“You should watch a show or something. That’s how I practiced my English,” Jimenez said.
“Give me some recommendations then.” Brooker balled up a napkin and tossed it at Jimenez before turning to me. “So what? You were like kid-kids, so why’re you pissed off now? Honestly, it’s wild y’all remember each other at all. I couldn’t pick any of my classmates out of a lineup beyond my best friend and his twin sister.”
“She doesn’t remember me,” I said under my breath.
“What was that?” Christenson asked, leaning closer.
“She doesn’t remember me,” I repeated, still not able to say it above a whisper. But this time Christenson heard me, eyes widening at the news. Stupid, pathetic news.
“Speak up!” Ricci shouted.
“She fucking forgot about me, all right? And it sucked,” I shouted, slamming my fists down on the table.
This, of course, happened to be right when our waitress showed up with our drinks, and she startled back and fumbledinto the pole behind her, the tray and drinks crashing to the floor.
“Goddamn it, Kean. Stopping causing problems for every woman you interact with,” Brooker shouted, smacking me on the arm.
“I’m sorry,” I said to the waitress, before getting up to help her clean.
“Oh no, that’s not necessary. I —”
“Let us help,” Christenson said, getting up to help me stack the fallen glasses.
“But if you get hurt, I could get in trouble,” she said in a small voice.
“Oh, right. Sorry.” We both stood up and returned to our seats.
“Can’t even help somebody out right, jeez,” Brooker said, whistling. “What else have you been fucking up?”
“Will you give it a rest?” I hissed, keeping my voice low, very conscious of the woman picking up glass behind us. “I told you what was up. That should be the end of it.”
“You think that’s enough?” Brooker gawked.
“Yeah, that doesn’t explain why you acted like a kid at practice,” Fuller said.
“I don’t wanna hear that from you.”
“Then you’ll hear it from me,” Christenson said. “You were acting like a kid today. And based on how Hansen called her out, I’m guessing you got Kodi in trouble, too. You feel good about that?”
I winced.
“Obviously not. I —” I paused, debating whether or not to tell them how I found Kodi crying by the laundry room.
God, that’d been gut-wrenching. Seeing her curled up like that, the hiccups in between sniffles. All because I couldn’t handle being around her and got her in trouble.
“I’m gonna fix it.”
“Oh really? How?” Brooker asked.
“She … wants to do some social shit. That’s what we were arguing about. So I’m gonna let her do it, give her a half hour before practice to take pictures or whatever she needs.”
“I’ll be right back with your drinks,” the waitress said, popping back up behind me with a tight smile, clearly feeling awkward from having to listen to my bullshit.
“Thank you!” we all called after her.
“Okay, so you’re gonna let her do your socials. So what? That’s not gonna get the stick out your ass.”
“I don’t —”
