I haven’t seen my birds in a while. Russell’s been off in the wind, probably learning to live his best bird life with only one foot, though I don’t think he’s gone for good. The rest have been anywhere but in my yard.
It’s not migration season yet, so I know they haven’t gone, but they do this from time to time. They investigate other yards, maybe make friends with other people. I have no claim over them, but it makes my chest ache a little at the thought that they’d just move on.
Which is silly.
They’re wild birds. Why am I getting all worked up?
BZZT! BZZT! BZZT!
I jump half a foot, then dig my hand into my pocket, and my heart hammers when I see it’s the hospital, which means it’s either Leo or about Leo.
“Hello?” I say softly.
“Easton says you’re at the house with him.” Leo’s voice is less hoarse after a night of rest, but it’s still weak from the pain I know he’s in. “How bad is it?”
“He didn’t tell you?” I frown, turning back toward the house again. I don’t see Easton anywhere, but I think he might be loading up Leo’s fishtank, which miraculously survived both the fire hose and the heat.
“I think he’s trying to protect me,” Leo answers. “It must be awful.”
“Teddy’s assessing the damage with the CFI, and I’m pretty sure an insurance guy will be over this week to?—”
“Decide if I did this on purpose?” he asks.
“No one’s going to think that.” Running a hand over my face, I step off the porch and head down toward the street. From that view, I can see where the damage starts and where it ends. “Everyone knows this was an accident, and your insurance should cover the repairs.”
He sighs into the phone. “Maybe I should tear it down.”
“Leo—”
“Seriously.” He stops for a second, then clears his throat. I hear sheets shifting, and then he sucks in a sharp breath of pain.“I was rotting there. I love the house. I love that neighborhood. But I wasn’t happy. Maybe this is a sign from the universe that it’s time to change.”
“I don’t think the universe would set you and your house on fire to tell you it was time to move.”
He laughs, which makes my chest go warm. “I wasn’t set on fire. I was just too close to the flames. And I also don’t really believe in all that. I’m just saying that I’m not freaking out, okay? Whatever happens now, I can handle it.”
I squeeze my eyes closed and brace myself for him to be pissed at me for what I’m about to say. “Leo, it’s been a day. Literally. You’re still in the hospital, you’re probably on morphine?—”
“Tylenol threes,” he interrupts. “I don’t like the heavy stuff.”
“That doesn’t take away my point. You’re probably in some kind of shock right now, so don’t make any rash decisions.”
He laughs again. “North, honey”—my entire body goes hot at that. Honey? Me?—“I’m not in shock. I know what that feels like. Trust me.”
“Um…”
He goes on like he didn’t just rearrange my world with a single word I’m not sure I deserve. “I don’t mean to keep harping on my past, but believe me, this is nothing compared to what I lost before.”
My heart sinks. “Right.”
“Listen—”
“No,” I say quickly, my mood heavy with guilt. “I get it. And you’re allowed to talk about your past with me as much as you want. You know that, right?”
He hums softly in thought. “Thank you. And I’m sure I’ll freak out about all the damage eventually. Right now, I just want to sleep.”
“Sleep is good,” I tell him with a small smile. “I wish I could put my arms around you and hold you while you rest.”
He lets out a satisfied noise. “That would be amazing. Can I see you soon? Preferably without my brother hovering?”
