Page 121 of Scars Like Wings

I was already in awe, but then my eyes looked back to where the box had once been and where the red thing landed.

I gasped.

The box was gone now. In its place, a bouquet stood in a black box similar to the one that had just been magicked away. The bouquet held merlot red, blush pink, sunset orange, and creamy white peonies, dahlias, roses, and tiny bushels of hydrangeas with lavender and eucalyptus leaves sticking out in between. It was a beautiful, fully packed arrangement. Folded next to it was a hoodie I recognized immediately as the one that Quinn was wearing a few weeks ago. In between the bouquet and the hoodie, the butterfly had dropped a dark red folded piece of paper. It was folded to resemble a heart. My name was written in an unfamiliar but calligraphic handwriting. It was all so pretty, I almost didn’t want to open it, but my curiosity quickly took over and won out.

I noted that it was heavier than I expected it to be as I picked it up. The paper was also thicker than I thought it would be. When I opened it, I had to catch something as it fell out.

It was a fuckingtennis bracelet. It was rose gold with stones of morganite going all around it. It wasstunning.

“This is so beautiful. I—” I started watching the peachy gemstones sparkle in the light of the condo.

“That was Stass’s idea,” Quinn said. “Read the note, though, babe.”

I clutched the bracelet close as I finished opening the heart-shaped note. The inside was a creamy white with black handwriting that matched the front. It read:

Quieres ser mi novia, Byrd?

(Will you be my girlfriend, Byrd?)

Tears flooded my eyes as time slowed. I was speechless, my mouth agape. Was this real life? Was thismylife? Had she really just askedme? And likethis? My brain was struggling to even process the idea.

“Girl, what do you say?!” I heard Nat say.

I looked away from the note to the phone. Through my tears, Quinn had set up the phone somewhere so I could see the entire couch now. I saw Quinn beaming at me with a smile so wide and precious I would have given up everything I own to see it every single minute of every day. It squeezed my heart. Natassa sat beside her along with Cody. Even Clarkson was in Quinn’s lap looking at the phone in anticipation. I hadn’t heard or seen any of them come in.

I finally closed my mouth and nodded emphatically. “Of fucking course, I would love to be your girlfriend.”

The other line erupted into cheers of celebration.

I laughed as the tears spilled over. I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t sure if I ever would. I was on Cloud 9, floating away in pure shock. Yet, I had never felt so grounded. No one had ever done anything like this for me before. I had never been doted on like this. No one had made me feel safe enough to let go and let someone else take control. Quinn made me earnestly feel so special and beautiful. I felt special and beautiful. She was the first to care enough to do that and ensure I stayed feeling that way.

Quinn Garcia was the girlfriend of my dreams. I couldn’t have asked for more.

“I can’t believe you did this for me,” I said, barely above a whisper. I placed the note on the counter before picking up my phone to snap a few quick pictures of everything. Then I sat my phone back down and did my best to put my new bracelet on with shaky hands.

“Believe it always,mi tesoro,” Quinn said, locking eyes with me in such a way that I felt like she was here, right next to me, instead of wherever she was. I wanted to kiss her until I couldn’t breathe. “I always want you to be happy and feel taken care of. I like you so, so much. I think you are the most beautiful being I have ever seen. I love your personality and how you think. I love that you always make me feel better when I feel like shit, and you always find a way to surprise me. I’m enamored by you, Byrd. I think we will be something glorious together. I wish I was there to hold you and kiss you and just be with you. You have no idea how much I want to be there.”

Her words didn’t stop me from crying. They actually made me cry more.

I think I love her.

I think I was falling in love with Quinn Garcia.

The realization snapped the breath from my chest. I wanted to tell her. I wanted to say those three little words to her, but it was too much at once. We were girlfriends. Even though I could feel those words hanging above the both of us. I wondered if Quinn wanted to say them as much as I did. Did she feel the bubble hanging above us that would burst once those words were said? Could she see what would happen after we said it unlike me? Would it be the furthering of everything or the end for us?

Byrd, you are girlfriends. She just asked you to be her girlfriend. That’s enough. Let that be enough for now.Something roared in me, shaking me to my bones, begging me to say those words to Quinn despite what I told myself.

“I’m so happy I’m not wearing makeup anymore, even if it’s magically tearproof.” I choked on a chuckle as I grabbed a paper towel to dry my eyes. The words still lingered in the back of my throat, so I did my best to swallow them down and say something else that would have to do… for now. “I adore you,starlight. I like you so much. You have no idea. I think you are so beautiful inside and out. You always know how to make me laugh and calm me down. I will always accept you for who you are, and I would never settle for less.”

Quinn blew a kiss through the phone, and I acted like I had caught it and held it close to my heart.

Cody encircled his hands around his mouth and shouted. “GAY!”

Quinn and Nat both reached over and punched him hard enough to make him hold his arm.

Laughing, I stood up to take my cardigan off and pull Quinn’s hoodie over my head. The hoodie came down to my knees, resembling a dress more than a hoodie. But it was perfect.Gods, it smelled just like her.Oh, and thewarmth! It was like she was holding me right in this moment. I didn’t want to take this off ever.Bury me in this hoodie. Let me live in it forever and ever, amen.

“Oh, I think I found something I like seeing you in more than your pajamas.” Quinn’s eyes sparked, and she smirked.

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