Page 58 of Accidentally Yours
Alice: Oh boy. Emergency Yappy Hour. My place. NOW!
Gigi: Absolutely! Emergency meeting! There was no sarcasm in that question, and now I’m worried!
Alice: What happened??!!
Paige: Oh, you know . . . Ethan told me I was the best thing that ever happened to him, and I panicked and yanked us both to the ground. The norm.
Alice: What?!
Gigi: Oh, yeah, I could see that happening!
Paige: Ugh . . . I’m the worst . . .
Alice: YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT THE WORST!
Gigi: Do NOT say that about yourself!! You are the freaking BEST!!
Paige: I don’t feel like it right now.
Alice: Did I mention an EMERGENCY YAPPY HOUR?? How fast can you guys be here??
Gigi: I’ll be there in twenty!
Paige: I could use some Alice & Gigi time.
Alice: Get your butt here! I’m making cookies!
Thesmellofsugarand browned butter hugged Paige the second she walked into Alice’s apartment. But the hug that followed—arms wrapping tight around her, warm and grounding—meant more than any cookie ever could.
Alice pulled back just enough to look Paige in the eye. “Okay, sweetie. Spill the tea when you’re ready.”
Paige gave a nod and a grateful smile, her chest already loosening from the instant swath of friendship and comfort. Behind Alice, Gigi stood in the kitchen, pouring milk into glasses like it was a holy ritual, and the sight of Tux hopping down from the couch like he’d been waiting for her all day made Paige want to cry and laugh at the same time. He sauntered over and she scratched his head.
“So,” Gigi started, walking over and offering a warm hug of her own. “What happened after the spill heard round the rink? Did Ethan totally freak out?”
Paige let out a deep sigh, and they all moseyed into the kitchen. “He got us slushies and nachos.”
Gigi gasped. “Okay. That’s amazing. That’s like . . . Olympic-level recovery.”
“Did he say anything about it?” Alice asked gently, sliding plates out of the cupboard like rattling china might push Paige over the edge.
Leaning back against the counter, Paige slumped. “No. Not about what he said, or that I didn’t say anything back. He just . . . let it go. We sat at a table and talked about our favorite TV series and the worst books we’ve ever read.” Her voice wobbled at the end, because that had been the hardest part—how easy he’d made it. How kind he still was, even after he put himself out on a limb and she froze up.
“Well, dang,” Alice said, giving Paige’s arm a squeeze. “He might actually be the perfect man for you.”
“Yeah, he’s got my vote,” Gigi added, putting the gallon of milk back in the fridge. “But what matters is whatyouwant. Do you want more with him?”
“Do youreallylike him?” Alice pressed, eyes soft but unrelenting.
“I . . .” Paige hesitated, the words sticking in her throat. She swallowed and pushed them out. “Yes. I do. I really, really like him.”
Gigi grinned. Alice tried to smother her excited squeal behind an oven mitt.
“But I don’t know if I can do it.” Paige’s voice dropped. “I don’t even know if Icanlove someone the way I’m supposed to. I don’t think I’ve ever done it right.”
Alice and Gigi went quiet. The air in the room seemed to thicken and stir.
“Did you say love?” Alice asked, wide-eyed. She dropped the oven mitt to the countertop.
