We walk out of the classroom and Kai hurries ahead to throw an arm around Tabitha. My whole body shudders. He kisses her cheek and says, “I’ll text you later, okay?”
Tabitha nods, replying, “Sure thing,” and pecks his lips.
Eww. Why is he kissing her? I thought this relationship was supposed to be over by now.
I stomp toward my locker and dump my gear into my backpack. I meet Kai by the foyer, and we walk out onto the front steps where Milo hangs by the side.
“That was quick,” I say to Milo as he moves closer to me and Kai.
Milo fidgets with the strap of his backpack as he catches up to our pace. “My locker’s close to the foyer.”
“Lucky,” I mutter as we make our way to the parking lot.
“I could go for a burger,” Kai says, throwing and catching his car keys. “My coach is being way strict about what I eat and my mom’s on his side. I need Maddy to make me something on the down-low.” He stares down Milo. “Don’t nark on me.”
I turn to Milo in time to see his eyes roll behind his glasses. “As if I care.”
I rub my lips together, burying my urge to laugh at the dryness in Milo’s tone.
On our way to the car, Milo adjusts his backpack and haphazardly dodges loose gravel below. His feet twist, and he almost goes down. Scuttling his way forward, he picks himself back up.
Kai and I burst with laughter.
“Oh man,” Kai wheezes, wiping under his eyes. “You are a wealth of entertainment, Milo.”
“I’ve never known someone to be such a klutz just walking,” I tease.
Milo scuffs behind us, keeping his head down without comment. My gut cramps, feeling bad for him. He wants us to move on. But, heck, it was funny.
We make it to Kai’s car and I ride shotgun. Milo slides into the backseat, and Kai proudly sits behind the wheel.
“Are you excited, James?” Kai asks, grinning. “It’s my first time driving you without parental supervision.”
“Say a prayer,” Milo mutters.
Again, I swallow the need to laugh at Milo’s sarcasm.
“Shut it,” Kai snaps, pulling his seatbelt across his body.
“You have to let me take the car for a spin,” I say, buckling my seatbelt.
Kai laughs, turning on the ignition. “What?”
“Come on,” I say, patting the dashboard. “I’ll never afford my own car and Maddy never has time to supervise me.”
“I’m not letting the girl who failed driver’s ed twice wreck my car.”
I blow out a breath. “I’m not a bad driver. It’s that darn written test that held me back.”
Kai smirks, motioning to the back seat. “You did better than Milo. He gave up after day one.”
“I don’t need to drive to get around,” Milo replies flatly.
Kai pulls out of the parking space. “Don’t think I’ll turn into your chauffeur.”
“Believe me, that’s the last thing I want.”
I look over my shoulder at Milo. “How can you not want to drive? I don’t get you. You never even rode a bike.”
