Page 60 of Where the Little Birds Go (Little Bird Duet 1)

My palm coasts down my face until it hits the scruff lining my jaw. “Everyone goes through a breakup, Ma. It’s not the end of the world. We both know she’s stronger than that.”

To my surprise, my mother scoffs. It’s something I’ve rarely heard her do. In fact, I could count the amount of times she’s done it on one hand. Most of them involve my Dad saying stupid shit, which means I’m about to get it.

“Have you even gotten to know her?”

“I know her already.”

“You don’t.”

“Jesus, Mom. What does it matter? She still loves reading, writing, sugar—”

“How has she spent the past few years?”

My lips part.

“Where does she live?”

I blink.

“What makes her who she is today?”

There’s no answer I can offer her.

“You never used to be so selfish.” Her words startle me. “There was always a reason to justify you taking classes and auditioning because you made time for other things. I don’t know who you are anymore, Corbin. It scares me. It really does.”

My throat bobs. “Mom…”

She speaks softly again. “I didn’t call to upset you. Someone needs to talk you down from the high you’re living before you take everyone down with you. Do you really want that for her?”

No.

“I didn’t think so,” she concludes.

“You love her too,” I finally say.

“I’m not the only one.”

Dad.

Her family.

Me.

I know who she’s referring to.

“But that’s a problem, baby boy.”

“I know.”

“Then don’t do anything.”

Too fucking late.

Chapter Twenty

Kinley / Present

The horde of reporters lingering on the sidewalk downstairs has me hiding behind the curtains as I peer down from my bedroom. My once long nails are now uneven ridges from the amount of chewing I’ve been doing since my phone blew up with texts, voicemails, emails, and social media notifications.

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