back. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Is Milo up?”
“I woke him, but he’ll probably take forever to come downstairs.”
Dad cups his hands around his mouth. “Presents, Milo.”
I rub my hands together. “Now you’re speaking my language.”
“Happy birthday,” Mom cheers, rushing out from the dining area. “Come here, come here.”
I wince, bracing myself to be squeezed. “Hi, Mom.”
Mom’s arms curl around me like pythons constricting their prey, and she kisses me too many times on the cheek. “Aww, you’re getting to be such a handsome young man.”
I retch, pulling away. “Okay, Mom, you’re cut off.”
Mom looks up at the second floor landing. “Is Milo up?”
“He was awake,” I say, just as Milo’s mop of hair comes into view.
He lazily pulls on a sweatshirt and meanders down the stairs.
“There’s my gorgeous boy,” Mom gushes.
Milo’s lip upturns, and he squints at her behind his glasses. “Eww.”
