Page 40 of Outspoken

Paige pats my knee again, looking sympathetic. A sly smile splits her face.

“I don’t think so.”

She pouts, sticking out her bottom lip.

“Well, in spirit, we can be brother and sister right now. You want me to call you ‘little sis’?”

She grins wide, straightening her back so much it looks painful.

I laugh. “I don’t really bicker with my siblings, not the way Brody and Amber do, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“You got it.” I check the time. Brody’s probably done with the dishes. “So what do you think I should do? I’ll follow your advice to the letter, sis.”

Please. I need answers.

Her eyes narrow and she leans closer, as if we’re sharing a secret that others might hear.

“You sure that will work?”

My chest fills with light at the thought of Amber going after me. I’ve never had a woman pursue me—could be nice. “What if I only fall deeper into my feelings and want to confess?”

“Damn. Brody said that? You make it sound so easy.”

She nods, a warmth filling her eyes.

My heartbeat is fast thinking about getting to a point where I could love Amber freely and openly. Could she ever feel the same for me? I’ve never had a woman truly return my feelings. Maybe Paige’s encouragement is the sign I’ve been needing.

Before Paige can say more, the door opens and we break our little huddle. Brody peeks in as Paige holds up the comic, nodding like we were in the middle of discussing it.

“Oh, damn,” I say, taking the comic. “This is exactly what my cousin has been looking for. How much?”

Brody stands in the doorway, observing us suspiciously with crossed arms.

Paige focuses on the comic.

I stare at the sheets of stapled, colorful paper in my hands, adjusting my grip to hold it more carefully. “Seriously? A hundred and twenty-five dinero?”

Paige nods. I scrunch my face, laying the comic on the desk carefully so I don’t crinkle the pages or something.

“You two have been in here a while,” Brody says, raising a brow.

Paige stands to caress his bulging bicep.

He melts—he’s like putty around her.

Damn, I want to be putty around my own woman. Could that be Amber?

“Want dessert?” Brody asks me. “You and Paige share a love of tiramisu, so we have plenty.”

“Yeah?” I move to Paige and hold out my fist until she bumps it. Then I explode my hand and she laughs. “Great minds think alike.”

She urges Brody into the hallway.

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