Page 211 of We Shouldn't Be Together
“Nothing,” Tabitha rushes, her breath unsteady. “That’s the point.”
Mom doesn’t buy it. “Mm-hmm.”
I lift a finger over the end call button and blurt, “Okay, I’ll see you soon, Mom,” and hit the button. “Tabby. What the…”
“I’m getting in front of it,” she says, panting. “My dad blindsided me by calling your mom.” She lifts her hands, one curled around the ring finger of the other. “I can’t exactly hide this from my dad.”
“You can bandage it.”
“I can. I also have nosy brothers who aren’t afraid to throw me under the bus to save their own skins.”
“Speaking of buses,” I say, rubbing the kink behind my neck. “You heard my mom. I gotta get going as soon as I drop you off.”
“Yeah, no biggy. Are you excited to see your grandparents?”
I grin. “Totally.”
She giggles. “That’s adorable.”
I shrug it off. “A guy can have one flaw.”
“Oh, yeah,” she says sarcastically, “andthat’sit.”
I reach across and slap her knee. “Hey, watch it.”
She bats my hand away. “You watch it. Watch the road.”
“I got this. I’m a good driver.”
“Prove it,” she taunts. “Get me home in one piece.”
I send her a wink. “Your wish is my command.”
She mumbles a laugh. “So corny.”
I apologize to Tabby five more times before I let her leave my car. My heart is in my stomach as I watch her go inside her house.
Dr. Jones is going to fry me up for breakfast.
I shake it off, putting my foot on the gas, and making it to the bus station in under five minutes. I park next to Mom’s SUV and watch her and Dad exit the car.
Hang on. Wait a minute…
I bust out of my car and gain on them. “Where’s Milo?”
Mom fixes the strap of her handbag against her shoulder. “He’s tutoring Jamie.”
“Again? Man, she spent lunch with the guy, too. What’s up with that?”
“She’s failing classes,” Mom says matter-of-factly. “She’s lucky to have Milo getting her back up to speed.”
“But what about Milo? He’s spent every day this week with Jamie, but has his own schoolwork to do.”
“Milo’s ahead in all his classes. He could do nothing for two weeks and not miss a beat.”
“Ugh, whatever. Besides, I had to rush over here. How come he didn’t?”
“He’ll be home soon. Would you relax?”
