Chapter 28 Tabitha #2
His arms cinch around me tighter. “Oh, they made me feel things.”
I giggle and slide my hands down his chest until I can playfully push him. “Ah, stop.”
“What?” He nuzzles near my earlobe and disappears into my curls. “You asked me.”
“Okay, okay.” I giggle, still short of breath. “I need some air.”
“We’re outside,” he says mischievously, still holding me.
I push down on his arms. “You know what I mean.”
His arms unravel from me, and he takes a step back. “Okay, have your air.”
I peel myself away from the goal post and ground myself on my two feet.
Kai runs a hand through his hair and stumbles backward. “Wow, now I can’t stand on my own. How do you look even more beautiful right now?”
I blush hard. “Stop it.”
“You stop it,” he gushes. “I’m serious. You’re stunning.”
I fan my face. “How is it so hot out here?”
“So you don’t wanna go for a run right now?” he asks in a teasing way.
“Actually, I could eat. Do you still wanna get pizza? I’ve been thinking about it since last night.”
Something lights up in his eyes and he smirks. “Sure. I could get pizza.”
“Your coach won’t be mad at you for eating it?”
“After today’s performance, I deserve more carbs.”
“More carbs?”
He pecks my cheek, lingering for an extra moment. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll take you anywhere you wanna go.”
Kai ditches his soccer ball and duffle bag in the locker room before it’s locked up for the rest of the weekend.
It’s only a few blocks from the pizzeria.
Totally infatuated with him, I clutch his hand the entire way.
While we chat about our favorite pizza toppings, I can’t help leaning into him and soaking him up.
The pizzeria is packed out with lunch service well underway. Kai points to a table out the front, framed by the sidewalk.
We snag the table and Kai walks inside to order slices from the front counter.
While alone, I dig into my bag for my compact mirror.
I check my flushed face and if my lip gloss was messed up.
I exhale with relief when it’s not as bad as I imagined.
I fix my hair in place and hurriedly paint an extra layer of berry lip stain before Kai returns.
“You’re in luck,” he says, sitting down at our table. “They had exactly three slices of margherita pizza left.”
I grin like the giddy fool I am. “Truly is my lucky day.”
Kai’s hands slide across the table between us, and without further prompting, I reach forward and clasp them. With no need for words, our smiles grow as we stare into each other’s eyes. As I sink further into a lovesick coma, my ears prick to a distinct sound behind me.
The click of heels.
The high pitch of their laughter.
The fast pace of their gossip.
My heart seizes.
Oh crap.
What was I saying about my lucky day?
“Tabby?” Camila calls out behind me.
Kai’s grip tightens, and I watch his jaw flex. In a protective motion, his shoulders turn toward where the girls approach, as if he can shield me from them.
“Well, wonders never cease,” Camila says, her gaze wandering from me to Kai. “I’m just hanging with Yvie until Daddy comes by to pick me up. He’s taking me to see some of his redevelopment projects.”
“Cool,” I mutter, instantly deleting the information from my brain.
“I was wondering why you were ignoring your phone, Tabby.” Camila clicks her tongue, eyeing Kai distastefully. “I was texting you where to meet us, and you never responded. Is this some kind of hostage situation?”
“We’re just getting pizza,” I murmur, my hands growing clammy against Kai’s.
Yvie gasps, standing next to Camila. “Like a date? You two are holding hands!”
“You should become a private eye,” Kai mocks.
Not getting it, Yvie looks at me for clarification. Despite my best judgements, I give her a slight nod.
“I knew it!” Yvie squeals. “You’re first boyfriend, Tabby. You two have to double date with me and Zane.”
“Oh my gosh, Yvie.” Cammy groans, crossing her arms. “No one cares about you and stupid Zane.”
Yvie rears back, chin wobbling. “Zane’s not stupid.”
“But when you constantly talk about him, it is stupid!” Cammy shouts.
Kai sits back, letting out a dry laugh. “Jealous, are we?”
Camila’s glare narrows. “Of my friends’ bad taste? I think not. Ugh, Tabby, what’s wrong with you? Why are you with this creep?”
“He’s not a creep,” I defend. I just wish my voice didn’t crack.
Kai’s thumb rubs against the top of my hand. “It’s okay. Don’t give her the satisfaction.”
“Umm.” Cammy pops a hip. “Don’t tell my friend what to do.”
Kai’s brow furrows. “Excuse me?”
Cammy nudges Yvie. “Do you believe this? Tabitha actually found a guy who tells her what to do. Don’t you feel sorry for her?”
“Totally,” Yvie blurts, desperate to crawl back onto Cammy’s good side. “I give them three days, tops.”
Kai claps at them. “Very original, girls. Now, why don’t you take a hike?”
“Or what?” Cammy taunts. “What will you do to us?”
“Me?” Kai pushes back his seat to stand over her. “How can you say that after what you did to Tabitha?”
Cammy’s mouth falls open as she plants a hand on her chest. “Me? What are you getting at?”
