Chapter 20
Noah
Thescreechoftireson pavement makes me spin around on my heel.
I clutch a cardboard box labeled Kitchen in Gramps' familiar chicken-scratch handwriting to my chest and turn just in time towitness what can only be described as a controlled demolition of my late grandfather's driveway landscaping.
A familiar sedan comes careening around the corner at a speed that would make a NASCAR driver proud, clips the curb, and takes out the large terra-cotta planter near the driveway entrance with a spectacular crash.
Dirt explodes across the concrete. The planter rolls twice and comes to rest on its side like a casualty of war. The car jerks to a stop at an angle, front wheels on the lawn.
My brain tries to catch up, but honestly, it's a lot to take in.
The engine is still running when the driver's door opens and a short woman with blue wings and blue hair spills out.
A woman that sends my blood pressure careening through the roof and my spine tingling, all at once.
Then Rika Everdeen comes tearing around the hood of the car, pausing just a split second to look at the ruined planter, then continues like she's being chased by demons.
My brain completely shorts out.
She's wearing fuzzy pink pajama pants covered in cartoon donuts. An oversized gray cardigan falls off one shoulder, revealing a white tank top underneath. Her pale-blue hair has partially escaped from what might have once been a ponytail and now cascades around her face in wild disarray. Her feet are shoved into unlaced sneakers.
Her sapphire wings are half-extended behind her, trembling at her back. Her chest heaves like she's been running. Or like she's hyperventilating. Her cheeks are flushed bright pink, and her blue eyes are wide and slightly wild.
I've never seen anything more beautiful in my life.
The box in my hands would have hit the ground if I'd been capable of movement. Every muscle in my body locks up as I stare at her.
Thoughts shove around in my mind too fast for me to really pay them any attention.
Before I can speak, before I can move, before I can do anything except stand there like an idiot, Rika stops about ten feet away from me. Her eyes are crazed and her cheeks flushed.
Her small, dainty hand goes to her chest and she grips the cardigan so hard her knuckles turn white. A panicked expression flashes across her face, then she plants her feet solidly on the ground and her mouth pinches in a hardened expression.
"I LOVE YOU!"
Rika shouts, actually shouts, loud enough that Mrs. Henderson next door stops watering her petunias to stare. My ears ring. The world tilts sideways.
I set the box down carefully on the workbench because my fingers have gone numb. When I turn back to face her, my mouth opens but nothing comes out.
Rika takes three steps closer, her wings doing anxious little flutters that send her cardigan billowing. Her fingers twist in the fabric.
"I love you, Noah Mercer." Her voice cracks on my name. "I'm in love with you. Completely. Terrifyingly. I. Love. You."
My heart slams against my ribs so hard I can feel it in my throat, in my fingertips, behind my eyes.
I manage one word, my voice rough and disbelieving. "Rika."
She holds up one trembling hand, cutting me off.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for last night. For walking away. For being a coward." Words tumble out of her in a rush like she's afraid if she stops, she won't be able to finish saying what she has to say. "I should have said it back when I had the chance."
My gaze shifts past her to the car, and my breath catches.
Zoe and Matthew climb out of the back seat and stand next to the car, both watching this entire scene unfold with wide eyes. Matthew clutches Mr. Gears to his chest, his pale-green wingsdoing nervous little flutters. Zoe stands with her arms crossed, but there's a small, hopeful smile on her face as she looks between her mom and me.
Rika steps closer. Close enough now that I can see the tear tracks on her cheeks, the way her bottom lip trembles before she catches it between her teeth.
