Chapter 17
Seventeen
“I cleared most of my stuff from the desk so you can work,” Milo says, lowering the baby carrier to his bedroom floor. “There’s some space in the wardrobe for you to hang your clothes, and the bed sheets and cover are all fresh. I hope it’s not super weird for you to stay here.”
“I feel bad for kicking you out of your space,” I say with genuine remorse.
When I spy the action figures, D&D miniatures, and other nerdy pieces lining the bookshelves on the wall, I can’t help smirking.
“I don’t mind giving you my room. It’s sharing with Kai that feels like punishment.”
I look down at the pristine carpet without a piece of fallen clothing. “He’s not exactly a neat-freak like you.”
“I think freak is a bit strong.”
I grin, unable to resist teasing him. “How will you react if you walk by and I’ve littered the floor with clothes, cleats, rollerblades, and a soccer ball?”
Milo sucks in an apprehensive breath, his chest expanding. He deflates, avoiding eye contact. “It’ll be fine. I can clean once you’re gone.”
I giggle. “Worried about my cooties?”
He looks back, a faint pink hue coloring his cheeks. “No.”
Unintentionally, I rub my lips together. My eyes run along the frames of his glasses and lock onto his welcoming hazel eyes. I clear my throat and move toward my bags.
“I should get a start on my homework,” I say, lifting the bag with school gear inside and shifting it closer to the desk.
“Oh, I almost forgot to grab this,” Milo says, lifting a book from the desk. He tilts the cover, showing me the title. “I got it with your gift card.”
“Oh, cool. Do you like it?”
“Yeah, it’s interesting. It’s about Hatshepsut. She was an Egyptian pharaoh, but something happened to her and most of the carvings and statues about her were destroyed,” Milo explains. “Pieces of her life are still being put together, so I can’t get enough of finding out more about her.”
I smile at the excitement buzzing off him. “I’m seeing a pattern. Learning about ancient civilizations gets you intrigued.”
Milo tucks the book under his arm. “It’s just so different from everyday life. I like escaping into history.” He motions at my books. “Do you want help with anything?”
“No, I’ll be fine. If I get time away from the baby, I should be able to knock out one assignment.”
Milo picks up the carrier housing Gandalf and moves toward the doorway. “Okay. Good luck.”
“Thanks,” I say as he disappears into the living room.
When Milo descends the staircase, I get ready to work.
I set my laptop on the desk and as well as a wad of books.
I search through the pile for my history notes, and stumble on my mom’s diary.
I don’t even know why I packed it. I still haven’t read a full page.
Maybe I’ll get rid of these jitters and crack it open once the baby project is over.
I set the diary aside and position my history textbook and essay notes next to the laptop.
I figure the best option is getting the most boring assignment out of the way first. It’s just reciting facts.
Math takes too much brain power and definitely requires Milo’s help.
And decoding what’s going on in King Lear still stresses me out.
I can’t wait until we move onto another book that actually uses normal English.
I look over my history notes. There’s a lot of underlining and highlighting, but not a proper timeline for my paper.
Before I start typing, I grab a pen and sit on the bed, making a plan in my notebook of what order to discuss each historical fact.
If Milo thinks history is fun, maybe I can get into it too.
I take my time, carefully writing each line with purpose. There’s a tingle in my fingers as I grip the pen. I’ve never felt this level of pride about homework prep before. It’s oddly satisfying.
After half a page, I drop the pen when I hear Kai’s door opening and footsteps moving across the upstairs living room. “Kai?”
He grumbles and his footsteps near the bedroom. “Yeah?” he asks, slumping against the doorframe with his hands in his pockets.
“You lost,” I say, matter-of-factly.
He huffs and pulls out a hand to wipe it across his brow. “Yeah. I was off my game today. Worse of all, Tabby was there to see it.”
“Oof. You don’t think...?”
He scrutinizes me. “What?”
I can barely contain my smirk. “That she’s a bad luck charm. You know you should’ve won against that team.”
Offense covers Kai’s face. “How could you say that?”
I shrug, sitting cross-legged on the bed. “I dunno. Just a thought.”
“She’s my girlfriend, Jamie. I’m nuts about her, and you call her a bad luck charm?”
There’s an ache in my heart. “How am I supposed to know how much you like her? You never talked about her before you made out with her on your birthday.”
Kai pulls off the doorframe and folds his arms. “How could I talk to you about my crush? You couldn’t give me tips on how to approach her or find out if she liked me back. You can’t even talk to girls.”
It’s like being hit in the chest with a baseball bat. I pant for breath as he watches me with dismissive eyes.
