Page 33 of Where the Little Birds Are (Little Bird Duet 2)

His chest moves in slow, calm breaths. “It represents us. Two entities that are equal to each other. Dreamers. Doers.”

I continue staring at the ink for another moment before moving my eyes upward. “Will Mark have problems with you getting this? Did you clear it with him? I hear that some people don’t—”

He laughs. “Don’t worry about it. We’re remembered for the rules we break, not follow. And I don’t care what he or anyone thinks of them. I didn’t get this for anyone else.”

Listening to him makes me smile. I trace the two little lines and feel a shiver when his breath tickles my face. His lips find my cheek, then slowly trail to my lips until they hover over them.

I breathe him in. “You’re the only one who gets what it’s like to want something as bad as I do. Not having you here to cheer me on or vent to…”

Laying back down, I stare at the sky. The lights are twinkling in welcome rhythms, making tears well in my eyes until they no longer dance with clarity.

“Hey.” He reaches for my hand and looks down at my glazed eyes, squeezing my fingers with his. “Look at me, Little Bird.”

I obey.

Tapping the tattoos on his chest, he gives me a soft smile. “These are forever. Inked on my skin permanently. You know why that is?”

My head shakes slowly.

He reaches down and brushes hair from my face. “We’re inevitable. No matter where either of us are, that won’t change. Okay?” My heart flutters in my chest. “There are a lot of things that end, but memories are forever. A year isn’t long enough for me. I need longer.”

My bottom lip trembles as a tear slides down my face. Before I can wipe it away, he does with his thumb. I swallow and say, “You shouldn’t say stuff like that, Corbin.”

“Why not?”

I take a deep breath. “You’re leaving and neither one of us knows what will happen. You’ll be busy becoming famous and I’ll be stuck here barely getting through senior year. You won’t want to be tied down to a girl from the middle of nowhere.”

“Stop.”

“I’m just being realistic.”

“You’re trying not to get hurt,” he counters instantly.

Isn’t it the same thing?

Pursing my lips, I lift my shoulders without bothering to argue. Nobody wants to walk into pain. It’s better to anticipate it. But am I any better than my family then?

“Corbin, maybe—”

“I love you.”

My lips part.

He rests on one of his elbows, partially hovering over my body. One of my palms goes to his chest, cupping his ink, the other stays on my own to feel the erratic beat of my heart.

“What?”

He chuckles, using one hand to thumb my bottom lip. “I love you, Little Bird. Maybe it’s premature, maybe it’s late, but it’s true and that’s all that matters.”

All I can do is blink. Goosebumps pebble my skin as I meet his lips and feel his body settle over me, sinking us into the soft grass.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hold him to me and feel him part my lips with his. The kiss is slow, sensual, all-telling without any words between us. My hand finds the tattoo and presses against it to feel the healing skin.

I pull away first, resting my forehead against his shoulder. “We’re going to be across the country from each other. Now you say it?”

His fingers comb through my hair. “I’ve always said it. Just without the words.”

My eyes close as I pepper a kiss against his shoulder. “Corbin?”

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