Paige Rewritten by Erynn Mangum Page A

bomb.”
    â€œThat bad?” Tyler grins at Layla.
    Tyler and Layla can hardly communicate between all of his sarcastic comments and her miscommunications. I have somewhat decided that they need to just stop talking to each other.
    But there’s another part of me that is very glad my best friend is getting along with the guy I’m kind of interested in.
    Definitely interested in?
    I look at Tyler and he’s cute today. He doesn’t look any different than he normally does and I like that. Jeans. Work boots. A flannel shirt over a T-shirt. Five o’clock shadow. Curly blond hair.
    I never in my life would have thought I’d find that look attractive, though. I used to be all about the clean-cut and put-together look. None of this ratty-hems-on-the-backs-of-the-jeans thing like Tyler currently has going on.
    â€œHey, guys.”
    A part of my chest freezes at the voice behind me. Speaking of clean-cut, Luke has apparently decided to join our church this morning.
    My church. Layla and I started coming here when we were in college. Right after the Luke phase of my life was officially over.
    Or so I thought.
    Layla smiles happily at her brother and then drops the expression. “What are you doing here? This is our church.”
    â€œI’m trying out churches.” He holds a hand out to Tyler. “Tyler, good to see you. And Peter, you as well.” The men all shake hands while Layla and I have a little silent chat.
    I had no idea , Layla mouths.
    It’s okay. We were leaving anyway.
    â€œWell,” I say, probably louder than I should have. “Shall we?”
    â€œShall we what?” Luke asks.
    Awkwardness. I shouldn’t have opened my mouth. Layla gives me a pained expression and then looks at her brother. “We are going to lunch,” she says in a quiet voice.
    Luke is a bright guy. He got straight As all through school and a hefty scholarship to college. He’s obviously moving up in his company. He knows social cues.
    He apparently doesn’t care today. “Great! Where are we going?”
    Layla tells him in an even quieter voice and we all walk out to the parking lot, Luke chattering happily while Layla, Tyler, and I are uncharacteristically quiet. Peter is silent as well, but that’s not that weird. Peter is a quiet sort.
    Tyler offers me a ride since it’s just up the road, and I climb into his truck. He closes my door and the second he closes his door, I start ranting.
    â€œWe! We, we, we !”
    â€œWant to go all the way home?” Tyler grins over at me. I guess I am sounding a little too much like the Fifth Little Piggy, but I can’t help it.
    â€œIt’s apparently a very hard word to understand. We. I understand it. You understand it. Why doesn’t he understand it?”
    â€œWell,” Tyler says, pulling out of the parking lot. “We can’t all be we-ally smart. That would just be we-diculous.”
    I cover my face. “I don’t even like you anymore.”
    â€œAh, come on. It was funny.”
    â€œNo it wasn’t.”
    â€œNot even a wee bit?”
    I hit him with my purse.

Chapter
    6
    R ick and Natalie live in a cute little neighborhood on the north side of Richardson. I get to their house a little early, but I brought dessert so Natalie won’t make me wait on the porch until it’s officially six o’clock.
    â€œPlease tell me those are salted caramel brownies,” she says, opening the door, not bothering with common courtesies like “hello” and “how are you.”
    â€œI got your text.” I hold the foil-covered pan out in both hands, bowing my head lightly as I offer it to her.
    â€œI really do like you, you know.”
    I shrug. “You can say whatever you want. I know the truth. You only like me for my brownies.”
    â€œWell, it will make for less-awkward dinner conversations now that you’re in the know.” She closes the door behind