Page 156 of Outspoken

Brody sits and they both nod.

After a breath, I start. “It’s about Miguel…”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Miguel

“YOU NEED TO APOLOGIZE WHILE we’re here,” I tell Angel as I steer the rental car I’m driving onto Maribel’s street. It’s a comfy SUV, but I’ll be happy to have my own vehicle again.

I reported my wrecked car stolen, leaving Angel out of it and waiting for the cops to find it on their own downtown. It had been stripped and wasn’t worth fixing, so I went to my insurance next. Miraculously, the car is ninety percent covered, and Angel will work off the few thousand I’ll still owe. I’m waiting for a check before I can get something new.

“I did apologize,” he grumbles from the passenger seat.

I took him to buy new clothes a few days ago and—no surprise—he only wanted hoodies. At least he has more variety now besides that beat-up gray one. Today he’s in a blue hoodie, hunched in the seat like he’s trying to nap. But he has his phone out, scrolling through articles or whatever he looks at constantly.

“You didn’t,” I say.

“I texted them.”

“Did you really?”

He shrugs.

I rub my hands along the leather steering wheel, smiling to myself. This kid is the definition of grumpy.But he’ll be my kid soon.I’ve been on cloud nine these past few weeks thinking about that, getting heart palpitations whenever I have to call the lawyer or work on paperwork.

“You need to apologize in person for what you did to Rico and Maribel when you lived with them.”

He rolls his window down to spit gum out. I sigh inwardly.

“If it wasn’t for—” He stops abruptly.

I give him a side glance. “What?”

“Nothing,” he mumbles. “I don’t want to be around them.”

We reach Maribel’s house, and I find an open spot on the curb between everyone else’s vehicles. It’s someone’s party this evening, but Maribel was shady about whose. She demanded I come, and I couldn’t say no. After skipping Mom’s burial, I have a lot of groveling to do because Maribel will be pissed for months. Maybe years.

I turn off the SUV and look at Angel. He glances at me quickly and then shifts his gaze.

He’s acting like something is off.

“Why did you want to come?” I ask him, raising a brow. “I’m surprised.”

He shrugs again, pocketing his phone and staring out the window.

He’s going to havemassiveshoulders someday because of how often he does that. Maybe I can get him into fitness. He could go to the gym with me. We could workout together and then train for bicycle marathons just for the hell of it. Get matching bikes and—

Nope. Getting ahead of myself.

It’s too late because I’m already giddy from the possibilities, but I force myself to focus on the present. He might hate exercise. I’ll test the waters first and get him a weight set to see if he uses it.

“They’re also going to apologize to you,” I tell him. “I talked to Maribel and Rico. I told them what I’m planning, and I won’t tolerate toxic vibes directed your way. I’m going to tell everyone else that, too. You’re with me, so they need to give you more respect as part of the family.”

He pulls his blue hoodie down to show his face, looking at his feet. “Thanks.”

“But it’s mutual. You need to respect them, too.”

He nods slightly.

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