Chapter 33
When Yvie and I are only ten minutes into window-shopping on Main Street, Kai texts me. He says Parker asked him to drive through the mountains with him. However, when I texted Kai saying I was shopping with Yvie, Parker suggested he and Kai blow off driving.
When the boys are making their way over to us, Yvie nudges me. “Why is Kai’s friend looking at me like that?”
Why even lie about it? “Because he thinks you’re hot.”
Yvie brightens, popping her hip as she fixes her hair. “Oh, is that so?”
I laugh. “You’re shameless. Haven’t you had enough boyfriends?”
“I can’t help I’m worshipped.”
Oh, brother.
“Wow,” Kai says, stopping three-feet away from me. “Tabby, you look incredible.”
At this moment, Yvie may as well be invisible. “Thanks.”
He steps in close, snaking his arm around my waist and planting his hand on my back. “You were right. Totally worth you going home to change.”
I press a kiss against his smile. “If there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s making the most of my outfit changes.”
“I’ve gotten that memo since I saw you that night at the Chinese restaurant.”
I shiver in his embrace. “Really?”
“Umm, yeah. You were a bombshell. I hated myself for being so into you.” He kisses me, longer and deeper this time. “Now,” he says breathily, less than an inch from my mouth, “there are no regrets about falling for you.”
I cinch my arms around his neck. “I would hope not.” Over Kai’s shoulder, I witness Parker and Yvette talking. “Thanks for bringing a distraction to entertain Yvie.”
“Maybe we can ditch them,” he half-jokes.
“Speaking of ditching,” I say as we unravel from our embrace, “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
Kai smirks, an air of guiltiness about him as we walk hand in hand. “Jamie’s aunt kicked me out of the cafe.”
I flinch. “Like, banned you?”
He laughs, tugging on my hand to keep moving alongside him. “No. She called me a distraction and asked me to leave.”
“Oh, because you weren’t letting Jamie study?”
He shrugs as he mutters with a simply adorable grin, “Maybe.”
“Why am I asking? It’s not like I have proof that a study session with you can go nowhere.”
“Hey, we’ve made huge progress on our assignment.”
“Yeah, now. But when you want to sabotage something, you kill it.”
Kai sniggers. “Guilty.”
I check on the other two behind us. Parker tries putting an arm around Yvie, and then second-guesses himself, letting his arm fall by his side.
Laughing, I nudge Kai and whisper, “He knows she has a boyfriend, right?”
Kai grins at the impending car crash. “Not yet.”
We continue walking in no particular direction until a familiar building stands out to me.
“Oh, look, Yvie,” I say, gesturing to the left. “Our old dance studio.”
Yvie and Parker catch up to us, and she replies, “I bet Miss Taylor is still peeved we skipped out on her.”
On tippy-toes, I try to spy through the frosted windows. “I wonder if she filled out spots in the recital yet?”
“Why don’t you just admit it?” Kai mutters.
I glance at him. “Huh?”
He nudges me. “You miss it.”
I wave my hand between us. “No, no. It’s cool. I was just thinking out loud.”
Kai reaches for the front door of the dance studio. “Why don’t you go in and ask to rejoin the class?”
Yvie sucks in a rapid breath. “Cammy would kill her.”
Kai deadpans her. “Why? Because she’s jealous her step-sister is spending more time with her dad than she is?”
Yvie’s mouth forms an o as she looks at me. “You told him about Cammy’s business? Are you crazy?”
“News flash,” Kai says to Yvie. “I’m not scared of Camila. And neither should you or Tabby.”
Yvie shifts awkwardly, averting her eyes. “I’m not scared.”
Parker nudges her. “Why don’t you do it? I bet you’re a great dancer.”
“She is,” I blurt. It’s true. Yvie’s graceful, putting me and Cammy to shame. Duh. Probably another reason Cammy made us quit. I grin at Yvie. “Should we talk to Miss Taylor?”
Yvie backs away, her hands shaking. “Heck no. If you want to be on Cammy’s grudge list, go for it. But leave me out of it.”
“What happened to you being sick of her?”
“I just wanted a break. I don’t want to betray her.”
“But, Yvie…” I trail off as Yvie practically makes a run for it.
Parker hangs a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll make sure she has a ride home.”
Kai and I nod at him, and he follows Yvie along the sidewalk.
