I nod. “Yeah, it is.”
“Phew.” Kai stands from the bed. “I’m glad you didn’t get a head injury and start thinking Milo’s your friend. Come on, let’s get out of this room. I can smell that dang cat without him even being in here.”
“I really should work on my history paper.”
Kai’s nostrils flare. “Seriously? I thought this weekend would be epic. My best bud is over and we should be out at the skatepark or hiking at Logan’s Point. Or even just playing a video game.”
“The weekend isn’t over. I have a mountain of extra work from every teacher and I need to get it off my plate.”
“You’re staying in here?”
I shrug. “I guess.”
He groans, scuffing toward the doorway. “It’s not bad enough I have Milo’s crap taking up space in my bedroom. Now you’re hanging out inhisroom. This is not my idea of a fun weekend.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh my gosh, Kai, just get out.”
He turns back at me with inflamed eyes. “Excuse me?”
“I’m sick of all your complaining,” my voice raises. “I’m the one getting kicked out of school. My aunt is away, and I still have to work at the cafe while finishing all this homework. I’m sorry I’m not as privileged as you!”
His shoulders slump, and shame droops his face. “Crap, James. I’m sorry. I just hate how everything’s changed. Things used to be so easy when we’d hang out. This week has sucked. I’ve barely seen you.”
I get off the bed and hug him. “I just need your support right now. Don’t you realize how hard all of this has been?”
He sighs against the nape of my neck. “No, I get it. I just miss hanging out with you.”
I smile and pull away. “Just give me an hour to study and then we can hang out.”
Kai backs away. “No, I’ll leave you to it. I’ll give Tabby a call and hang out with her, so I won’t bother you anymore.”
“No,” I blurt, and it stops him in his tracks. “Ahh, I mean…” I look around the room and then move to the desk and pick up my mom’s diary. “I’ve still been too chicken to read this. Want to check it out with me?”
Kai moves closer. “Is that the diary?”
“Yep. I’ve flipped a few pages and liked looking at her handwriting, but I haven’t actually read it. Aunt Maddy’s warning put me off.”
Kai winces, tapping the soft cover. “Do you want to find out who your dad is?”
“I don’t know. I mean, just because I read a name won’t mean that I know him. He still won’t know I exist.”
“What if it’s messed up inside?’
I open the cover and exhale slowly. “That’s why you’re here.”
Kai laughs. “To hold your hand, you big baby.”
I sit down on the desk chair. “That’s right.”
“Okay,” Kai says, sitting down on the bed, “let’s do this.”
I giggle at the first page. “Whoa. She’s pissed.”
“Huh?”
“My mom is angry at some guy. She loved his hair, but he got a buzz cut and now she’s livid.” I grin and clear my throat to read aloud. “How could he do this? I loved running my hands through his long, thick hair. I can’t even look at him now. I stormed off, calling him Buzz. I don’t even know if he cared.”
Kai smirks. “Geez, if a buzz cut is the worst thing he did, maybe your mom just had crazy high standards.”
