Kai throws an arm around me. “But she’ll have a video link, right? Just hook up the webcam and set it in front of whoever the head snob is, and take a step back. Maddy’s dying to get in with this crowd. Surely, she’ll take over.”
I lean into Kai. He was right. Aunt Maddy still thinks she’s done the wrong thing by leaving town when this meeting came up. I have to make sure the picture and audio are crisp, so it feels like she’s in the room. Aunt Maddy is probably pacing her hotel room so much she’s dug a footpath into the carpet.
I check my phone and there’s still no spiraling text messages from her. I expected non-stop messages from her today. Maybe she realized I’d be freaking out too and didn’t want to pile on. I quickly send her a text, saying I’m on the way to the cafe and then I’ll start the video call. When I slip the phone back in my pocket, Tabitha joins us.
Her smile strains as Kai’s arm slips off my shoulders. Her olive complexion gains a rosy hue when Kai kisses her cheek.
“Ready to go?” he asks her.
“Sure thing.” She then asks me, “Is this your first society meeting, Jamie?”
What a dumb question. “Yep.”
Kai flicks his keys between his index and middle fingers. In his other hand, he clutches Tabitha’s hand and leads her toward the foyer. I follow behind, keeping a slow pace so I can walk alongside Milo.
His pinky finger brushes against mine. “You okay?”
My pinky hooks around his. “I will be when this is over.”
Our fingers release as we approach the foyer. From the front steps, we view buckets of heavy rain dumping on the front lawns. With linked hands, Kai andTabitha run along the path toward the student parking lot. I can hear Tabitha’s squeals from here.
“We should take it slow,” I say to Milo.
“But you’ll get all wet,” he replies.
“I’ve seen you slip over on a dry surface. I’d rather keep you in one piece.”
“I promise, I won’t be that clumsy,” he says, and steps down onto the first wet step. His balance wobbles, and I’m quick to plant two hands behind his back. Milo snorts. “Dang it. I immediately failed.”
I giggle and move beside him. “Nice and easy.”
He wipes his brow, embarrassment causing lines to dig into his face. “Okay.”
With a few more near misses along the path out of school, we finally make it to Kai’s car. Oh, good lord, I wish we’d taken longer. Through the front windshield, with the wiper blades moving, we get the perfect view of Kai and Tabitha making out.
Eww!
I reef the back passenger door open, blurting, “Get a room, not a car.”
Kai breaks apart from Tabitha, laughing and wiping his mouth. “Sorry. I forgot we were leaving with two wet blankets.”
“Speak for yourself,” Milo says, getting into the car.
Kai sniggers. “Book characters or your cat don’t count as love interests, Milo.”
Milo rolls his eyes. I pull on my seatbelt and tell Kai to get the lead out.
Tabitha plays with her chocolate curls, turning around to view me. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
I flash her my fakest smile. “No big deal.”
Milo chokes on a laugh, his cheeks blowing out as he tries to suppress it. I flash him a look and my cheeks stretch as it becomes impossible to contain my smile.
In front of me, Kai shifts in his seat. He doesn’t bite and asks what’s so funny. Instead, he turns the knob on the stereo, blasting his favorite metal band.
Milo’s laughter stops dead as he lowers in the seat, annoyance flaring from his nostrils.
Well played, Kai.