“Come on.” Kai shrugs. “It’s not like I’m wrong. You’re not exactly a girl’s girl. When I need help to find something fun to do, or someone who can challenge my soccer game, then I turn to you.”
I slide my legs off the bed and sit on the edge. “You didn’t think I’d be cool with you dating Tabitha?”
Kai walks into the room, stopping a foot away from the bed. “Am I wrong? You haven’t exactly been taking it well.”
“Because you hid it from me. And now she’s at our lunch table. It was a shock.”
Kai sighs. “I get that. I should’ve given you a head’s up. My bad.”
I nod. “I’m sorry I wasn’t at your game. Coach Anders told me to miss my game to focus on this baby project and my other assignments. To be honest, I slept most of my time here.”
Kai grins, sitting on the bed beside me. “That baby really kept you up all night?”
“It was torture. I was losing it so much I cried.”
Kai bursts into laughter. “What? Ha! Classic. James cried like a baby.”
I nudge him. “Hey! It wasn’t funny.”
“Yeah, it’s hilarious. You never cry.”
I click my tongue. “At least your brother was supportive.”
“Ugh.” Kai grimaces. “You two are getting way too close. It’s gross.”
I slide across the bed, getting space between me and Kai. “Gross?”
“It’s like seeing a lion and a gazelle hanging out,” Kai replies. “Shouldn’t one be killing the other?”
“So, I should kill Milo instead of letting him help me with my homework?”
Kai rests his arms behind him as he looks up at the ceiling. “All I’m saying is, it’s weird you two are hanging out when it’s not studying.”
I nod. “Yeah, it is.”
“Phew.” Kai stands from the bed. “I’m glad you didn’t get a head injury and start thinking Milo’s your friend. Come on, let’s get out of this room. I can smell that dang cat without him even being in here.”
“I really should work on my history paper.”
Kai’s nostrils flare. “Seriously? I thought this weekend would be epic. My best bud is over and we should be out at the skatepark or hiking at Logan’s Point. Or even just playing a video game.”
“The weekend isn’t over. I have a mountain of extra work from every teacher and I need to get it off my plate.”
“You’re staying in here?”
I shrug. “I guess.”
He groans, scuffing toward the doorway. “It’s not bad enough I have Milo’s crap taking up space in my bedroom. Now you’re hanging out in his room. This is not my idea of a fun weekend.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh my gosh, Kai, just get out.”
He turns back at me with inflamed eyes. “Excuse me?”
“I’m sick of all your complaining,” my voice raises. “I’m the one getting kicked out of school. My aunt is away, and I still have to work at the cafe while finishing all this homework. I’m sorry I’m not as privileged as you!”
His shoulders slump, and shame droops his face. “Crap, James. I’m sorry. I just hate how everything’s changed. Things used to be so easy when we’d hang out. This week has sucked. I’ve barely seen you.”
I get off the bed and hug him. “I just need your support right now. Don’t you realize how hard all of this has been?”
He sighs against the nape of my neck. “No, I get it. I just miss hanging out with you.”
I smile and pull away. “Just give me an hour to study and then we can hang out.”
Kai backs away. “No, I’ll leave you to it. I’ll give Tabby a call and hang out with her, so I won’t bother you anymore.”
“No,” I blurt, and it stops him in his tracks. “Ahh, I mean…” I look around the room and then move to the desk and pick up my mom’s diary. “I’ve still been too chicken to read this. Want to check it out with me?”
Kai moves closer. “Is that the diary?”
“Yep. I’ve flipped a few pages and liked looking at her handwriting, but I haven’t actually read it. Aunt Maddy’s warning put me off.”
Kai winces, tapping the soft cover. “Do you want to find out who your dad is?”
“I don’t know. I mean, just because I read a name won’t mean that I know him. He still won’t know I exist.”
“What if it’s messed up inside?’
I open the cover and exhale slowly. “That’s why you’re here.”
Kai laughs. “To hold your hand, you big baby.”
I sit down on the desk chair. “That’s right.”
“Okay,” Kai says, sitting down on the bed, “let’s do this.”
I giggle at the first page. “Whoa. She’s pissed.”
“Huh?”
“My mom is angry at some guy. She loved his hair, but he got a buzz cut and now she’s livid.
” I grin and clear my throat to read aloud.
“How could he do this? I loved running my hands through his long, thick hair. I can’t even look at him now.
I stormed off, calling him Buzz. I don’t even know if he cared. ”
Kai smirks. “Geez, if a buzz cut is the worst thing he did, maybe your mom just had crazy high standards.”