“Is she gonna rat you out to Cammy?”
“Not alone,” I reply. “Without me to fire at, Cammy will only say her nasty abuse at Yvie.” I sigh and lean against the studio’s front window. “I’ll probably hear all about this at school tomorrow.”
Kai takes my hand, and his thumb rubs a tiny circle on it. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”
I push off the window, smiling at him with adoration, when the studio door opens.
“Tabitha?” Miss Taylor asks, joining us on the sidewalk. “Hello, I thought it was you.”
“Hi, Miss Taylor. Good to see you again.”
“Yes, and you. Was that Yvette with you?”
“Yeah. She just left.”
“I was hoping you two were here to return to my class,” Miss Taylor says sweetly.
Kai squeezes my hand, and I let myself float into the good feelings. “You’d let us come back?”
“Of course. Your parents paid the entire tuition, and your spot is still open. I tried calling after you all stopped coming to classes, but none of you answered.”
“Camila didn’t want us to.” Heck, it’s true.
“Yes, I saw there were some issues between her and Penelope.”
“It’s still raw,” I agree.
Miss Taylor tilts her head, studying me with interest. “But you’re considering coming back to class, aren’t you?”
“I, umm…”
“She is,” Kai blurts.
Miss Taylor grins at him. “And who’s this striking young man? You know, I’m always looking for gentlemen to join my…”
“Uh, no,” Kai cuts her off. “I’m just here as Tabitha’s cheerleader. I’m no dancer.”
I giggle, swaying my hand in his. “This is Kai, Miss Taylor. He’s actually quite nimble on his feet. He’s a soccer player. He could be quite an addition.”
Kai’s eyes narrow, and he shakes his head.
Miss Taylor taps her index finger against her lips, considering him. “But I bet you’ve already committed to many soccer practices.”
Kai feigns disappointment. “That’s right. Dang it. Just when I could’ve been a dancer. Oh, well. At least you have Tabitha.”
“Your regular class is tomorrow afternoon,” Miss Taylor says, giving me a supportive nod. “I’ll see you then.”
I flush with heated nerves. “Okay.”
She grins and opens the studio door. “Very good. I look forward to it.”
Miss Taylor disappears inside, and Kai breaks into a cheer. “Yes, Tabby! You’re dancing again.”
I shiver and step away from him. “No. No, I can’t.”
“Yes. Yes, you can.”
“But Camila will…”
“Camila will do nothing.” He holds my shoulders and looks deep into my eyes. “I won't let her intimidate you. She’s done.”
“But she…”
“No,” he says warmly. “I’m not letting her hurt you. You deserve to have some fun.”
I ease under the spotlight of his hazel eyes and let myself smile. “Okay.”
“So, I was supposed to find my own dinner tonight because Dad works late on Mondays, and Mom’s still on her way back from the city. I was banking on Jamie’s aunt making me a burger, but that’s out the window now.”
I giggle and play with a curl. “Are you hinting for me to take you out to dinner?”
“I was hoping you’d be free.”
“My parents are used to my brothers texting at the last minute that they’re skipping dinner. It Won’t be a problem for me to do it. Besides, Dad’s working at the hospital, and it’s no fun when he’s not home to play buffer.”
“Your mom is still intense?”
“She’s more on edge at the moment. There’s this society event coming up, and she roped me into being on the planning committee with her.”
Kai grimaces. “Eww. Are you planning a snobfest?”
I giggle behind a cupped hand. “Pretty much. But you know, it’s Ashworth adjacent. Didn’t you want to get in with them?”
“Not at the risk of going to a society event. Although, maybe I’ll see an Illuminati cult ceremony behind a velvet curtain.”
“Oh my gosh.” A hearty laugh rolls out of me. “There’s no cult. No bunnies are being sacrificed. Just a nice garden party.”
His lip upturns. “Eww.”
I giggle again, leaning into him. “Life would be simpler if you didn’t keep searching for the conspiracy.”
“And just go through life blind?”
“It’s all just made-up stories.”
Kai groans. “Man, I gotta get you into the light. You’re living with your eyes shut.”
There’s no stopping my laughter from spilling out. “Oh, you’re such a goner. No one can deny Kai Nelson has passion.”
He winks. “It’s simply a hunger to uncover the truth.”
