Page 50 of Outspoken

Her eyes become glassy and she nods, scrunching her rosy nose.

I open my arms until she walks forward into a hug. I then squeeze her tight and rub her back. “What’d that idiot do? You want me to yell at him?”

She sniffs, then laughs, adjusting her arms so she can use her phone while hugging me.

“What different opinions?”

“Hmm, I see.”

I stroke her hair. I kind of agree with Brody, but I wouldneverpick his side over hers. It's normal for couples to fight sometimes, but these two better not do it very often because it puts me right in the middle. Also, I hate seeing Paige upset.

She pulls back to wipe her cheeks, waiting for me to respond.

“I think Brody is trying to look out for you,” I say. “But I understand that sometimes you want to try new experiences even if you know they could end up bad.”

She takes a deep breath and stares at her phone for a moment, chewing on her hair. She types with wary eyes.

“Fifty is too much. How about one meltdown and you never do it again?”

She smiles.

“But what you’re saying makes sense to me. You have to try new things, and Brody needs to stop being so overprotective. I’m sure you’ll both work it out soon.” I point at the crib, noticing she had put Bamsy in there to snuggle with the baby. I'm kind of shocked—Paige doesn’t let just anyone touch her bear. “Why not focus on cute Zoey for now so you feel better?”

Her eyes sparkle at the baby behind the mesh crib walls. She nods.

I grab a bag of chips off the counter, something Miguel told me to bring. “I have to go but keep me updated. I’m totally happy to yell at Brody and make him wallow in regret.”

She laughs and then glances at my outfit.

I shrug, trying to keep my voice from raising in pitch. “Oh, um, just a classmate.”

I narrow an eye at her. “He? Why do you assume it’s a guy?”

She stares at her phone with wide eyes.

“No, but it’s nothing. Just a friend thing.”

She gets too giddy when she asks,

I hurry to the front door to avoid any more questions, waving at Jackie, who is too focused on Tinder chats to notice.

“We’re only friends,” I tell Paige. “I just felt like glamming it up for a change. I’ll text you later.”

She grins and bounces on her toes as I quickly shut the door behind me.

I frown at the sky. This is why I didn’t tell her I’m hanging out with Miguel. She gets too hopeful when nothing is going on. I’m only playing around in a fantasy that will crumble once I reveal my authentic self.

As my boot heels thunk down the porch steps, I scowl at the familiar, bulky figure leaning against a tree and staring glumly at the dirt.

I kick a rock in his direction. “Just go in, dummy, and apologize.”

Brody glances up, his dark brown hair falling into his face. He stopped trimming his hair a few months back after Paige commented that shaggy hair is sexy on a man. But he’s clueless about how to style it, so all it does is affect his ability to see.

He doesn’t budge, looking like agony itself. His expression is pained and he’s covered in shadows. “Guess she told you.”

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