Page 239 of We Shouldn't Be Together
“Drew!” I whine. “Leave Kai alone.”
“Yesterday, you were…”
I cut him off, wanting to rip my hair out. “Yesterday, I called him.Remember?”
Kai watches me with concern, clearly wanting answers to a conversation I don’t want to rehash.
Before I can make it back to my seat, Freddy latches onto my arm and yanks me into Corbin’s empty seat.
“Umm.” I blink at him, startled in my new seat. “What are you doing?”
“Figuring this out,” Freddy says, still gripping my forearm.
Drew leans around Freddy. “Tabby, you thought he was going to break up with you.”
I hear Kai’s gulp from across the table. “You did?”
My breath catches in my throat and I try to play it off. “I was a little dramatic. It was nothing.”
Freddy turns to Drew, and then back to me. “That’s why you guys insisted we go bowling? You needed to be distracted that badly?”
“It was nothing,” I deflect. “I liked hanging with you guys.”
“She was upset because Kai forgot about her,” Drew says in a low tone.
Kai shifts in his seat. “I didn’t forget about her. Tabby, I…”
I can barely look at him. I don’t want to admit my jealousy of Jamie. “I know you didn’t. Drew’s got it wrong.”
Drew scoffs. “Oh, please.”
Freddy tilts his head, getting a read on me. “Did you really think Kai was breaking up with you?”
I hug my middle, feeling miniscule under all their stares. “Umm. Well, umm. It was a possibility in my mind.”
Kai’s eyes round as he watches me. “I didn’t realize you actually believed that. I thought you said it off the cuff.”
“It doesn’t matter now.” I sit taller. “You told me I’m important to you. Drew, cut him some slack. He’s good to me.”
Drew lifts his palms. “Can you blame me for being protective?”
Freddy grins at him. “Knew you had it in you, bro.”
“He’s dating our little sister,” Drew says, staring at Kai. “He doesn’t get an easy ride.”
I’m beyond irritated. “No one needs the tough guy routine.”
Drew doesn’t flinch, sizing up Kai. “You called our sister some pretty awful names not too long ago.”
“And I called him some nasty stuff as well,” I argue. “Get over it.”
The heat in Drew’s stare amplifies. “You didn’t think we’d forgotten, did you?”
“Dude, Tabby says she likes him,” Freddy cuts in. “Let them figure it out.”
“You know, Dad doesn’t like him?” Drew says, looking squarely at Freddy. “Don’t you usually side with the old man?”
Freddy’s face screws up. “And since when do you agree with Dad?”
