Page 70 of The Logic of Loyalty

You aren’t being sarcastic?

A snort surprises me enough to make me jump. My own snort surprised me. Wow.

Paige

I really think it sounds perfect. You don’t have to have any.

Bethany

Fine. I’m getting some groceries⁠—

Paige

No need. I’m at the store now.

Bethany

No work again?

Paige

Nope.

Bethany

Here’s the list

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I pull up the list and sigh, grateful as hell she made it. My mind was jumping all over the place to the point where I was wandering the aisles, waiting for food to jump off the shelves.

My mind parcels through all of the recent events, and I start to get stressed again, even as I gather the foods that are meticulously listed on the list Bethany sent me. It doesn’t matter. I’m still getting stressed. And angry. And sad. I’m wildly worked up by the time I get to the checkout. I’m fuming at nobody in particular, but the shit deal life dealt my friend and me.

“Good afternoon! How are you doing today?”

I snap.

“I’m so glad you asked. Becky is a shadow of herself. Bethany is drifting in and out of rooms without direction, yet still taking care of my ass. My son misses his father, and I’m pregnant as fuck, but still trying to hide it because other people have too much shit to talk about as is.”

The young cashier gapes at me, then pops her mouth closed, drops her gaze, and silently continues to scan items. Only, I’m not finished.

“I also have decided that I really, really hate and do not trust this little Taylor, Tay-Tay, whoever lady. Gossip is rampant in my little town, and people are unreliable and stupid, and I need chocolate.” I’m out of breath and panting when a small hand holding out a chocolate bar appears in front of my face. I snatch it and turn to the kind, generous soul the preferred hand belongs to. I find myself face-to-face with none other than Billy’s youngest, Eliza. My face immediately softens at the adorable child, and I lean down to her level. “Hey, sweetheart. You’re such a kind girl. Don’t you ever change, alright?”

“Hi, Paige.” I look up to see the blue, kind eyes of Camden, Billy’s ex-wife’s new partner.

“Oh, hey! Camden, I’m just—uh …”

“Pregnant as fudge and in need of chocolate!” Eliza pipes up, making me cringe a little.

“About that⁠—”

“Don’t worry about it. Their dad owns a car shop, and I work with athletes. You really think they aren’t around it?” They laugh good-naturedly and pat me on the shoulder. “I’m guessing you assumed nobody here would know you, huh?”

I nod mutely, newly mortified and ready to go and bury my head in the sand. Instead, I divert my attention to slowly typing in my phone number for my membership benefits, then focus more on Camden. “How is Cheyenne doing?”

“Oh, you know how she is. Can’t stop, won’t stop.” Camden’s smile grows fond, and a little jealousy creeps in—something I’m unable to stymie with logic and reasoning.

“Yeah …” We drift into the awkward silence of two people who know of each other more than they actually know each other.