“Whatever you say.” I pull out my phone. “I’ll just text my mom before I forget.”
Kai fishes his phone out of his pocket. “Speaking of forgetting, I felt my phone buzz a few times earlier.” His eyes grow circular, and then he snorts at the screen. “Oof. I’m in trouble.”
I lean in to check it out. “Why? What happened?”
Kai locks the screen and pockets the phone. “Mom’s going off. I’ve been ignoring Milo’s calls, and Mom has to pick him up from Jamie’s.”
“Oh. That’s no biggy, isn’t it?”
Kai grins. “That’s what I thought. So what if James’s place is all the way on the outskirts? Mom’s coming in from the city, anyway.”
I cuddle into him. “So we still have more time to hang out?”
“I’m free. My brother is at my friend’s house. Side note; Jamie’s gonna kill me.”
My heart flutters with victory. “She’ll get over it.”
Kai laughs. “We’ll see. I can already feel the bruise on my arm from the next time I see her. But, I’ll focus on the wins. Milo’s occupied, Dad’s working late, and Mom’s still traveling back from the city. Your boy is all yours.”
His arms envelop me, and I sigh out happily. “My boy. I like that.”
“Oh, yeah?”
Here’s my shot. I've gotta hint harder. “I like labels.”
His head tilts, and his jaw flexes with hesitation. “Labels, like girlfriend/boyfriend labels?”
I suck in a breath, and it cements in my chest. “Is that a problem?”
His hands rub circles on my back. “Well, I didn’t think I liked labels, but when I think about you, I really want them.”
I bounce against him, unable to contain my excitement. “Really?”
He laughs, holding me in place. “Really. Do you wanna do that? Call each other that?”
“You’re cool with me saying you’re my boyfriend?”
Something between nervousness and embarrassment ripples across his face. “Yeah. Yeah, I think I am. Will you be my girlfriend, Tabby?”
“Eep!” I squeal. “Yes, Kai! Yes!”
He laughs as I kiss along his jawline. “Good thing you don’t shy away from letting your feelings known.”
My lips meet his in a kiss, and I sigh when we pull apart. “How could I hide them? There’s no one who’s even made me feel a shred of how you do.”
“There was no one before? That’s hard to believe.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re beautiful. I would never have guessed you were single.”
I blush. “I was basically dusty on the shelf.”
He brushes back my curls and tucks one behind my ear. “I’d never call you dusty. You’re preppy, polished, and perfect.”
“You don’t hate that I’m all those things?”
He smirks. “I should.”
My anxiety bubbles into my chest. “But?”
Kai caresses the side of my face, and whispers, “But I don’t.”
His mouth melds against mine, and even if his words were slow to fill me with confidence, his kiss makes my toes curl in my shoes. I latch onto his collar and sigh against his mouth. His hand presses between my shoulder blades, his strength the best comfort.
When we pull apart, I dab a finger across my lower lip, blushing. “Okay, now I should text my mom.”
“Go for it.”
“Hey Mom. I’m out with friends…” I delete that last word and retype, “with my boyfriend. I’ll be home after dinner.”
I send the text and squeal. “I just typed the word boyfriend to my mom. She’s gonna freak.”
“Does she not want you to date?”
“No, she’ll…” I pause because my phone buzzes with a new text, making me laugh. “I could've predicted this.”
I show Kai the text from my mom. "What's his name? What do his parents do?"
Kai flinches. "She cares about who my parents are?"
"Mom likes to know status levels."
Kai grimaces. "Does an accountant and part-time legal clerk cut it?"
"It'll lead her to ask which firms and your parents' company rankings."
"Doesn't your mother know this line of thinking makes her another cog in the wheel?"
I grin and stroke under his chin. "I'd pay to see you have that conversation with her."
"I think having your dad hate me is enough of a barrier between us."
I shrug with hopefulness. "Maybe Mom can help bring him around?"
"We can only hope." Kai hooks his pinky finger around mine. “So, is your mom intense about you dating?”
“I’ve never brought a boy home before, but I think she’ll be excited. She’s made comments before when I haven’t had a date to school dances. I think she expected me to already be dating someone.”
"It's crazy you've never had a boyfriend before."
I grin and nuzzle my nose against his. “Well, now I have you, boyfriend.”
He grins and kisses the middle of my forehead. “I like the sound of that.”