Page 69 of Where the Little Birds Are (Little Bird Duet 2)

But that doesn’t make the caution soaked deep, deep in my bones any less prominent. If anything, the way I like talking to Parker every day makes it worse—like I’m somehow cheating on someone … cheating on myself.

Parker: If it’s a bad idea, I get it

That snaps me out of it.

Kinley: I think it’s a great idea

Cringing only a little over how this could unfold, I take a deep breath and nod once to myself. There are plenty of places Parker could stay. I’ll show him the town, we’ll see a movie, or maybe we can nerd out about upcoming books that we’re looking forward to reading.

It’d be no different than our phone calls.

And I’m glad that he s

hows up in Lincoln less than twenty-four hours later because any more time than that and I would have chickened out and found an excuse to cancel. While my parents noted the visible age difference, their general inquiries over his personal life seemed to appease them in ways that made sense to me only after I had time to think about it.

Because Parker is in college, has a decent paying job, and most importantly … he’s not Corbin Callum.

My eyes focus on the faint stain on the platinum blond boy’s polo shirt instead of what he’s saying about his frat. I’m not sure why I’m sitting here other than being peer pressured into an impromptu coffee date by one of the girls, Jane, I’ve befriended in my lit class. She insisted I’d have fun with him.

She lied.

“…event. So, would you want to?”

I blink, shaking myself out of it and look at him shooting me a boyish smile. Having no clue what he said, my cheeks heat. “Sorry, could you repeat that?”

His head cocks, smile disappearing off his tan face. He’s attractive, but too put together. The only thing he’s talked about since we sat down with our drinks has been his friends, the parties at the frat, and some competition they have against the sorority across the street from them. Maybe if he asked me about myself, I’d be more inclined to pay attention. “You’re not listening to anything I say, are you?”

“I’m sorry. Classes have me stressed.” I don’t even cringe through the lie, making me feel even worse that I’ve gotten used to it. How many times do I lie to myself? Too many.

Eric smirks. “You know what relieves stress? Parties. Come tonight. I’ll show you around and we can have some fun.”

My nostrils twitch at the have fun part. I’m not sure his kind of fun is the same as mine. I want to make an excuse as to why I can’t. I could tell him I commute and have a long drive home—it’s not a total lie. But I can’t help but feel like this is what I need.

Fun.

So, to my surprise, I say, “Sure.”

His blue eyes light up. “Cool. I’ll pick you up at your dorm?”

“Uh…” I wince. “How about we meet at the library? I should get some studying done that way I don’t feel bad about spending a night out.”

He just laughs like I’m joking.

Because he doesn’t know me.

When we part ways, I remain in the little café on campus and pull out my phone. Rolling my eyes over Jane’s insistent messages on updating her with the details of my date, I simply say I’ll be seeing him tonight for a party.

Parker: Hey

Kinley: Hey yourself

Parker: I’ve consumed my weight in caffeine to get back into the work grove

Kinley: You shouldn’t have stayed up so late talking to me then. I told you you’d be tired

Parker: Yeah, yeah. I wanted to though

Kinley: We spent two days together…

---