“We’re going out Friday.”
The table explodes, and Hattie high-fives me so hard she shakes her hand afterward.
Korie bumps my leg under the table. “See? Told you you could do it.”
I pocket Gage’s phone number and reach for my beer. “Never doubted it.”
Korie snorts. “Uh-huh.”
The rest of dinner passes in a blur of laughter and teasing. Gage and I lock eyes a few times from across the room, and each time, my stomach swoops a little. Will this ever get any easier? I wish I could bypass all the getting-to-know-you crap and moveon to other things. It’s exhausting to go through this over and over.
When we leave, I hand over the keys to Korie. They don’t even question it.
Hattie hugs both of us, promising to see us the following week at dinner. Mateo and Camila leave with her.
Korie drops Cole off at his apartment first, then hops on the freeway to head back to theirs. The quiet in the car is strange after such a long and busy day. Not uncomfortable. Just… noticeable. It makes me a little drowsy.
Korie pulls into the guest spot near their building, but before reaching for the door, they turn to me. “Today was fun.”
I blink slowly, my limbs heavy. “Yeah, it was.”
“You good to drive home yet?”
“I probably shouldn’t.”
Korie jerks their chin toward the door. “Come on, then. You know you can sleep here.”
We sleep at each other’s apartments so often that Hattie teases we should just move in together.
I climb out and follow Korie, leaning against the wall as they unlock the door. The moment it swings inward, an excited chirp greets us.
Korie sets their keys on a table by the door and turns toward the large wire cage in the corner. “Hey, beautiful.”
Aris flutters her bright green wings, hopping from perch to perch as if she’s been waiting all day for Korie.
“Yeah, yeah, I missed you too,” Korie coos.
As soon as they open the cage, the sun conure darts out, a streak of green and gold whizzing through the room. It makes me sway on my feet to watch her, and I grip the table to keep from falling.
When she finally lands on Korie’s shoulder, Korie tilts their head for a feathered head bump. Instead, she nips their ear.
“Ow—hey!” Korie chides.
She chirps again.
“Okay, okay. Seesh.”
Korie pulls a few treats from a container, which Aris gobbles down instantly.
“Demanding tonight, huh?”
Korie lifts their gaze. “Oh, she’s always like this now.”
“That’s ‘cause you spoil her.”
“I do not.”
Theysodo. There must be a dozen perches and even more toys lying around. It wouldn’t surprise me if Korie hauled a potted tree in here for the bird.
