Page 102 of Saving Sparrow
Miguel
Now
Sparrow looked between me and his cleaning supplies. “I’m going to put everything back, then shower.”
“I can hel—”
“No, I can do it myself.” At least he didn’t say he had to finish the other rooms on his list first. I accepted the win.
“Take your time. I’ll have dinner ready for you.”
I turned from the stove and almost choked on the spoonful of rice and chicken I’d sampled. Sparrow stood fully composed near the refrigerator, no sign of the tongue-tied man I’d left in the reading room. His hair was mostly dry and re-braided, not a wrinkle in sight on his uniform.
“God, you scared me.”
“God? I thought you didn’t believe in God.”
“Oh, I don’t. It’s just a figure of speech.” I promised myself right then never to say it again.
Sparrow moved over to the pot, peeking through its glass lid. “You put peppers in it.”
“Yeah, you like peppers?”
He straightened. “I’ll set the table.”
I made a note to add peppers to every meal moving forward. Sparrow didn’t have to answer with words because the interest in his gaze gave him away.
We ate, neither of us bringing up Elliott or their parents or the permanent residents and visitors living inside of him. The silence was heavy, but for once, surprisingly comfortable.
I hung back and let Sparrow clean up after our meal, not wanting to push him over the edge. I stood staring out the dining room window, fascinated by the bands of green and pink light shimmering in the night sky.
“The Northern Lights,” Sparrow said from behind me.
I whirled around, heart skipping a beat at seeing him leaning against the far wall. It was such a normal, nonverbal gesture, but seemed abnormal coming from him. He seemed relaxed, and I turned away, worried gaping at him might ruin it.
“They’re beautiful. I’ve only ever seen them in photos.” I shuffled closer, scooting the partially open curtain out of the way. I gnawed at my lower lip, building up the courage to ask. “Can we…” I couldn’t do it. Sparrow already made a huge concession by eating with me. I couldn’t push him for more so soon.
“Can we what?”
Movement drew my gaze to his reflection in the window. He’d pushed off the wall, his posture returning to its rigid state. He didn’t sound angry, so I took it to mean he was curious.Screw it.
“Can we go outside for a better look?”
His eyes turned granite, like maybe he wondered if I’d manipulated him with my company and food again. Just as fast as he’d turned to stone, he softened to something in between. Not completely malleable, but not jagged and uncompromising either. My pulse quickened as I waited for his response.
“I haven’t finished my chores for the day.”
“Oh.” I forgot he’d only agreed to stop and eat, not stop altogether. “It’s alright.” I went back to gazing at the lights through the barred window.
“But… maybe going out for a little while won’t hurt.”
I kept a lid on my surprise and excitement. “Okay.”
We separated to layer up, then met in the foyer. With our heavy coats, gloves, and boots on, Sparrow unlocked the front door, gesturing for me to go ahead of him.
“Wow,” I breathed as I walked halfway down the plowed drive. I reached out, the lights so bright and vivid it seemed I could touch them.
Sparrow stepped up beside me, his long goose-down coat swallowing him, the hood cinched tight around his head.
