Page 163 of We Shouldn't Be Together
In the pocket of my sweatpants, my phone buzzes. I pull it out and my blood pumps hotter.
"Happy birthday xoxoxo,"Tabitha texts.
"Thanks, gorgeous girl."
"What are you gonna do today?"
"Mom’s going overboard on pancakes. Then the guys are coming over. We’re probably doing a video game marathon until Jamie gets here."
It takes a while until her next text message comes through. Dad loads my plate with three more pancakes and I’m halfway through the third when my phone pings.
“Popular today,” Dad remarks with a throaty chuckle.
“Hello. It’s my birthday,“ I say as casually as possible.
“What about you, Milo?” Dad asks, filling his plate. “Are your friends texting to meet up today?”
Milo busies himself with slicing a knife through a pancake. “They won’t be here until Kai and his friends are long gone.”
I can’t help sniggering. “Just enough time for you to set up that goofy tabletop game.”
Milo sighs. “Case in point. We don’t need his attitude today.”
Mom groans, moving toward the dining table with a fresh pitcher of OJ. “Why you two butt heads is beyond me. Why can’t all your friends hang out together? It would be nice if we could have all the kids here at the same time.”
Neither Milo or I look up, but we both mumble, “Not gonna happen.”
As Mom continues to tut and mutter, I open Tabby’s latest message."Isit not your birthday until she turns up?"
I tilt my head, re-reading her message, and then reply with,"We will wait for her and then head out to the skatepark. I was wondering if you’d be out and about then?"
"What? To meet up with you guys?"
I take a deep breath and subtly cross my fingers."Yeah. Would that be so bad?"
The wait is only half as long for this reply."Kai, I’m dying to see you."
“Yes,“ I hiss.
Dad looks up at me, his fork hanging in the air. “What was that, son?”
I wave him off. “Nothing.”
I text Tabitha again. "I’d invite you over, but my mom would pin you down with a million questions. Is it cool if we meet at the park?"
"Absolutely. Loads less pressure than meeting up in front of your parents. Yesterday was more than enough."
"Agreed. Man, I want it to be this afternoon already."
"What time does Jamie finish work?"
"3 p.m."
"That’s forever! Can’t you escape the house earlier?"
"We already made plans to wait. Besides, she’s coming with her aunt to have cake with us."
"Okay, I get it. It’s all planned,"Tabby texts."Just after yesterday, it’s hard not to be around you."
