Page 63 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
Like being older than America.
Like having a wingspan.
“Thereyou are!”
Ash started and whirled, wincing when a backward step turnedinto a crush of unseen feathers against the janitorial closet door. “Tami! Whatare you doing here? You should be … home.”
Except Kip was at her home. So maybe it was better that shewas here.
Fumbling behind for the doorknob, Ash sought retreat. Timeslike this, when he couldn’t lift his wings high and out of the way, he feltcrowded, cornered. A flash of uncertainty showed in Tami’s lovely blue eyes,and Ash watched her gladness dim into something guarded. His fault. Battingaside old habits and necessary caution, he glanced down the hallway, grabbedher wrist, and tugged.
She followed.
Wrapping one arm around her, he reached out with the other, shuttingthe door. Her hands settled against his chest, where his heart was hammering.“You shouldn’t be pushing yourself,” he said, gruffer than he intended. Heslipped his fingers into her hair, searching for the knot. “Does it stillhurt?”
“I’m fine. Don’t fuss.”
But he couldn’t stop for all the same reasons he should.This was preening.
She was smiling, and there was an expectancy to the tilt ofher chin.
Ash bowed to her wish and his want and touched his lips tohers. This time, there was no hurry. Slowly, softly, they explored their mutualattraction, and Ash liked what he found. It was as if his two halves stoppedpulling against each other, for they both agreed that Tami was exactly what heneeded.
Her interest was straightforward, and he detected an underlyingimpatience that sent his blood racing. As kisses deepened, he stumbled into amore intimate connection, touching the beauty behind the amethyst wards.
She weakened his knees, strengthened his need, and left himsurer of himself than he’d ever been before. There were so many things Ashneeded to tell her, but only the essential one made it into the open rightthen. “I love you.”
“I’m making the call,” warned Kip.
Ash barely heard him. The room was all wrong somehow. Whyhad he never noticed how wrong it was? He pulled his mattress through the room,angling it across one corner, and shoved their battered sofa into lineopposite. Stealing its cushions, he barricaded the third side.
“Want my mattress, too?” asked Kip.
Without a word, Ash ransacked his best friend’s area,closing off a rough circle with the second mattress. But what about sharpedges, hard corners? And there were too many fragile things lying about.
Kip backed toward the front door. “Calling. Now.”
Toting anything glass to the nearest closet, where itwouldn’t be in the way, Ash discovered a fresh supply of soft things. Hedragged out sweatshirts and flannel, extra blankets and the spare pillows. Thebathroom yielded towels, washcloths, and a plush rug. He was still mounding andamending when Kip’s voice preceded him back inside.
“… actually, yeah. Now would be good. The sooner thebetter.”
Ash rummaged for dishtowels, disgorged a tissue box, andwished there was more blue.
Then Kip was in front of him, gripping him by the shoulders,and Ash noticed a generous amount of blue in the plaid of his shirt. He tappeda claw against the top button. “Can I have this?”
“Yeah, of course. But not this second.” A gentle shake.“Ash, what’s going on with you?”
“I love her.”
Kip’s expression softened. “Yeah, I know.”
“I told her.”
His best friend nodded. “That must have made her day.”
Ash shook his head. “That’s theonlything I toldher. She doesn’t know about … about me.”
“Okay, okay. So you left out a few details.” Kip reached up,placing big hands on restless wings. “But she must have responded favorably.Her scent’s all over you, and you obviously didn’t spend a whole lot of timechatting.”
