Chapter 37 Kai #3
My eyes roll. “Don’t give me that crap. You were in it. You, Jamie, Ash and his girlfriend. What the hell?”
He shrugs. “Jamie wanted to take a selfie.”
“Do you realize you’re not making anything clearer?”
Milo huffs and his shoulders droop with exasperation. “What do you want to know, Kai?”
“I thought you were supposed to be tutoring Jamie. Just why were the two of you hanging with the billionaire’s kid?”
“Because his girlfriend wanted to try the milkshakes.”
I deadpan, frustrated he’s not spelling this out better.
Milo sighs, resting his hands on his hips. “It’s not my problem Jamie didn’t fill you in.”
“So, they were just at the cafe?”
“No, we went there in Ash’s limo.”
My eye bug out and I pull at my hair. “Milo! What the hell?”
He shrugs. “Sorry, bro. Every man for themselves.”
Milo turns into his bedroom, but I jump over the couch to gain on him. “Oh, no, you don’t.”
Milo moves over to his bed, where Alfie is sleeping, and gives him a pat.
“Since when are you riding around in a limo?”
“Today.”
“And you didn’t think to text me?”
“Jamie sent you a picture.”
“With no context.”
“It’s not my fault you took hours to respond.”
“I was with Tabitha.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I don’t need to justify myself. I have a car, Milo. I could have driven back to town to meet up with you guys.”
“Back to town? Where were you?”
“Nevermind that. I’m still pissed that I wasn’t given a head’s up.”
Milo screws up his face. “But you were. Jamie sent you the photo when we got there. This is entirely your fault.”
I groan and turn away from him. “You’re being such a butthead.”
I shut Milo’s bedroom door on my way out. Closing him in his bedroom is somewhat gratifying. It’d be more so if he didn’t love isolating himself. I crash on the couch and pick up my phone.
"Jamie and Milo spent the afternoon with Ash and his girlfriend. The world has gone topsy-turvy."
Tabitha texts back with, "Oh, now my world makes more sense."
I’m about to ask what she means when the three dots of her incoming trademark double message pop up.
"Mom got a message from Mrs. Fisher, who heads the society planning committee." she texts. "The meeting has moved to Morton’s Café and we’re deciding if they should be the new caterers. I thought it was weird, considering no one from the society group goes there. Seems Ash’s girlfriend has some pull.
"Dang. Well, that’s cool for Jamie and her aunt."
There’s a longer pause before her next message comes through.
"Are you mad you were with me instead of hanging out with them?" Tabitha texts.
"Heck no! What happened when you got home? Did your parents go ballistic?"
"Mom refuses to pay for a new manicure. She’s calling it a learning experience."
"Ick."
"I know, right. Besides, she said Dad will want it to stay unpolished while it heals. So it proves Camila’s injury wasn’t that bad because she got her’s fixed within two days."
"Camila is so manipulative! Is your dad gunning for me?"
"I haven’t actually seen him yet. He’s having dinner with Freddy and his football coach. Maybe I can avoid him tonight."
"Good luck."
"Thanks. Maybe with some running water and then some ice, it won’t look so bad."
"Crossing my fingers."
***
The next day at school, I don’t see Jamie until lunch.
It’s not that I was planning on ignoring her.
Before school, Tabby said she had a craving for a smoothie, and who was I to say no?
Anyone can read into the fact I didn’t offer Jamie a ride.
Besides, her aunt can drive her to school, just like before I got my license.
In the cafeteria, Tabby and I share food from the same lunch tray. I really wish the boys weren’t sitting with us, because watching her dainty nibbles and listening to that song of a laugh makes me want to be the only thing touching her lips.
I steal her hand and inspect the bandage around her fingernail. “How’s it feeling?”
“It’s fine while it’s wrapped up.” She turns her hands over, revealing her palms. “These scratches are still irritating me.”
I smile at her. “I’ll wrap you in cotton wool the next time we go into the mountains.”
