Page 85 of Birdy

“That’s...crazy…” At the stunned lilt of my voice, she meets my stare anew and nods, lighting the flame of hope as she squeezes me back.

“I know, but I’m hella thankful for it; otherwise, I’d be looking at another year with higher deportation stakes.”

I’d almost forgotten she’s an illegal alien. “Is that still up in the air?”

Benni shakes her head. “As long as I stick to the guidelines once I’m on parole, no. I’ll be required to have some form of documentation moving forward, though.”

“I can help you,” I blurt, stupidly I should add ‘cause she’s looking at me like I’m nuts.

“Help me with what?”

“Getting your citizenship. I helped my mom study when she was getting hers.” And it’s true, I did. I helped her, and then we helped dad together. This was just a few years back, too. I was already a CO at the time.

“That’s sweet of you, but—”

“I can get you a job, too.” Remember when I mentioned my heart had other plans that I didn’t know about? Well, here it is in all its lovesick glory. I’m supposed to be here for closure, not finding a dozen different ways I can help her once she’s free.

“How?” she questions, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’s actually a little curious.

“I'm the property manager at the complex I’m living in now. I could use another bi-lingual leasing consultant.”

Closure, you idiot. Closure. Stop making a fool of yourself.

“Where are you living now? Did you move?”

“Mmhmm. I went back to Miami.”

“Why?”

I hitch a shoulder. “Once I quit, there wasn’t any point in me being here.”

Benni looks at me with this face and sucks her bottom lip between her teeth, carving a teeny smile on my lips. “What?”

“Nothing,” she shakes her head, “I’m just still…”

“Still what?” I hedge, my mind almost blowing through my head as she laces our fingers together.

“I still can’t believe you’re sitting here right now.”

This.

This right here. Having her close, feeling her touch—I’ve missed this so damn much. It takes an immense amount of self-control not to flip the table and pull her into my arms.

“I told you, I had to come see you. I’ve been missing you, tearing myself up about how everything went down and how you were probably hurting. I wasn’t trying to hurt you, Benni, I swear it.”

And then she really blows my mind when she follows that with, “I’ve missed you too…”

“You have?”

She nods, that plump lip caught between her teeth again, taunting the hell out of me. “Every day.”

Silence. Only this time, there’s nothing tense about it. My chest feels like it’s going to explode, a full, megawatt smile splitting my face in two.

She’s missed me too.

“Will you let me wait for you then?” Ballsy as fuck, I know, but I couldn’t hold back. The minute she said those four little words, I threw closure out the proverbial window and opened up the doorway of endless possibilities.

“Andrés, c’mon...don’t be nuts,” is what she tries throwing at me, but I’m not having it.

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