Page 161 of Outspoken

I shake my head. “We’ve been engaged fifteen days, and I spent the entire first week at your house. I just need a little space and to sleep in my own bed. I’m not used to living with someone. You need to give me time to settle into this.”

He clutches his chest with a grin that shows his dimple. “You counted the days, mi amor? That’s so—”

He tries to inch around the chair, so I flee to Brody, hiding behind him since he’s like a brick wall.

“Do your job,” I tell Brody, “and protect me from this lunatic.”

Brody steps aside, giving Miguel a clear path to me.

My jaw drops and I smack Brody’s arm. “What the hell? You’re supposed to protect me from thirsty men!”

Miguel grins, nodding at Brody. “Thanks, man.”

Brody crosses his arms and sighs at me. “You proposed to him knowing what he’s like. Got yourself into this mess.”

“What a—” Before I can cuss Brody out, Miguel pounces.

He grabs me around the waist, pulling me against him to kiss my cheek and neck. “I missed you,” he says, continuing with the hurricane of affection. “I think you missed me too, but you won’t admit it because you’re stubborn.”

I push against his chest, pretending to resist, but I really don’t want to. I did miss him and he’s completely right—I’m not going to admit it. “How can I miss you when won’t stop blowing up my phone?”

“That was only today. I didn’t text at all yesterday.”

“Yes, you did. Twenty times.”

“But it was less.”

I laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous for the love of my life,” he coos as he presses his cheek against my hair.

My body melts in his arms.This dork.

Before I can get too comfortable in Miguel’s embrace, a soft sniffle grabs my attention. My heart sinks when I look at Page. She’s silently crying on the couch.

Brody notices the same moment I do, and he goes to her. Instead of letting him comfort her, she shrinks away. Brody freezes, looking the most broken I’ve ever seen him.

“Hey, stop,” I tell Miguel as he’s showering me with kisses.

The seriousness in my voice makes him pause, and he also notices Paige. I pat Miguel’s chest, leaving him in the kitchen and walking to the couch with determination.

This has gone on too long. Paigehasto talk to me. Today. It’s clear something is going on that she’s not telling anyone—she’s been withdrawn and unlike herself for two months—and I’m not going to sit back and watch her relationship with Brody crumble.

I move into her line of sight and hold out my hand. At first, she tries to ignore me, squeezing Bamsy and angling away.

“Paige,” I say softly. “Do you hate me or something?”

She quickly shakes her head.

“Then please come with me so we can talk.”

She stares at my hand for a long time and I honestly don’t know what she’s going to do. It makes me queasy. What if she just ends our friendship? Breaks up with Brody and then moves out? Moves out of my life and I never see her again.

Since I have no idea what’s been troubling her, too many heartbreaking, scary possibilities run through my head. I try not to get lost in them as I wait for her response.

She finally grabs her phone and Bamsy and then takes my hand. I almost cry from relief.

“You talk to Brody,” I tell Miguel. Then I guide Paige down the hallway to her office.

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