Kai doesn’t back down. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“Kai,” I yelp. “Don’t.”
“Tabby?” Camila questions, flicking her hair off her shoulder. “What is he talking about?”
The hair flick. Her signal when she’s playing the good girl.
“I…” I stammer, avoiding Kai’s stare. “I don’t know.”
I stare at her hand, still playing with her hair, and notice the bandage. It makes me shudder, and I replay the slap from yesterday.
“Tabby,” he breathes, filtered through disappointment. “Don’t do this.”
Cammy moves over to me and gently pats my shoulder. The bandage is way too close for comfort. “You know, I’d take you away from this guy if I could, but Daddy will be here soon.”
Yvie steps away, eyeing Kai warily. “Tabby, you can come with me and Zane.”
“I…” I gulp for air and notice the tremble in my hands. “I don’t want to get away from him.” I finally get the courage to look up and meet Kai’s downcast eyes. “I… I want to be with him.”
A laugh coated in surprise snorts out of Cammy. “What? Why?”
Kai edges closer. “Because I’ll protect her.”
Cammy’s hand leaves my shoulder, and she creates distance between us. “Is that so?”
I look up, watching their dynamic, and smile. Oh, yeah. I forgot Camila’s afraid of Kai.
I sit taller and reach out a hand to Kai, which he swiftly takes. “Sorry, girls. Can you let us get back to our date?”
Yvie gasps again. “I don’t know whether it’s cute or deranged.”
“The second one,” Camila mutters. “Geez, Tabby. I’m actually glad you’ve been ghosting my texts. You’ve gone totally off the rails.” She lifts the hand with the bandage in a phone motion. “Call me when you’ve regained your senses. I expect grovelling.”
“Get out of here before another word gets you deeper into trouble,” Kai warns her.
“There he goes, threatening us again,” Yvie yammers, grabbing Camila’s hand and guiding her away from us. “Come on, Cammy, let’s get out of here. You don’t need to be hurt again.”
When the girls move away, further along the sidewalk, Kai steps in closer and crouches beside me. “Are you okay?”
I squeeze his hand. “Yeah. It’s not so scary with you around.”
His jaw rocks and he can’t shake his frown. “Then why did you let it slide? Why did you pretend she didn’t hit you?”
“Kai… I…”
“It’s not okay.”
“I know, but…”
“But what?”
I sigh, slumping forward. “It’s not worth it.”
His arms hug around me. “How isn’t it?”
I rest my head on his shoulder. “Please don’t judge me.”
“I’m not,” he’s quick to say. “I just want you to be safe.”
“I’m with you,” I whisper. “I’m safe.”
He rubs a comforting circle on my back and then moves over to his seat as our pizzas arrive.
When the server leaves, I tilt my head, taking in his downhearted demeanor. “Are you okay?”
His hand clenches into a fist and then releases. “I guess. It just pisses me off Camila thinks she got away with it. Maybe I’ll just never understand girls.”
It takes me off guard. “Is that so?”
“With guys, we punch each other in the face and the beef is over.” He shakes his head at the pizza. “With girls, it draws out forever and everything’s so sneaky. No wonder Jamie can’t handle it when they corner her.”
“Speaking of which, I’m kinda surprised she doesn’t fight back. I thought you would’ve given her some pointers by now.”
“She holds her own with the guys. Actually, she wins most of the battles.”
I left out a whisper of a laugh. “That explains how she went off on Freddy.”
Kai’s eyebrow arches. “She did?”
“Yeah, like we couldn’t watch a soccer game because he plays football.”
Kai jerks in his seat with a dubious expression. “Jamie said that?”
I wave it off. “Basically. Anyway, I’ve never seen her talk like that. She stood up for herself, which never happens in the locker room.”
Kai rubs his temple. “I don’t know why, but she can’t handle herself around girls.”
I bite down until my jaw hurts. “That’s why she’s such an easy target.”
He catches my eye and mumbles, “Mm-hmm.”
“I’m sorry.”
“As if you have to be sorry. I remember what you did when you took the heat for her. Even though she didn’t get it, I sure as heck appreciate it.”
“Thanks. I just didn’t want to be that girl again. Plus, I wanted to prove to you I can change.”
“I’m sorry I took Jamie’s word that you were teasing her.”
“She’s your friend, Kai. Why wouldn’t you believe her?”
An easy and relieved smile curls his lips as he lifts a slice of pizza.
This should be a euphoric moment, but I can’t help letting something ugly pull at me from the pit of my stomach. The black ooze of jealousy. He’ll always have Jamie’s back. If Jamie finds out about us, and she makes him choose, I can’t see myself winning.
Does Jamie have his heart?
Does he love her?
“Tabby, what is it?”
I shake off the ugliness and force a grin. “Nothing. Just happy to have you all to myself.”
“That makes two of us.”
His smile makes my heart swell, but I can’t help hearing the tick of our countdown clock.