Page 17 of Birdy

"Angel... Can we not do this right now?" I turn away again, rising onto my feet.

"When exactly do you want to do it, then, ‘cause we’ve been at it all weekend, going back and forth over and over again. The time has come, Benni…I'm leaving tonight, you know this."

"I'm…scared," I find myself admitting, squeezing my eyes shut now that the truth is out there in the open.

I sound so fucking stupid.

Ángel sighs, the bed squeaking as he rises to full height and ambles around to where I’m rooted in place. His hands gently claim my face, forcing my eyes to meet his. "Don't be afraid. You know more about me than you think you do."

My lips curl dubiously. "Somehow, I highly doubt that."

"You do,” he insists, “and I want you to know it all…want you to be mine."

"Why did you have to fall for me?" I whisper, throat bobbing through one hell of an emotionally-charged swallow.

Ángel’s lips spread in a faint smile. "Why did you have to make me fall for you?"

"I didn't do anything." And I really didn’t, other than agreeing to take what was a business relationship and mixing it with pleasure.

"Yeah, you did,” he counters, scoffing a little laugh and all. “Everything you did got me more and more caught up by the day. Then you went and gave me access to the best pussy I've had in my life, and well, that shit will seal a man’s fate. I think you had me before I had you."

My heart, that traitorous thing, melts into a puddle. With every word, every look, every touch, every kiss…it becomes harder and harder to say no to him.

To not jump in headfirst like he said and give this thing a shot. Because what can a good, solid shot hurt, right? If it doesn’t work, at least we tried.

"We have to go,” I insist.

Not that it flies, of course.

"Are you working at the restaurant today?" he questions.

I shake my head.

"Then no, we don't have to go anywhere. Just stay here with me a little longer."

"There is no way in hell you're putting that thing inside—"

"I'm not going to fuck you, Benni,” he laughs, scooping me up to lay me back on the bed. “I just want to be here with you. I want to kiss you, touch you, fucking absorb everything before you make me leave Miami alone…again."

* * *

"He lives,"I say to my brother as I walk into Ma's house shortly after parting ways with Ángel a couple hours later.

He's just coming out of his room, all shirtless six-foot-two of him, his dark hair a fucking mess. At my greeting, he flips me off and ambles right into the bathroom to take a piss.

I'm already in the kitchen serving myself some coffee when he joins me and grabs a mug from one of the cabinets. "Ma told me you were with that fuckingcomemierdaagain."

No hello, no nothing—just that tone.

Seriously?"Jesus Christ, hello to you, too, Tomás. It's only been how many days since the last time I saw you?" I snap.

"She was livid when I got here last night, and guess who had to hear it?Me,”he barks back, reaching for the coffeepot.“So excuse me if I don’t feel super chatty or enthused to see you this morning.”

Rolling my eyes, I take a sip from my mug. “Did you put down the cigs or some shit ‘cause damn, this is grouchy, even for you.”

Tommy scoffs a laugh and shakes his head. “Nah, I’m just tired as hell of coming home after a long-ass day and having to deal with mom flipping outon mebecause ofyou. Why do you keep doing this shit, Benita? Don't you listen?"

Apparently not.He sounds just like Ángel right now, which only irks me more. That’s like the pot calling the kettle black. "A little condescending coming from you, don’t you think? You're out there doing the exact same shit on the days you're not at the track, so what the fuck? Why is it okay for you to do it, but not me?" I counter.

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