Page 173 of We Shouldn't Be Together
“I’ll let her know,” Freddy replies, and then the line goes dead.
With a huff, I lower the phone.
Great.
My stomach churns at the thought of a car ride filled with Amber gushing about my brother. The last time that happened, she was giving me a ride home from dance class. Yet another good reason I quit dancing.
Twelve minutes later, Amber’s red hatchback pulls up against the curb. I open the passenger door and first notice her long and sleek black hair cascading over her shoulder.
“Hi, Amber.”
“Yo,” Amber says dryly, her eyes shaded by aviators. “Where are you headed?”
I get in and buckle myself into the passenger seat. “The skatepark near Main Street.”
She lifts her sunglasses, her almond eyes narrowing at me. “Come again?”
I shrug shyly. “I’m meeting a friend near there. That’s all.”
“Mm-hmm.” She doesn’t buy it, but she pulls the car off the curb, regardless. “What kind of friend?”
“Like it’s your business.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Amber says, slowing the car to a crawl. “I thought you wanted a ride.”
I click my tongue and roll it into a grunt. “Okay, okay. It’s a guy.”
She waits for more. “Uh-huh?”
I lift my palms up. “A guy I like.”
She speeds up a little more. “How serious is it?”
“Getting pretty serious. It’s his birthday today.”
“Cute. What’d you get him?”
“Oh, umm, I…” I got nothing because I was railroaded by the fakest friend on the planet.
Amber splutters a laugh. “Don’t tell me,youare the gift?”
I sigh, looking out the window. “Don’t be gross, Amber.”
It’s not a bad idea, though. I’m sure he’d love it.
31
There’salotofwhooping and hollering at the skatepark. I’m overly energized with the thought of Tabitha showing up. I don’t know what the other guys’ excuses are.
But it makes it crystal clear Jamie’s mood is at a minus one.
“Hey, what’s up with you?” I latch onto her elbow. “Why do you seem so down?”
“No, it’s nothing,” she says, and I spot her fake tone right away. “I’m good. It’s your birthday. I don’t want to get into it.”
I plant my hands on my hips. “Jamie, if something’s wrong with you, it’s wrong with me, too.”
Her teeth grit with apprehension. “Are you sure?”
