Page 175 of We Shouldn't Be Together
“Don’t compare yourself to the masses. You’re better than that.”
She rolls away from me, shaking off the bad vibes. “Ugh. Why are we talking about this? I don’t want my problems turning your birthday into a downer.”
I can’t help grinning. “Don’t worry. My birthday will be super fun.”
Surprise sends her smiling. “You look sure about that.”
I board away from her, letting the thought of Tabitha send me into a daze. If I blab her name one more time to Jamie, she’s gonna erupt. Call me selfish, but I don’t want to be arguing with Jamie when Tabitha shows up. Surely, Jamie is well and truly clocked onto the fact Tabitha is on her way.
Okay, yeah, I’m literally skating around the issue. But Jamie leaves bruises when she punches my arm. I just got my stitches out, and I don’t want a reason to see Dr. Jones again.
I move around the park, my eyes fixed on the parking lot. Once Tabby is here, there’s no going back. Jamie can push back on the issue all she likes, but once she sees Tabby at my side, she’ll see her sweetness. Maybe not right offthe mark, but we have all afternoon. The girls have to get along. Oh man, I hope they find some common ground.
Cars pass the skatepark, and my adrenaline is buzzing for a fix. But I avoid pulling a stunt on the big ramp because I don’t want to miss Tabitha’s entrance. I assume Freddy is dropping her off, but I’m trying to remember what Dr. Jones’s car looks like, just in case it’s the worst-case scenario.
As my board passes the lonely-looking ramp, Tyler gains on Jamie as they round the rails. Soon, Parker and Lewis join them and their competition heats into overdrive. Dang it, I must be nervous. I don’t want to put them all in their place as inferior to me.
When I see a red hatchback pull into the nearby parking lot, my heart stills for a beat. I let myself breathe when I spy Tabby leaving the front passenger seat.
She’s here. She’s here. She’s here.
Okay, we’re doing this.
I flick my board up and hike it under my arm as I walk away from the skatepark’s obstacles. Tabby tucks a curl behind her ear on her approach. Her lips are painted that dark color they were at the Chinese restaurant and it makes my belly flip-flop.
Tabby waits for me under a shady tree and her body shifts from side to side with nervousness.
“Ah, am I glad you’re here,” I say breathily, practically floating toward her.
Tabby giggles, and her knee pops as she continues to sway. Her anxiousness sheds as I step in close.
I smile, taking in her floral perfume. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she whispers. “Happy birthday.”
I wink. “It is now.”
Her grin grows. “Can I give you your birthday present?”
My anticipation heightens. “Yeah.”
Closing her eyes, she leans in with those pouty lips, and I gladly meet her in our kiss. An electric current pulses from her, into my mouth and down to my toes. I hold her waist and feel her shiver under my palms.
Dang, she’s so beautiful.
Unfortunately, I feel four pairs of eyes burning holes into me. I fidget in the kiss, and Tabby seems to pick up on it too. We pull out of the kiss and both laugh. Tabby looks so freaking cute as she cups her mouth, her precious giggle playing like music.
“Oh my gosh,” she whispers behind her hands. “All your friends are totally staring. How embarrassing.”
I turn toward my goofball friends and find all four of them gawking. “Would you guys quit it? Man, get a life.”
I turn back to Tabby and a pretty shade of pink dusts her olive complexion. “I can’t believe they all just saw that.”
I clasp her hands in mine. “You wanna join them?”
“Hmm. Maybe you should field some questions first?”
“Knowing these guys, they’re all falling over each other with wild stories.”
