Kai reaches down beside the couch, unplugs a cord and then lifts the drone I got for his birthday. “Come on, let’s get out of here. The drone’s all charged up. We’ll head out to Logan’s Point and fly it around.”
I hug my waist. Since reading Mom’s diary and the ugly words that came from Camila’s lips at school, it’s the last place I want to be. “I don’t want to go to Logan’s Point.”
“That’s cool. How about the mountains just outside of Logan’s Point? Imagine the views out there.”
I smile at his animated excitement and agree. “Okay. I’ve been dying to take it out ever since we picked it up at the store.”
“Awesome. Let’s go.” Kai hitches the drone under his arm and gets off the couch. “It’s a bummer we can’t go out to Dead Left Cliff. Since Milo couldn’t keep his yap shut, Mom’s been grilling me about going out there.”
Sick of hearing Kai blame things on his brother, I brush him off. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever.”
After quickly changing into denim shorts, a black t-shirt, and tying a green hoodie around my waist, I meet Kai downstairs, avoiding the dining room as we make our way into the garage. From the quietness downstairs, I gather the game has been packed away.
“Who brought you home?” Kai asks as he backs down the drive.
“Your grandpa.”
“Okay, good. I was hoping I didn’t leave you stranded.”
“Would it have mattered? You’d already bought your movie tickets, right?”
“I figured Jake or Laura could’ve driven you home.”
I side-eye him. “While Aunt Maddy’s away on the busiest day of the week?”
He groans. “I dunno. Why is this turning into another fight?”
I sigh, sinking against the leather seat. “I don’t know. I don’t want to keep fighting with you.”
He smiles. “Good. Me neither.”
The car rolls through Main Street and we pass the neighborhoods leading out to Mountains Road. Kai loves taking his car out here because there are so many twists and turns on the road as we climb the mountains.
“Anyway,” Kai pipes up. “Why were you playing that game?”
I fidget in the seat. “They were entertaining to watch.”
Kai laughs. “Ha. I see. You were mocking them.”
I rock my jaw, searching for the right response. “I wasn’t taking it seriously. Let’s put it that way. Besides, it’s basically the same as the games we play. Except, they don’t get to watch a heap of speed-runs on how to finish a level. Their games are random, depending on what number they roll, and what cards they draw.”
“Pfft. Whatever. They’re not the same.”
In some ways, the twins are more alike than I care to admit. “How was the movie?”
Kai smirks, shaking his head. “Some chick flick. I would’ve rather eaten gravel. Dang, James. You’ve no idea how awful those things are.”
My stomach flips. “Yeah.”
“But hey, Tabby liked it, and I got to have my arm around her the whole time.” He chuckles. “Block your ears.Ha. We even made out a few times. Saved me from the boring bits!”
My insides twist in distress. I am simultaneously jealous and offended. The mix of emotions is causing extreme havoc in my body.
Kai tilts his head to gain a better view of me. “You okay? You look like you’re in pain. Geez, did the mention of making out in the movie theater make you sick?”
He had a total rom-com moment, while watching a rom-com, and it’s all a total joke to him. Plus, he’s convinced I’d hate every second of it. How am I supposed to partake in this conversation? Do I just blurt out that I’m actuallyobsessed with romantic situations? That I’m jealous he’s the one going out on dates? If I did, would he slam on the brakes and ask where his best friend went?
“James, what’s going on? You’re freaking me out.”
