Page 31 of Where the Little Birds Go (Little Bird Duet 1)

I lean back in the seat. “You told me you were helping your mother run some last-minute errands when we texted on my break. I figured you were busy.”

He hesitates before sighing, still not putting the car in drive. “Dad came home early and helped her instead. I was waiting for you to call me.”

Corbin’s relationship with his father still confuses me, but it’s not a topic he likes talking about. Mr. Callum seems nice enough, but Corbin has mentioned that he has anger issues caused by an accident he was in a few years ago that makes him hard to be near for long periods of time. Never knowing what to say, I just let him change the subject when it comes up.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur, resting my hands on my lap.

He shrugs and reaches for something in the back seat. When he produces a green and red wrapped present with a huge silver bow on it, a huge smile spreads on my face.

“Dad won’t let me come see you tomorrow. Said I’d be bugging your family.” He sets the gift on my lap. “But I wanted you to have your gift. Even wrapped it myself.”

He says the last part so proudly, I can’t help but laugh and poke at the bow. “The color matches your eyes.”

“That’s what Mom said.”

I bite my lip. “Can I open it now?”

He taps the steering wheel. “Yeah, as long as your parents won’t think you got kidnapped and call the cops.”

I scoff and tear at the wrapping. “They know where to look first. I mean, if I’m not with you then there’s definitely another strange man lurking outside of dark restaurants waiting for me. Sounds familiar…”

He flicks my arm. “Still not funny.”

I stick my tongue out. “It is.”

Once I finally get the wrapping off, keeping the bow intact so I can keep it, I stare down at the padded burgundy notebook in front of me. In golden script lettering, it says most of all, let love guide your life.

Running my fingers over the magnetic latch that keeps it closed, I flick it open and study the pretty cream pages with inspirational quotes on the top of each one.

“Corbin,” I whisper.

“It’s silly, but I figured you could use something new to write in,” he tells me quickly.

Instead of answering, I lean forward and give his cheek a quick peck. When I settle back in my seat, I hug the notebook to my chest. “This is perfect. Thank you.”

His lips part but nothing escapes them.

I reach into my pocket and pull out a piece of paper. My cheeks warm as I pass it to him, partially wishing I tried harder at finding something for him for the holiday.

He slowly takes it and glances down at the advertisement listed. “I found this when I was reading the paper. I know, I know. The paper is really lame, but if I hadn’t been reading it, I wouldn’t have seen the ad. You’d be perfect for what they’re looking for.”

The capital region tends to film a lot of commercials and made for TV movies. Although not many are well-known, locals are cast to involve the community. Corbin already spends a lot of time in the area because he takes acting classes there.

“It’s a movie casting call,” he says slowly, meeting my eyes after scanning the ad again. “Is this real?”

“Yes.” I grin. “And you have an audition, so you better be on your A game because they’re expecting the best.”

He blinks.

I wait for a reply. “You okay?”

He shifts his body toward me. “How…?”

“I called your coach and told him about the ad. He already heard about it, of course, but he agrees that you’d do well. It’s not the lead or anything, but it’s a small role. Better than an extra, from what your coach said. And—”

“You really did that for me?”

I nod. “You want to act, and I want to support you. It’s kind of perfect. You got me a gift that will help me keep writing, and I got you one that could lead to more acting. We’re the perfect team.”

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