Chapter 43
Okay, yes. I’m grateful Mom and Dad didn’t give Mrs. Nelson a hard time. The shock of Dad praising Kai left everyone in the car a little stunned. So much so that talking with Milo felt worse than pulling teeth.
When we get to the cafe, Kai holds my hand as we enter behind his mom and brother. The family has a long-stretched table in the middle of the cafe. The interior has a quaint, country aesthetic I wasn’t expecting to like. It’s cozy and inviting, and puts me at ease as I meet Kai’s grandparents.
“Oh, aren’t you a pretty little thing,” Grandma Nelson says, pinching my cheek as predicted. “What on earth are you doing with this rascal?”
Kai huffs. “Grandma.”
I giggle, clutching Kai’s forearm. “I know. I must be crazy.”
Grandma Nelson laughs. “Oh, I like this one. Kai, she’s a keeper.”
“I know, Grandma,” Kai replies. “And her name is Tabitha.”
“What a beautiful name,” she raves. “Hello, Tabitha. Welcome to the family.”
Heat prickles my face. “Oh, I…”
“Grandma,” Kai complains. “This isn’t an engagement.”
“Don’t give your grandma a hard time,” Grandpa Nelson says, standing from his chair. “She’s just excited for you. Hello, dear. Good luck dealing with these knuckleheads.”
I smile at him. “Okay, thank you for the luck.”
Kai’s dad waves at me from his seat. “Hi Tabitha. Nice to see you again.”
“You too,” I reply, and Kai guides me to a seat next to him.
“Are we in Jamie’s section?” Mrs. Nelson asks, taking the seat opposite me.
“Yes,” her husband replies, lifting his coffee mug. “She’s been around already.”
Mrs. Nelson looks around our immediate area, obviously craving a caffeine hit. Before she has to signal for service, Jamie approaches our table. She’s in all black, with a half apron, and staring intently at the pad in her hand.
Jamie pours a fresh cup of black coffee for Mrs. Nelson, and then Kai orders milkshakes for the two of us.
His hand brushes my thigh, leaving tingles in its path. “You need to try the s’mores milkshake. It’s to die for.”
My taste buds come alive. “Okay, sounds great.”
Jamie barely makes a sound, scribbling on her pad. She then turns to Milo, giving him eye contact. “Want your usual?”
I can’t help watching how Milo fidgets when they glance at each other. “Yeah, thanks.”
When Jamie leaves our table to make our milkshakes, I swiftly look away from Milo before he catches me staring.
“So, Tabitha,” Grandpa Nelson says, leaning forward. “Tell us about yourself.”
I jitter with nerves. “There’s not a lot to know.”
“Well, how’d Kai catch your eye?” Grandma Nelson asks.
I mumble a laugh, checking Kai’s expression if it’s okay to tell the story. “We’re chemistry lab partners.”
Grandpa Nelson elbows Kai’s dad. “Lots of late-night study sessions, was it?”
Mr. Nelson frowns, giving his father a peculiar look.
“More like study sessions via text,” I correct. “It was the only way Kai and I could stand each other.”
Grandma Nelson chuckles. “It wasn’t love at first sight?”
“It only took one look to see how pretty she is,” Kai responds.
Awes and laughter erupt around the table.
“These two had a tumultuous start,” Mrs. Nelson says. “I even had a heated phone call from her father.”
“Oh dear,” Grandma Nelson says. “What happened?”
“My dad overreacted,” I blurt. “Like usual.”
“A father protecting his daughter sounds understandable,” Grandpa Nelson replies.
Mr. Nelson points at Kai over his coffee mug. “Tabitha’s dad is the head of the ER down at the hospital. He’s seen Kai down there too many times and wasn’t impressed that he’s spending time with his daughter.”
“Seems he’s changed his tune, Steve,” Mrs. Nelson says. “He said he sees growth in Kai. Where he was looking, I don’t know.”
Kai scoffs. “Thanks.”
Mrs. Nelson smirks at him. “Sorry, hon.”
Mr. Nelson lifts his cup in a cheer. “Well, that’s something to celebrate.”
Mrs. Nelson lifts her cup, nodding at me. “And to Tabitha as well. Sweetie, you’re welcome around my crazy family any time you like.”
Giddiness blooms inside me, and I shiver at the pleasure. “Thank you so much.”
Soon, our milkshakes arrive—and, yes, to die for—and not too long after, an array of pancake stacks this café is apparently renowned for, follow.
