“Or you could quit,” Paisley adds.
Malia steps closer.“If you decide to do that, you can help get this business idea of ours upstarted.You are the shit with organising, and it’s not like you wouldn’t be helping anyway.This way, you’ll be getting paid.”
Makayla speaks to Paisley.“Organising and running someone’s day to day life soothes her.Personally, I think it’s because she’s chaotic in general.Our first night together, she had us doing stupid TikTok challenges.”
Heat runs up my neck.“Too much sharing, Makayla.”
“Wait, you all have M names?”Jaxon asks.
“They do.I don’t,” I reply.
His complexion pales.“Are you related to the Carters?”
Malia reels back.“Fuck no,” she replies, and his shoulders drop as a puff of air slips past his lips.“That food stealing fucker wouldn’t make it in our family.”
“They love their food,” I add when I see both take a step back from Malia.
He shoots Paisley a look.“I’m going to find Lily.I can’t deal with this,” he tells her, then turns to Malia.“I’ll slip you Liam’s number later.”
“What did I say?”Malia questions.
Paisley’s lips twitch.“Maddox’s dad and uncles all have M names.They are also food obsessed.Are you sure you aren’t related?”
“Positive.Do we look crazy to you?”
“Hey, someone has taken my pizza,” I hear someone roar.“Luke, did you touch my fucking pizza?”
I stare wide-eyed as Milly comes running over, a slice of pizza in her hand and tomato sauce all over her mouth.My lips twitch as Paisley arches her eyebrow at us.
“Milly,” Makayla scolds, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“What?He took our pizza,” she replies sweetly.“Now he knows what it’s like to starve.”
I laugh.“Sweetie, you had your own pizza plus sides.”
She shrugs.Malia groans.“Just please tell me you didn’t steal anyone’s wallet.”
Milly looks anywhere but at Malia, and I duck my head to hide my grin.The toe of her ballet shoes skim along the dirt.“Borrowing isn’t stealing.I just wanted to see the badge.”
“What badge?”Malia asks tightly.
Reluctantly, like she’s being held at gunpoint, she pulls out a wallet from her jacket and holds it up.
“That’s Beau’s,” Paisley reveals.
“Return it before he finds out,” Malia snaps, then turns to Paisley.“I’m so sorry.She can’t help herself.She never keeps anything she steals off friends.I promise.”
Paisley kneels down so she’s level with Milly.“Can you steal anyone’s wallet?”
Milly glances at Malia before answering.“Yes.”
Paisley looks up at Malia.“I know this isn’t ethical, but can she do it one more time?My brother owes me money and he won’t hand it over.”
Malia chuckles.“What do you say, Mill?”
“I say show me which one,” she whispers menacingly.“But I want five pounds.”
“If you can do it, I’ll give you half of whatever is in there,” Paisley promises.
