Page 32 of Room to Breathe

His attention went to the open book, then back to me. “He misses you,” he finally said.

Tears stung at my eyes and I gritted my teeth to keep them at bay. I readjusted the sweatshirt under my head to distract myself. “How is he doing in math?”

“B.”

“Nice. I knew he could do it.”Without me,I almost added, but I kept that part to myself. Saying that out loud really would make me cry. I’d quit the tutoring center two months ago and I missed the kids so much.

“He was putting too much pressure on himself,” Beau said.

“Must run in the genes.”

He let out a breathy laugh. “Yeah. Probably.”

“How is your mom with his B?” I didn’t need to ask. I knew exactly how she felt about that.

“Putting on a brave face,” he said sarcastically.

“Does her brave face include those judgy eyes she’s so good at?”

“Yes.”

I held in a laugh. We fell silent and he went back to reading. The music kept playing. Songs I loved. I could almost forget I was trapped in a bathroom with someone I was supposed to hate. If I closed my eyes, I could be anywhere listening to music. I felt myself drifting. I didn’t want to fall asleep in here.

I sat up and stretched, rubbing at my neck. “Are you done with the chapter yet?”

“My mind is wandering,” he said.

“Don’t care, just want the book.”

“Thanks,” he muttered.

“You’re welcome,” I said back, like he wasn’t being sarcastic.

“I’m not done,” he said.

“I know you don’t read that slowly,” I said.

“How’s Cody, anyway?” he asked.

“Seriously?” I gave him an annoyed stare. “Slow reading made you think of Cody?”

He shrugged.

I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t be rude. You’re the one who asked for a truce.”

“The truce just covers the people in this bathroom.”

“Are you sure you want to give me that opening?” I had so much to say about so many people not in this bathroom.

“I’m surprised you haven’t already taken it.”

“Yeah, well, there’s still time.”

“I’m sure I could think of a few things to say as well.”

“Then say them, Beau. Say them!”

We held a stare for a long moment. His hard expression wasn’t one I was used to, and I hated that it was directed at me. It hurt. It made me want to hurt him back.