As the breakfast plates clear, I can’t help watching Jamie. Kai told me how close they were, and that she’s stayed over in his guest room a bunch of times. His grandparents have told so many childhood stories that include her, yet she’s stayed away from the table.
Because of me.
I don’t want her to feel like an outsider.
I excuse myself under the guise of using the bathroom, and make my way toward Jamie. I’ve never hung out with her outside of school. However, our lunch table experiences have been less than desirable. Even so, I want to make a good impression. I want to be a good customer, and a good human.
Jamie is scribbling in a notebook. As I approach, I notice the subtitles over each set of bullet points. Amazing. She’s still working on her assignments. I’m so happy she’s turning things around in order to keep her scholarship.
“Wow, you’re working at the café and on schoolwork,” I say, cautious she’ll freak out on me. “I’m impressed.”
“My coach will be here soon,” Jamie replies, checking over her work. “He gave me and Milo an extra credit assignment for this weekend.”
“Oh, yeah. Kai mentioned that.”
Jamie’s eyes roll. “He’s still complaining?”
I snigger, inching my thumb and index finger apart. “Just a little.”
She side-eyes me. “At least he had you to distract him.”
I flinch. “Is that a good or a bad thing?”
“Good,” she answers, no longer snarling at me. “I needed him out of my hair, and beyond a reasonable doubt, the guy is crazy about you.”
“Oh. Umm, yeah. Things are going great with us.”
I blink at her a few times. Jamie and I are actually talking. Sentences. And the fact Kai and I are a couple doesn’t seem to enrage her.
“So, is it a health class assignment?” I ask, hoping to keep the conversation easy. “It’s not something Coach Oliver can spring on us, is it?”
“I doubt it. Coach Anders says it’s no longer in the curriculum. It’s an assignment on how to take care of a baby.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. And that’s why I was glad you and Kai went on a date last night. This isn’t exactly something I could abandon and go to the skatepark instead.”
“So, this weekend you’ve been working on an assignment to take care of a baby? Eww. I hope I never get that assignment.”
Jamie smirks. “Don’t flunk your classes, and you won’t.”
“Noted. Wow, I can’t believe it was ever part of the curriculum for teenagers to learn how to take care of babies. But I guess young parents do exist. Hey, your mom was sixteen when she had you, right?”
She stiffens, backing up slightly. “Yes.”
“I couldn’t imagine. Did she cope, or is that why she left?” My mind races through episodes of the Crime Spree’d podcast, remembering if there was an episode on runaway teen moms. “She’s a missing person, right?”
“She didn’t leave,” Jamie yelps, and it causes my back to coat in sweat. “My mom loved me.”
My eyes water and my chin drops.
What did I just say? Did I really just say that about her mother?
“Oh my gosh, I didn’t mean anything…” I slap my forehead. What’s wrong with me? “Geez, I’m such an idiot. I’m sorry.”
Jamie shakes it off, muttering, “It’s fine.”
No, it’s not.
“Look, that picture Camila found,” I blurt, “I had nothing to do with…”
“Don’t!” she yells, holding her hands up like stop signs. “I can’t hear this,” her voice quivers. “This is where I work, and my coach will walk in any minute.”
I back away, hating how much my bottom lip quirks with the threat of sobs. I want to say it aloud, but all I can manage is to mouth the words, “I’m sorry.”
I make it back to the table and sit by Kai. He’s deep in conversation with his dad and grandpa, and didn’t notice my brief altercation. Thank goodness. I breathe out slowly, but it’s shaky as hell. I suck in another breath, but it hitches, making a whiny sound.
Kai jolts, turning toward me and double-taking. His hand is quick on my shoulder, and his head dips to check on me. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head, staring at my lap. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
“You’re clearly not.”
I suck in another breath. “Really, it’s fine.”
Kai doesn’t believe me. He keeps an arm around me as he goes back to his conversation.
I spy where I left Jamie and notice Milo talking with her.
They’re turned away, making sure no one can catch what they’re saying.
Oh my gosh, I can only imagine he saw us talking and decided I was the villain of the piece.
I am. Aren’t I?
I didn’t know these two were close. From what Kai has said, I suspected he and his brother didn’t share any friends.
But I guess copious tutoring sessions, plus an extra credit assignment, can change the dynamic between people.
I certainly wouldn’t be sitting in this café right now if Kai and I hadn’t studied together.