“I can’t…” I shake my head and swallow again. “I can’t do this.”
He nods, his grip on me getting stronger. “Have you seen Coach?”
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
He rubs my back. “What do you want to do?”
“I want to go home,” I moan. “I wanna barf.”
He pulls back and I see his smile. “Not all over me, I hope.”
I let out a faint laugh, and he helps me to stand. He turns to Tabitha, saying, “I’m taking Jamie to the nurse. I’ll catch up with you later, okay?”
Clearly disappointed, Tabitha nods and forces a smile. “Yeah, sure.”
I forget about the other students walking up and down the halls as Kai guides me to the nurses’ office. Mrs. Whiteborne, the school nurse, could tell Iwas feeling unwell, but her thermometer detected nothing out of the ordinary. Luckily, Kai motor-mouthed our way through it. He told Mrs. Whiteborne that my aunt was away and I was staying with his family. I think he was going for sympathy, but I was barely listening. He then fibbed about something we ate for dinner, which didn’t agree with us.
Visibly tired from listening to Kai, Mrs. Whiteborne agreed we should take the rest of school off. Kai fake called his mother, and soon he was driving us back to his house. We already knew his mom had taken his grandparents into the city for some appointments. Thank goodness we’ll have the house to ourselves.
“I just want to nap,” I grumble, trudging upstairs.
“When you get changed, come to my room.”
I look back at him before disappearing into Milo’s room. “Why?”
“Because I want to stay with you, and I don’t want to stay in my brother’s room.”
I roll my eyes and step into the bedroom. “Fine, whatever.”
After changing into sweatpants and a t-shirt, I make my way to Kai’s bedroom while throwing on an oversized hoodie. My frown drags me down, remembering how Milo avoided me at school. I wish I were staying in his bedroom. His scent still lingers in there, and it’d be nice to curl up in his bed, thinking about nicer times.
As I step into Kai’s room, I spy the trundle bed on the floor. A small smile battles my frown as I think about napping inside Milo’s sheets.
Kai pats the bed as he digs his legs under his bed cover. “Get over here.”
I suppose it’s best I don’t fantasize about Milo while alone with Kai. I move over to his bed and curl up with him. Kai’s arm pulls around my middle and I rest my head against the pillow.
“Thank you for bringing me home,” I whisper. “I just can’t do today.”
“Don’t mention it. You know I’ll do anything for you.”
I sigh happily, closing my heavy eyes as I listen to the game sounds coming from Kai’s phone.
It was almost a ninety-minute nap. Afterwards, Kai and I don’t talk much. Just being around him made everything easier. I enjoy watching him play a dumb game on his phone and letting my mind stay as numb as can be.
Even though my life has been turned upside down and covered in trash, this moment feels normal. It’s me and Kai, alone. No one else is getting in the way. Just like it used to be. Just like he’s been asking for all week.
Once we hear movement downstairs, things get a little tense. School has technically finished, but we’re still home too early. When his mother doesn’t start calling him by his full name, we know we’re in the clear.
I listen out for voices. Would Milo be looking for Kai to give him a ride home? Probably not, because he’s avoiding me like the plague. He’d want his grandpa to pick him up, so I’m sure he’s home now.
I stretch out on the bed, and Kai’s fingers tap against my side. I giggle as he tries playing my ribs like a keyboard. I twist in the bed, turning to face Kai, and I squirm away from his hand.
Over the sound of my laughter, I distinctly hear footsteps.
“Oh,” a startled voice says.
I shoot up in bed, Kai’s arm unraveling from my middle. “Milo,” I breathe.
