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Where in the hell could Birdie be? It was her sweet sixteen, the party was in full swing, and the birthday girl had vanished. Storm was pissed. He wanted his baby girl to sing on the new custom stage he’d built behind the clubhouse.
“Can you help me look for her?” he asked me.
“Sure, Storm. I’ll find her.”
“Appreciate it, Little D. Angel told me to leave Birdie alone, but I got a bad feeling. If you find her making out with one of her jock boyfriends, you tell me so I can beat his ass.”
I grinned. I’d love to see that. “Will do.”
I’d gone to all of Birdie’s hiding places. I knew them all, as any best friend would. But there was one place we never dared to hide in, or we’d get grounded for life: the club’s garage. It was where all the bikes were parked during inclement weather. It was off-limits to the kids unless they were with a parent.
I turned the doorknob, finding it unlocked. I had a feeling Birdie was inside.
Why would Birdie be in the garage? I rolled my hands into fists. If she was fooling around with that pussy quarterback, Forest, I’d beat the shit out of him.
Birdie was mine.
Although, she didn’t know it. Nor did she want to be mine.
I froze when I heard her crying. It came from the far corner. I jogged over and found Birdie alone.
“Hey, what’s wrong, birthday girl?” I sat beside her and tugged her into my arms. “I get it’s your party, and you cry if you want to. But, Birdie, it makes me sad to see you like this.”
She slapped my stomach. “Don’t be a dork, Dante. Just let me be sad.”
Dang. Sweet Birdie was in a bad way.
“Tell me what happened?”
“Nothing happened.” Her tears picked up.
I lifted her chin to see her pretty face. “Who hurt you? Forest?” I bit down on my back molars so I wouldn’t lose control.
She shook her head. “Leave it alone, Dante.” She laid her head on my shoulder. “Just sit with me.”
I could sit here all night with her in my arms. She smelled so damn good. I felt things I shouldn’t with her warm body against mine.
I should have told Birdie I liked her more than a friend. I’d been afraid to ruin our friendship, so I’d kept it to myself since the sixth grade.
What if she didn’t feel the same? What if she laughed at me?
Birdie would never make fun of a person. She was sweet and kind like her mom.
Dad had always said to go after what you want and not to let anyone stand in my way. He didn’t let Grandpa Justin get between him and my momma. I shouldn’t let anything get in the way of being with Birdie.
Now was my chance. Her crying had subsided.
“Bir—”
“Why does the heart want what it can’t have?” she whimpered and curled into my chest. “It’s not fair.”
I fucking knew it wasn’t fair because I’d asked the universe the same damn question about her every night before I went to sleep.
Who was Birdie talking about?
“I don’t know why.” I patted her back.
“It breaks my heart every time I see him with a kitten. He has to know he’s hurting me, but he doesn’t seem to care.” She fisted my shirt, burying her face in it.
