What have I done? I’ll never have a moment of peace again.
Lila’s instantaneous reaction makes it worth it. She’s all the peace I need.
Little cartoon hearts appear over her head, and her chest heaves with a massive gasp. Bobbing with exuberance, she squeals, “Ahhh! No frickety frackety way.”
Unlike when we got out of the car, she bolts away without waiting for me. I won’t read much into that. Surely she loves me more than birds, right?
Reaching into the pantry, I retrieve a bag of seeds and join her out back.
I find her on her knees, her face buried in her hands. Her shoulders subtly quake with sobs.
Taking a knee, I skim my knuckles over her shoulder. “You okay, cookie?”
She drops her hands, revealing tear-streaked cheeks and glistening eyes. “Are these...?mypeafowl?”
“Why? Do they look familiar?” I tease, unable to resist.
Her ponytail flops over her shoulder when she twists her neck to study her flock. Or whatever the fuck it’s called. Probably some dumb word for it because the English language loves nothing more than to complicate things that should be simple. Like bologna and colonel.
Her hope shines over her like a fireworks show. “They do.”
I wink, knowing I’ve delivered her first dream come true. “They are.”
Giving no warning, she leaps toward me, tumbling us both to the dirt. We’re already gross from the heat of the day, so whocares if we get some farm crud on us. We tangle together, bodies aligning until she ends up on top of me.
She peppers my face with lip-smacking kisses, squeezing my cheeks between her hands. “Thank you.”Kiss. “Thank you.”Kiss. “Thank you.”Kiss, kiss, kiss.
Through rioting laughs and belly guffaws, I facetiously ask, “Do you like it or not? Don’t leave me in suspense.”
Lila dishes it right back. “No, I hate it. This is the worst thing you could have ever done for me. We’re through.”
We end up making out until we’re distracted by a chorus of cat calls and immature goading from the house.
With rosy cheeks of embarrassment, she shimmies off me.
Dammit.
Who invited those cockblocking fuckers?
Then again, they’re doing all the heavy lifting while I’m soaking in Lila’s effervescence. I suppose they earned the right to be dicks. I’ll fuck her on a blanket under the stars out here another time.
We sit together for a few minutes, neither of us compelled to erase the silence. She takes my hand, placing it on her lap. And we simply exist in the serenity of nature.
Nobody’s out to get us. Most of her worries are in the past. She’s safe.
And fucking hell, she’s happy.
Which means I’m happy. That’s the perk of having a soul-deep connection like ours.
Finally, she releases a weighty exhale and pins me with one of those grins that makes life worth living. “Reed, I love you so much. And this is incredible. The house. The birds. The farm, which I had no clue I’d love so much. I guessyouknew, though.”
Sensing she isn’t finished, I remain quiet.
Her neck muscles undulate with a swallow. “I would’ve been fine at your condo. You didn’t need to give it up for me.The height wasn’t bothering me...?much.” She bites her lip, quashing a giggle.
“I know I didn’tneedto do this.” Gathering a few strands of hair that escaped her hair tie, I tenderly tuck them behind her ear. “I wanted to.”
“Why? You wouldn't have bought your condo if you didn’t love it and want to live downtown.”
