Page 85 of Jay Bird

“I used to lie awake at night thinking about all the things she might never get to do.” Her voice wavered. “You know, normal kid things, like going to the playground, having friends, or seeing the ocean. I knew I was going to get her out.” She swallowed. “I didn’t know how, but I knew I would try until either I succeeded or Chen killed me.”

Jay Bird hated hearing that, not because he blamed her, but because he knew she had genuinely believed those were the only two possible outcomes.

Willow looked toward Lily. “I just wanted her to have a life.”

Jay Bird stepped closer. “She does. You got her out.”

He nodded toward Lily, who had abandoned the seagulls and was now crouching in the sand, poking at something with one finger.

“Look at her. She’s happy, and safe. She’s got people who already love her enough to spoil her rotten. And most importantly, she’s got you.”

Willow looked up at him. “She’s got you, too.”

Jay Bird’s heart did a flutter. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “She’s got me. And so do you.”

Her breath caught, and Jay Bird reached out slowly, giving her every opportunity to move away, and brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.

She didn’t flinch or pull away. Instead, she leaned just slightly into his hand, so subtle it almost felt like she hadn’t meant to do it at all. That tiny movement damn near undid him.

“Willow.”

Her eyes remained on his.

“Yeah?”

He lowered his voice.

“Tell me if you don’t want this.”

Understanding crossed her face, her cheeks turning pink, but she still didn’t move away.

“I want it.”

That was all he needed. Jay Bird leaned down slowly. His lips touched hers. It was barely more than a brush at first.

Willow inhaled against his mouth, and Jay Bird forced himself to stay right there. No pushing. No deepening it just because every instinct he had suddenly wanted more. This wasn’t about wanting more. It was about her choosing him.

Willow’s hand curled lightly into the front of his shirt.

Jay Bird kissed her again, still gentle and still slow, but this time she kissed him back, and damn, for something so innocent, it hit him harder than kisses that had gone a hell of a lot further.

Her lips were soft and warm against his. When he finally pulled away, he kept his forehead against hers.

Willow kept her eyes closed for another second, as if she needed a moment to steady herself, and when she finally opened them, a shy smile had already found its way onto her face.

“Wow.”

Jay Bird grinned. “Good wow?”

She nodded.

Then a horrified little voice came from several feet away.

“NO!”

Both of them jerked apart and turned to find Lily standing near the water, staring down at the sand.

“What’s wrong, Peanut?” Jay Bird asked, crouching down next to her.