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It’s not like Misty has joined their cult. She’s still the same Misty. She’s still our Misty. I think.

“Max!” The shout pulls me from my conflicted thoughts.

I scan the bleachers and quickly spot Paige at the bottom of the stairs, balancing a large red Solo cup in one hand and a tub of popcorn in the other. The second she sees me, she tries to wave with the hand holding her drink and ends up sloshing half of it onto the ground.

I bite back a laugh and point to the empty spot I saved beside me. Paige grins and starts making her way up the bleachers toward us.

“Since when have you been friends with Paige Roy?” Sienna asks beside me as we watch Paige squeeze past people on her way to where we’re sitting.

“Since she started dating Kody Cushman and spends most of her nights at the diner. Shh. Be nice,” I warn before turning my attention back to Paige. “Hi. Glad you could make it,” I say, grabbing my jacket from the bleacher beside me.

“Thanks for saving me a seat. I swear, I thought I’d never get out of my dad’s garage tonight.” She drops down beside me, placing the cup and popcorn on the floor. “Do I still have oil smudges on my face?” She lifts her chin for my inspection.

“No. You’re good.”

“Thank God. No way do I want Kody seeing me covered in oil and grime. It’s bad enough when he pops by the garage and sees me in my greased-up overalls.”

“Isn’t that a good thing, though? That he sees you at your best and worst and still likes you anyway?”

Paige immediately gets stars in her eyes. “It is kind of sweet that he comes over unannounced just because he misses me, isn’t it?”

Her smile is so infectious that I find myself smiling right along with her.

“I think I’m going to barf,” Sienna mumbles on the other side of me.

I jab my elbow into her ribs, reminding her to be nice.

Sure, Paige is a junior and a year ahead of us, so she was never really part of our friend group, but she’s nice. Sweet, even.

And nice people are a rare thing to find in this town.

“So, how are our boys doing so far?” she asks, eyeing the field, probably searching for Kody.

“Our boys?” Sienna echoes, suddenly a lot more interested in the conversation.

“Yeah. Kody,” Paige says, pointing to herself. “And Milo.” She points at me. “Our boys,” she adds with a laugh, as if it were common knowledge.

“Is that so?” Sienna turns to me, the corners of her mouth already threatening to betray her.

“As in friends. That’s what she means,” I quickly clarify.

“That’s not what I heard,” Paige sings.

“Oh, no? What have you heard? I’m dying to know.” Sienna leans in, thoroughly enjoying my discomfort.

“Kody told me Milo has a monumental crush on Max. Like, she’s all he talks about.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. That’s just what friends do,” I say, even though my defense is weak as shit.

“I’m your friend, and I don’t talk about you,” Sienna says with a glint in her eye.

“I know what you’re doing,” I mutter through my teeth.

“And what’s that? Enlighten me.” She looks far too pleased with herself.

“You’re trying to get me to admit there’s something going on with Milo and me. Well, there isn’t, so cut it out.”

“Or,” she says, tapping a finger against her chin in mock thought, “I’m trying to get you to admit that you and Milo are going to happen eventually. Not sure why you’re dragging your ass.”