Chapter 20 #2
A faint laugh slips out of Milo. “Okay, you take him. Getting up to check on him will give me a good excuse to leave the table.”
I nod and can’t help eyeballing the group. I wonder how it went meeting her parents. I zero in on Mrs. Nelson. She’s usually a good judge of character. Can she see-through Tabitha?
I look back at Milo, about to ask how the drive over here went, when the family disperses around the table.
I jump when Mrs. Nelson asks me for coffee.
Without looking up, I take Kai and Tabitha’s drink orders.
Kai orders a Toasty S’more milkshake for her, saying she’ll die and go to heaven.
I could arrange that. There’s rat poison locked away in the office.
I ask Milo if he’d like his usual, and he replies with a coy smile and slight nod.
No one notices the lingering stare we share, too busy asking Tabitha for her life story.
It’s super weird. Usually, especially with Grandma and Grandpa around, I’m the center of attention.
Now, as I serve drinks, take the breakfast order, and serve it, I’m invisible.
This has never happened before.
I’ve never been invisible to anyone with the last name Nelson.
My eyes burn holes into the back of Tabitha’s head. She’s the invader. Her evil plan is to turn them all against me. Why didn’t I see this coming? She won't insult me in my workplace. She’s torturing me by making me watch her take away my second family.
Thank goodness for the other tables. I put the Nelsons out of my mind as I take orders, serve food, and clear away dirty plates. Every time I go in and out of the kitchen, I check on Gandalf, who pleasantly lies in his carrier.
When my section gives me a break, I lean against the counter for a breather.
Kai pivots his head, looking for me. When he spots me, he grins eagerly and excuses himself from the table.
As he walks toward the counter, I watch behind him.
Tabitha turns with her mouth ajar, wary of her boyfriend leaving her for me.
Yes! Internal fist bump.
Kai leans against the counter beside me. His heels bounce with nervous enthusiasm as he looks back at the table. “It looks like it’s going well, right? The fam seems to like Tabby. Don’t you think so?”
“Yeah, I guess. From what I can see. I’m too busy working to keep tabs on things.”
“You don’t care if today goes well?”
“Why did she want to come here to meet your family?” I ask begrudgingly. “Tabitha and her friends have never come here before. I figured it was beneath them.”
“What can I say?” Kai replies. “Once word got around that Ash and his girlfriend loved the shakes here, everyone wants in on the trend. This place will be the new it place.”
I roll my eyes. “Wow. Aunt Maddy will be thrilled.”
Kai pinches my cheek. “Cheer up. More business equals more ways for your aunt to pay your school fees.”
I fold my arms and frown. “So I don’t have to study anymore?”
“So we can get back to having more fun together.”
“You know I want that, too. But whenever I have downtime, you’re with Tabitha.”
“Not today,” Kai declares. “Tabby’s around now, but I don’t need to see her for the whole day. I’ll take her home after breakfast and I’ll be totally free when you get off work. Let’s hang out at the skatepark. Just you and me.”
“What about the other guys?”
“What about them?” Kai says as sincerity twinkles in his eyes. “I just care about chilling with my best bud. I know it’s weird that I have a girlfriend now, but it doesn’t make you any less of a priority in my life.”
I fold my arms, slightly turning away. “Well, it sure has felt like that the past few days.”
“It’s just new,” Kai replies. “I’m working out the balance. I’ll make it right. I promise.”
I drop my arms to my sides. “Okay. I believe you.”
“So, you’ll take a break from the books?” Kai asks with hope. When I nod yes, he adds, “Awesome. I’ll pick you up from here with your blades in the trunk of my car. We can hang out as long as you want.”
I grin and pat his shoulder. “Sounds perfect. Thanks, bro.”
Kai walks back to the table and a wealth of good vibes bubble inside me. There’s pep in my step as I refill coffees in my section. I’m broken out of the bubble when my ears prick to Gandalf’s cry. I know that bottle cries the best, and I move back to the counter.
I pull his bottle out of the bag and press the nip to his mouth. He suckles away happily and I let out a content sigh.
“Is this the baby?” a soft voice asks behind me.
I turn around and jolt backward. Tabitha stands before me, craning her neck to sneak a peek at Gandalf.
“Yeah,” I say, turning the carrier. “Coach Anders will be in soon to pick him up.”
“And it’s actually been like having a real baby?”
I nod. “Complete with crying, nappy changing, and burping.”
“Eww.” She giggles behind a cupped hand. “I hope I never have to do this assignment. I couldn’t imagine doing it for real. Kai said your mom was our age when she had you.”
I stiffen and my stomach wobbles. “Yes.”
