Page 73 of Outspoken

I catch a falling tear with my thumb, wanting to ask what's on her mind but also not feeling like it’s the right time. I commit her sad, blue eyes to memory, brushing my lips across her forehead, before looking back at the stars. Another light streaks overhead.

“My wish?” I ask. “Think I’ll save it for the future and tell you when I'm ready to use it.”

“I doubt I’ll see you again,” she says with a sniff, touching her forehead. “No one’s ever kissed me like that. Well, my mom.”

I kiss her forehead again. “Here?”

She nods, her voice cracking. “It’s too sweet.”

Gripping my shirt, she cries into my shoulder. It’s not a soft cry—her body shakes with violent sobs. It’s like a barrier broke and she doesn’t know how to handle everything hitting her all at once.

I pull her into an embrace, then hold her as she confronts the flood. If it were my choice, I'd stay here with her until sunrise, learning everything I could about her—having long, meandering conversations about our pasts and futures, hopes and dreams, and the reason she's crying.

But she's right that we'll probably never see each other again. Even if I get to know Brody, I’m sure Amber will find herself a man. Or maybe she doesn’t want to settle down. We could simply be a bad match.

Though my feelings can’t go anywhere, and our futures are apart, I can give her this moment of comfort. Maybe that will stay with her even as she forgets me.

She shivers through a sob, so I pull away to remove my leather jacket, encouraging her to put it on for warmth.

“Thank you,” she whispers and then returns to our embrace.

We sit there, bathed in moonlight, until our bodies become too uncomfortable from the bench.

Finally, she stands, wiping her face with a sigh. “Sorry for that. We should go.”

Her energy hasdefinitelyshifted—she’s closed off—so I don’t push for conversation and simply take her hand, guiding us along the path back to the chaos. I’m so focused on how our time together is running out that I forget about the hole in the ground.

She stops me, just as she did before, with a hand on my stomach, preventing me from tripping. “Be careful,” she says.

I stare at her in disbelief. “You saved me twice.”

With a weak smile, she says, “You deserve to have someone take care of you too.”

My entire body fills with warm, heavenly light, and I give her a little piece of my heart in that moment.

We walk the rest of the path in silence. I’m bummed our time is almost up. Why couldn’t I have met Amber sooner? Then I’d have a valid argument that I didn’t know she was Brody’s sister.

Instead of going back into the mansion, I guide her through a side gate to the front lawn. “What if you go home to rest?” I ask, stopping near the driveway. “I’ll order you a ride.”

She stares at the house hesitantly. “I kind of want more drinks now that my stomach is empty.”

“The guy from earlier could still be here,” I add, hoping she won’t go back inside where it’s risky. If she does, I’ll stay until she leaves to make sure she’s safe.

She rubs her wrist like the man's touch is lingering. “Yeah. Guess I’ll go. Cramps and everything.”

I smile as I open a rideshare app on my phone. “What’s your address?”

Snatching my phone with more of the feisty energy she had earlier, she says, “Why? Need it for the fan club bulletin board?” She enters her address and then hands it back.

“Aww, how’d you know?”

As we wait, she removes the flats she stole, chucking them toward the front door, which is too far away. They land next to a couple sitting on the grass, startling them. Next, she slips her arms under mine, ignoring the frowning couple, and rests her head against my shoulder.

We stand in the grass next to the long driveway, holding each other and swaying with the gentle breeze. I run my fingers through her curls, enjoying whatever this is. Amber is a woman I barely met, yet there’s a calm familiarity from having her in my arms.

The car arrives, driving through the open gate to meet us on the driveway. Amber breaks our embrace, kissing my cheek before getting into the back seat.

She looks up at me, holding the door open. “You could come. Then I won’t forget you.”

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