Page 157 of Outspoken

I pat his shoulder. “Well, let’s go in. We don’t have to stay long. I’m not sure how much I want to be around our family, either. A lot of them have been salty with me lately.”

We get out and I stretch my legs, adjusting my short sleeve black button up. Then I check my phone, which I’ve been doing more often than usual these past few weeks. My shoulders slump. Still nothing from Amber. Brody said she’s been good, so I don’t need to worry. And she’s been messaging Angel. I’m happy they’re staying in touch.

I’m a bit lonely for her, though. She has as much time as she needs, but the longer I go without seeing her name pop up in my notifications, the more I lose hope. What I suggested to her—becoming a family with me and Angel—was probably too much.

I get it. This isn’t the life she wants for herself, and I respect that. But it’ll take years for my heart to open up to anyone else—if it ever does.

Well, if Angel keeps calling me Pops, I’ll make it through.

Feeling a bit melancholy, I stuff my phone in my back jeans pocket. Then I follow Angel up the short driveway.

Instead of walking to the porch and front door, Angel veers off the path.

“Where are you going?” I ask when I realize he’s walking to the side gate to the backyard.

I catch his frown in the dim orange light from the sunset. “That’s a dumb question,” he says.

“No,whyare you going that way? We should go through the front door. Maribel locks that gate.”

I glance at the house and notice the curtains are drawn. I narrow an eye.Unusual. Maribel loves keeping her giant windows open. I tell her that neighbors can see everything she’s doing at night. She says she doesn’t care.

Angel sighs. “She told me.”

“Who told you?”

He groans. “Maribel.”

I meet him at the gate, completely lost. “She texted you to use the side gate? Why didn’t she text me?”

Angel sighs louder and rolls his eyes. “I don’t know. Stop asking.” He shoves the gate open and leaves me there, confused.

I narrow my eyes, this time at Angel’s retreating back.Something shady is happening and I don’t like it.

I step through the gate cautiously, listening for music. It’s quiet. Too quiet. My family isextremelyloud and Rico loves blasting music until the neighbors come over, banging on the front door and yelling about calling the cops if he doesn’t turn it down.

Angel walks along the side of the brick house and reaches the backyard first. He ghosts, which leaves me standing there with my mouth open, shocked. I figured he’d hang around me this evening to avoid talking to anyone after they all exchange apologies.

When I reach the backyard, Angel is standing on the patio, completely alone. There’s no one here and the curtains on the back windows and sliding glass door are drawn.

“Now I’m scared,” I tell him. “It’s not my birthday, so this can’t be a surprise party. What’s going on?”

Angel avoids looking at me.

“Hey. You know, don’t you?”

He shrugs, staring at Maribel’s dead vegetable garden. “Go inside and you’ll find out.”

“Tell me first.”

He holds up a hand like reciting an oath. “Sworn to secrecy.”

I laugh. He’s been showing me glimpses of his sense of humor, and this soon-to-be adopted kid of mine is pretty damn funny.

My chest warms.My kid.

“Well, are you coming in with me?” I ask.

“I don’t know.” He chews his lip and stuffs his hands in his pockets, glancing at the drawn curtains. “Everyone’s in there.”

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