She curls her hands into her hair, looking off to the side in wonder. “I couldn’t imagine. Did she cope, or is that why she left? She’s a missing person, right?”
“She didn’t leave,” I blurt, raising my voice enough it engages the two closest tables. “My mom loved me.”
Tabitha’s eyes grow circular as her mouth falls open. “Oh my gosh, I didn’t mean anything…” She slaps her forehead. “Geez, I’m such an idiot. I’m sorry.”
I look her up and down and find her genuine enough. “It’s fine,” I mutter.
“Look, that picture that Cammy found,” Tabitha rushes her words, “I didn’t have anything to do with…”
“Don’t!” I cut her off, holding up my hands like stop signs. My eyes water and I use all my strength to not let my voice quiver. “I can’t hear it right now. This is where I work and my coach will walk in any minute now.”
Her bottom lip quirks as she pouts. Her eyes droop as she backs away. “I’m sorry,” she mouths, moving back over to Kai.
I watch her sit by Kai, who’s in deep conversation with his dad and grandma. When he notices Tabitha, he double-takes. His hand rests on her shoulder and his head dips low. I can tell he’s whispering, “Are you okay?”
I stretch my back, feeling every knot cause more tension. I look across the Nelson table and almost lose balance when I land on Milo, whose eyes lock with mine. Was he watching the entire time Tabitha was over here?
He scoots his chair back and moves my way. I press my shaking hands into my churning stomach. He stops short of the counter, taking me in.
When he says nothing, I blurt, “Yeah?”
He lifts his palms up. “Everything okay? It looked intense over here.”
I smooth my hands over my hair and press them against the back of my neck. “I can’t deal with her here,” I whisper harshly. “Why is everyone cool with her being here?”
Milo steps forward, as close as he can get with the counter between us. “I’m not.”
I blink too many times, wishing he’d turn into a prince and carry me away. “What happened during the car ride over?”
Milo leans his elbows on the counter as he sighs out. “I had to sit next to her because Mom was riding shotgun. Kai would keep hounding me to talk to Tabby, but I couldn’t say more than hi. I just can’t forget the way those girls treat you. It’s insane that Kai can.”
I hug my waist as my knees knock. “You think Kai doesn’t care that Tabitha’s friends say messed up things to me?”
Milo peels off the counter. “Or he’s oblivious to it?”
“She just tried it again,” I murmur, wiping under my eye. “She was about to bring up the picture of my mom. I’m surprised more people didn’t hear me yell.”
Milo throws a thumb over his shoulder. “Do you want me to ask Kai to take her home?”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t want to make a scene. Your dad will ask for the bill soon, anyway.”
He nods and clutches his elbows. “Kai said you’re hanging at the skatepark after work?”
I bite my lip and nod. “Just for a little bit. I told your mom I brought my laptop, so she didn’t think I was totally ditching my assignments.”
Milo fidgets in his stance, glancing around the prep station behind me.
“No, that’s okay. I was just checking because my friends usually come over on Sundays while Kai is out with you.
I just didn’t know if you’d come back home to study, or were expecting me to be free.
Not that I’m saying you and I would do anything… Well, not that we can’t. I just…”
“Milo,” I cut him off. “Stop rambling. It’s fine. I’ll be with Kai for a few hours, as per usual. What do you and your friends do on Sundays, anyway?”
“Something you and Kai would no doubt ridicule us for.”
I puff a laugh and shake my head. “Okay, I get it.”
Over Milo’s shoulder, I see the front door of the cafe open. My stomach wobbles. Coach is here. I pick up the baby carrier and motion to Milo.
Milo spots Coach, swallows hard, and then looks down at Gandalf. “This is it, little buddy. Time to part ways.”
“Oh, man.” I pout. “Don’t say it like that. It sounds sad.”
Milo fidgets with his glasses as he tilts his head, watching me. “Aw, cute. You’re going to miss Gandalf.”
“Shut up.” I laugh. “Am not.”
Milo squeezes my shoulder. “Who knew Jamie West had such a tender heart?”
I groan and push past him. “Stop it. Let’s get this over with.”
We meet Coach at a small table in my section. He watches us intently. No doubt trying to figure out the weird energy flowing between us.
“How’d you two do?” Coach asks, carefully looking between Milo and me. “You survived?”
I hand the baby carrier over to Coach. “Two days was more than enough.”
Coach chuckles, resting the carrier on the table. He picks Gandalf up and deactivates him.
“Does he only have one setting?” Milo asks, gesturing at the fake baby. “Because last night was rough. How is anyone supposed to concentrate on any other assignments when this one is constantly screaming for attention?”
“It’s a wonder parents ever get anything done,” Coach says sarcastically.