Page 71 of Outcast
“Exactly.” Emory cut another bite of his enchilada, unaware that he had a rapt audience now. “You need to bring in enough income to cover your expenses, including the loan payment.”
I exchanged a look with Holden, wondering just how tight the business had been running. We’d have to make it work somehow, even if we cut some other expenses.
Time to change the subject. “So, Bailey, no Nova tonight? I thought you two hung out every Monday?”
Bailey shifted uncomfortably. “We’re kind of fighting.”
“What did you do?” Holden asked, sounding like a strict father.
Bailey scowled. “Why do you assume I did something?”
“Because Nova is sweet as pie,” Axel said. “That girl is too good to you. Especially since younevertake her anywhere nice.”
Bailey rolled his eyes. “I don’t need advice from you, thanks.”
“So, Nova is your girlfriend?” Emory asked.
The table fell silent. Everyone looked to Bailey. Huh. I hadn’t asked that question when I arrived because I wasn’t sure how to read their relationship. I’d only picked up on friend vibes, but I could hardly claim to know my brother well after being gone so long.
But it seemed I wasn’t the only one in doubt.
Bailey shrugged. “She’s just…I don’t know. We don’t label it.”
“Sorry,” Emory said. “I didn’t mean to be nosy.”
“You’re not nosy,” Holden said. “Bailey’s just private about stuff like that. We’re all here, ready to listen, when he’s ready to share.”
Bailey squirmed in his chair. He muttered something under his breath.
“What was that?” I asked.
“Nova’s not my girlfriend.”
“Oh. Okay. That’s cool.”
“But I…I let people think she’s my girlfriend sometimes,” Bailey said quietly. “That’s why we’re fighting. She doesn’t want me to do that anymore.”
“Do you want her to be your girlfriend?” Axel asked. “You could just?—”
“That’s not it,” I said, certainty filling me. “Bailey doesn’t want to date Nova. He just doesn’t want to answer questions, so it’s convenient to let them think he does. Am I right?”
“I guess,” Bailey said, gaze flicking to me. “How did you deal with that? When you were my age, I mean?”
“Not well. You know how I ran away.”
Emory’s gaze fixed on me. “What happened back then?”
“Dallas,” I said. “Yeah, I made the mistake of trusting him too. Small towns, right?”
Emory’s eyes widened. “Holy crap, I didn’t know you two had history.”
“Yeah, my old man caught us.” I saw the realization on Emory’s face that the memory I’d wanted to rewrite was about Dallas, same as his. I looked back to Bailey. “But that won’t happen to you. No one will chase you away, kid. You know that, right?”
He chewed his lip. “Yeah, but…it still sets me apart. Makes people see me differently. If I was, I mean. I’m not saying I am.”
“We wouldn’t see you any differently,” Holden said.
“Yeah, you’ll always be a spoiled brat,” Axel said, tussling his hair and making Bailey duck away with a glare.
