Page 66 of Where the Little Birds Go (Little Bird Duet 1)

“Stop. They think I’m sick.”

“They do?”

A tiny smile appears on my face that I’m glad he can’t see. “I mean, Gavin has always hated you if that makes a difference…”

He chuckles. “He really does, huh? Hey, I still need to give you your presents. I forgot to put them in my backpack before I left the house, so I couldn’t slide them into your locker at school like I planned.”

My inner cheek is sucked in by my teeth as I glance at him standing outside. “Can we have a redo? Maybe tomorrow?”

I can’t see his smile, but I hear it in the relieved answer he gives me. “I’d love that, Little Bird. Let me make it up to you. I’ll pick you up at noon, okay? There will be sugar, presents, and a huge meal that we’ll both regret later. I won’t even bring up Stephen King.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Now his laugh is loud and normal, and whatever weirdness was between us is long gone. I move the curtain fully and wiggle my fingers at him before saying goodnight.

When I hang up, a voice clears behind me. Turning around, I see Gavin in his usual black sweatpants and gray tee leaning his shoulder against my doorjamb.

“What are you doing up?” I put my phone back down on the nightstand and settle onto the bed, tucking my feet under the comforter.

“I’m glad I moved the spare key.”

My eyes widen. “You really did that?”

His eyes roll like I’m being ridiculous for doubting him. “I wasn’t going to let some dude wander into my little sister’s room anytime he wanted. I’m just glad he didn’t try scaling the tree. Then I’d really have to kick his ass.”

I fluff my pillow and rest back. “You wouldn’t do that. I like to think you’re a giant teddy bear under all those muscles.”

He glares like I offended him. “Whatever. Don’t wake me up again. And next time the dickhead bails on you, break up with him.”

My lips part. “How did you—”

He backs up and lifts his hands. “It’s a small town, Little Bird. We know everything if we ask the right person.”

I cross my arms on my chest and pout while he shoots me a wave over his shoulder and wanders back down the hall.

When I pick up my phone, I see a text from Corbin. It’s a picture of two wrapped presents—one large and one small. Both with the same silver bow that was on the gift he gave me for Christmas. The paper is blue though, my favorite color. Bright and not dull.

I cuddle into my bed and pull the blanket over me, falling asleep with a smile on my face despite the strangest feeling settling into my stomach.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Corbin / Present

Our mouths slant over each other’s as our tongues battle it out with demanding strokes and breaths. Both my palms hold her face to me like if I let go she’ll come to her senses and stop this. It would be the right, rational thing to do.

I don’t want to be rational.

Instead, we keep kissing and kissing and breathing each other in like it’s our only source of oxygen. Her body pressed against mine, cocooned in my warmth and hardness, makes me want more.

More her.

More this.

More everything.

Bac

king her up until her ass meets the small table off to the side, I grab her hips and lift her onto it. Her thighs part for me to step between them, our tongues never stopping the dance they’re doing. As soon as I’m nestled right where I want to be, I pull her forward so she’s on the edge of the wood beneath her. Instinctively, her legs go to either side of my hips and hug them to keep her balanced.

---