Page 38 of Outspoken

I adjust my crisp blue button-up and sit at the kitchen table. Forcing my body to chill, I smile at Paige. “Feels like I’m getting top-notch service tonight. You have some hundred-year-old wine in this fine establishment?”

Her face turns serious and sad.

Brody moves from the stove long enough to kiss her cheek and whisper something in her ear. The next moment, her rosy face lights up and she laughs. She opens the fridge and pulls out a bottle of sparkling cider.

After pouring me a glass, she lifts her phone.

I half-grin and watch Brody’s shoulders shake in silent laughter as he flips the stove off.

I grab the glass of cider. “Shit, I really do feel honored. Thank you.”

She nods, her long twin braids swaying on her back as she pours herself a drink. She sets the bottle on the counter. She’s in her usual outfit of leggings—yellow today—and a plain white shirt. Brody is in jeans and a black shirt. I feel a bit overdressed. I figured Amber wouldn’t be here, but that dangerous hope in my heart nagged at me until I cleaned up and styled my hair, just in case. I left my hair curly and loose today, and it keeps getting in my eyes.

Paige joins me at the table, grinning.

Brushing the hair from my face, I respond, “Good. How are you?”

She glances at Brody, who is occupied with plating our food. She glances at me, then back to Brody. Then at me again.

“She got a great deal on a couple thousand comics at an estate sale,” Brody comments as he pulls garlic bread from the oven.

“Cool,” I say, flicking hair from my eye and drooling at the garlic bread. Then I focus on Paige. “Yeah, let me see.”

After scooting her chair closer, Paige shows me her phone. The screen doesn’t have pictures of comics or listings. It’s a text document that reads:

Amber has been weird since she went to the gym. She said you did a workout with her but won’t say more. She’s acting happy, but I can tell she’s sad and withdrawing. Brody said you were flirting, but that shouldn’t make Amber sad, right? Did something else happen?

I stare at the word 'sad', my chest hollowing out. Brody’s right and maybe this is the sign I have needed. I am too much, too intense, and it will only stress Amber out. I shouldn’t have flirted, and I shouldn’t have chased after her and tried to force something she wasn't into.

I need to leave her alone.

I nod, quickly taking Paige’s phone to add my number to the document with a note:Text me.

Handing it back, I try to sound upbeat as I say, “It’s good you’re staying busy. Always good to have lots of work.”

She returns to her side of the table, focused on her phone, as Brody turns around to present our plates.

“Damn. Thank you,” I tell him, looking over the giant stuffed pasta shells and garlic bread. Paige has the same food while Brody’s plate is chicken, quinoa, and vegetables. I point my fork at his meal. “You’re missing out, man.”

He sips his water. “I won’t be when I qualify in six months.”

“Oh, you’re getting back into it?”

He nods. “Should be ready by then. A few more pounds to lose, but I should make it. The goal is nationals. Cross your fingers.” Paige chews on a bite of bread and grins at him, holding her crossed fingers up so he can see. He winks at her. “Thanks, beautiful.”

I smile at them, feeling all warm and fuzzy. I love coming over just to watch how they treat each other. Everything they do is filled with tenderness, and they’ve got a real team vibe going on. I crave what they have so bad. That might make me whiny, but why can’t a love and partnership like theirs be part of my future?

I need to let it go.

Our conversation switches to work, and then Brody talks about hanging out with Dustin soon. Paige mentions a trip they’re planning for late spring, but they haven’t set a date. They want to drive up the coast to SF, and Paige is nervous since it’ll be her first trip. She gets Brody talking about their itinerary for this week-long adventure and then taps on her phone quickly—a whirlwind of thumbs.

My pocket vibrates and I glance at her. She’s looking at the ceiling light as if it’s the most interesting thing ever. I slip my phone from my pocket enough to read her text under the table:

Hey. It’s me. Can we talk about Amber? We’ll have to go to my office so Brody doesn’t know. He gets weird when I mention you and Amber in the same sentence.

I glance at Brody, nodding as he talks even though I spaced on whatever he just said.

Paige touches his arm to grab his attention. He turns to her.

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