Curls for the girls

Twin

Paige's POV

When Ty and Azzi left, I sat on the bed, waiting for Nika to come back out. I could hear the faint sounds of her moving around in the bathroom—water running, cabinet doors opening and closing—but she was in there for a long time. Too long.

When she finally stepped out, her eyes were red and puffy, her face damp from what I assumed was either a quick splash of water or just straight-up tears. Probably both.

"Niks..." I started softly, but before I could say anything else, she collapsed into my arms, gripping onto me like she was afraid I'd disappear if she let go.

I held her, brushing my fingers through her damp hair, letting her cry into my shoulder. She wasn't just sniffling or shedding a few tears—her body shook with the force of it, like she had been holding this in for too long, and now it was all coming out at once.

"She said she's in love with me, Paige," Nika choked out, voice breaking.

I stilled for a moment, absorbing her words. That's what this was about? I would've thought hearing that would make her happy—she and Ty had been glued to each other since they started dating. But instead, she was sobbing like the world had just caved in around her.

I kept brushing her hair, my voice gentle when I spoke. "Isn't that a good thing? You really like dating Ty. Did you just... get scared that it was too soon when she said it?"

Nika shook her head against my shoulder. "No... I don't know if I'm good enough for her to love, Paige," she whispered, voice so small it made my chest ache. "Ty is so perfect to me, and I do love her, but what if she deserves someone better?"

I exhaled sharply and pulled back just enough to look at her face. "Nika. That's—do you hear yourself right now? Ty is crazy about you. She wouldn't have said it if she didn't mean it."

Nika wiped at her face, but new tears kept falling. "I just—I've never had someone say it like that before. So seriously. And it freaked me out, and I think I—I think I made her feel bad."

I frowned, reaching up to brush her damp hair out of her face. "Okay, listen to me. You and Ty are perfect together. You're allowed to feel insecure or worried about relationships. Hell, I'm scared all the time that I'm gonna mess it up with Azzi. But you can't let that fear make you run away from something good. You have to love them while you have them."

She sniffled and nodded, rubbing her face with the sleeve of her hoodie. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right, twin. I need to go see Tyler and apologize. Damn, what if I fucked up?"

I shook my head. "I don't think you fucked up. But you should tell her how you're feeling. Be honest with her, Niks. Ty deserves to know what's going on in your head."

That seemed to settle something in her, because she suddenly straightened up, determination flickering behind her teary eyes. "Okay. Let's go get my girl. Lead the way, twin."

I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and walked out, Nika hot on my heels. We made our way over to Azzi's place, neither of us saying much, but I could feel Nika's nerves rolling off of her in waves. She kept rubbing her hands on her thighs, shifting from foot to foot, like she was working up the courage to do this.

When we stepped inside, I spotted Azzi and Ty curled up on the couch, watching TV. Ty looked relaxed but distant, like she was trying to focus on the screen but wasn't really watching.

The second Nika saw her, she didn't hesitate. "Ty, can we talk?"

Ty turned her head, eyes flicking between us before she nodded and stood up. Without another word, she followed Nika into my room, and the door clicked shut behind them.

Azzi barely waited two seconds before turning to me with a smirk. "Well, that was fast. Good fixing, babe." She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek, her arm wrapping around my waist.

I smiled, leaning into her warmth. "I try."

Azzi hummed, pulling me down onto the couch with her. "Think they'll be okay?"

I glanced toward the closed door, exhaling a breath. "Yeah. I think they'll be just fine."