She chews her lip, smiling. “Last time I got hurt was near my house. Maybe I should be in a bubble.”
“Just a few scrapes. Maybe you’re just fitting in with my crew.”
She grins, nodding. “I think so. I dig it.”
I hesitate. “What about your dad?”
She shakes her head. “He got home late and left early for work. I think we bypassed this one.”
I’m about to cheer my satisfaction, when Jamie stomps toward the table. With a grating screech, she drags out the empty chair beside me. “I’m going to practice with you guys after school.”
The way she blurts it makes me jolt in my seat. “What, like to watch?”
She plonks onto the chair. “Nope. I’m doing drills with you.”
“Cool,” Tyler cheers. “It’s been ages since we kicked the ball around with you.”
I lean in closer to Jamie so I can lower my voice. “Didn’t your coach say you couldn’t touch a ball until your grades are up?”
Jamie shrugs, crossing her arms. “Screw it.”
Tabby leans around me to ask Jamie, “Is it normal for a girl to join the boys’ team?”
Jamie doesn’t answer her. She just stares at her blankly.
Oh, brother. We can’t keep doing this. At some point, Jamie has to accept that I’m with Tabitha. What else is Tabby supposed to do to prove she’s not the enemy?
Considering Jamie’s already steamed, I nudge my lunch tray in front of her, hoping to soothe her wildness. “Hungry?”
When Jamie reaches for a fry, Tabby giggles in that way that gets me every time. “Ah, babe, I wasn’t done.”
On instinct, I’m about to pull the tray back. But Jamie’s hand is still mid-air. I can’t yank it from her. I should’ve kept it in front of me so they could both reach it.
Jamie rolls her eyes and pushes the tray back. “I’m not hungry.”
I shift in my seat, hoping to calm her down another way. “Word around school has made everyone hungry for milkshakes.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Apparently Ash’s girlfriend can’t stop talking about them,” I continue. “I still can’t believe you hung out with them and didn’t call me. You know how much I want to hang out with the guy.”
Jamie gestures at our friends at the table. “Why? Because we all bore you?”
“No, it’s different. He can get anything at a snap of a finger. I’ve overheard all the epic things he and his buddies get up to on the weekends.”
Tabby loops her arm around mine. “We’d make such a cute double date.”
I grin at her. “Do you know his girlfriend?”
“I’m working on it.” She brightens. “You know, Yvette is Ash’s second cousin. Maybe I can ask if she can pull some strings?”
“Yes, do that,” Parker blurts.
My stomach quirks. “Umm, no. You shouldn’t talk to Yvette.”
Tabby shrinks. “Why?”
“Those girls are no good for you. It’s not worth it.”
Tabby bats a hand. “No bother. There’s always the society meeting.”
I nod along with her. “True. Work your magic, girl.”
I turn to Jamie, about to ask her more about her time with the celebrities of our school, but find her turned away, barely acknowledging my existence.
The silent treatment?
What are we, four-years-old?
I snap my fingers at her. “Yo. Where’d you go?”
She turns back, glaring at me.
Oh, brother.
“Nowhere,” she mumbles.
“If you keep up this mopey attitude,” I threaten, “I won’t sweet talk Coach Lyle into letting you train with us.”
Jamie pouts. “No, I’m going to practice with you.”
I roll my eyes. “Then buck up.”
Jamie groans. “Fine.”
She steals a fry from my lunch tray and I can’t help smiling, seeing her mellow out.
I turn back to Tabby, and some of the sparkle has dimmed in her eyes.
“I think practice this afternoon will be good,” I whisper to her. “Maybe Jamie and I can get back on track.”
Tabby’s lips quirk, watching Jamie and Tyler talk about soccer. “You were off track?”
“It’s been different.” I shrug, shifting closer to Tabby. “I just want things to go back to how they were before.”
Tabby nods, sighing as Jamie’s hand grabs from our shared lunch tray. “Okay.”