Page 81 of The Logic of Loyalty

“Give me a hug, munchkin.” He stops, returns, and reluctantly scoots in for a big hug. “I love you, Jacob.”

His body relaxes into my hold. “I know, Mom. I love you too.” He leans back, and I sneak a kiss onto his cheek. “Bleck, mom!”

Bethany grabs him and pulls him into her arms “Give your favorite Aunty Bethy a big hug!”

“Ah, Mom! Agh, Help me!” His pleas are interspersed with giggles, so I decide to enjoy the moment of joy rather than step in.

“I could squash your mother like a bug, Bug.”

“Hey! Rude.” She smirks at me and ruffles Jacob’s hair.

“Tell your dad to give you a haircut the next time you get a chance, alright?”

The room falls silent when the screen door closes behind him. “You did good with him, Paige.”

“We did. All three of us, really.”

“Hellooo, Paige?”

“Oh, crap. Hey, Trevor. Sorry. I didn’t realize you didn’t hang up the phone.”

“I just wanted to verify some things with you before I go. Is that alright?”

Why do I suddenly hate how careful he’s being?

“Sure thing.”

“I can both pick him up and drop him off from school as long as I let you know?”

“Not for permission, but so I’m aware, yes.”

“Okay, that’s good. Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” I mumble away from the phone. Bethany giggles, making me smile reluctantly.

“What was that?”

“I said, don’t worry about it.”

“Okay. Well, I won’t keep you. I love you, Paige. I miss you.”

“Bye, Trevor.” I hang up and fall back onto the couch. “I think I miss him.”

“Oh, I know you do. You both do.”

I close my eyes and see his anguish behind them, but that’s followed quickly by the lunches, the concert, and the condoms. But, how much was on him? The waters are so muddied. I can’t get my bearings.

Bethany pokes me in the knee. “So, is now a bad time to tell you that I want a job?”

I groan and sit back up to pin her with a raised brow. “Don’t you have that trust fund?”

“Yeah, that was just what my parents liked to call funding my life so they could control it. They found out that I’ve been staying with you, finally. Mother got the shock of her life when she realized my room was empty.”

They are the worst. It’s been ages.

“So, they cut me off, and now I need a job, but we can talk about that tomorrow. Tonight, you have a girl’s night, and I would love to be your hype woman for the day.”

“I’ll do whatever you need me to do in order to help.” I stand with a grunt and glare at her when she chuckles. “Let’s get some coffee and goodies first. Then chores. Then getting dolled up. You’re good with watching Jacob, right? I’m babysitting Becky.”