I let my eyes scan over the room that Goldie occupied for around a year. It’s slowly been transformed these past couple of weeks or so into Nora’s space. I let loose a resigned sigh before closing the door behind me.
Saying goodbye to the Everharts, for good this time, is going to be difficult.
I’m almost to the aviary when Silas texts me.
Silas: Monroe told me. So sorry, man.
A groan escapes me. Most days I love our small town, but when you’re the topic of conversation, it’s not so fun.
Me: It is what it is. Staying busy?
Silas: Slammed. I’m texting from the bathroom. You good?
This has me smiling even though I don’t want to.
Me: I’m good.
He sends me a thumbs up emoji because he’s old and rude.
Me: I’m pretty sure they banned that emoji in the US.
Silas: They did not.
Silas: Did they? Mine still works on my phone. Do I need to update?
I smother a laugh and leave him on read. My humor quickly fades after I pocket my phone. It’s still a day from Helsinki, but I’m going to survive. I always do.
“Be good,” I say to Clo as I open the aviary door. “No funny business. We have enough budgies without you trying to make more.”
Clo fluffs up his feathers and sings his best song.
I think that’s bird-speak for, “You worry about your female troubles and I’ll worry about mine.”
Chapter 23
Nora
Denver is still here.
Even after I told him no quietly on stage.
Even after I told him no much louder once off it.
I’m still sick from embarrassment and I’m worried about Elias. It’s not what it looked like. The hurt on his face has been etched into my brain for hours.
His mother and father have been hovering the entire time. As soon as I made it extremely clear with Denver that we were done and will never be a thing again, they took me under their wing at Elias’s birdcage booth. Now they’ve gone to see the sights with their grandkids, Maxton and Mallory, and left me with Elias’s sister, Jessi.
She’s loyal to her brother and doesn’t like me, but I’m still grateful for her presence.
“Ugh,” Jessi says as she tosses her phone on the table next to the money box. “Monroe says Elias is just as pitiful as you.”
I perk up and snap my gaze her way. “Really?”
“Can you blame him?” She shoots me what must be her intimidating “mom” look. It kind of works because I shiver despite this intense heat.
“I should go talk to him,” I tell her, frowning, but then when I glance up, Denver is sitting on a bench about fifty feet away staring sadly at me. “Why won’t he leave?”
“I could call Monroe and make him leave,” Jessi says with a little too much evil glee.
