Page 68 of Love Felt Like This

Now why would I say that?

Griffin squints. The vast hallway feels too restrictive now. Maybe it’s the child-sized coat slung over Griffin’s shoulder. Or the way his minty breath feels close yet far.

“I can agree to that,” he says, holding out his hand.

“We’re gonna shake on it?” I ask.

“Yes.”

So, without ceremony, I place my palm in his once more. Slowly, his thumb strokes over the back of my knuckles.

“You have cold hands,” he observes.

I run my tongue over my chapped lips.

“I always have cold hands.”

“B!”

We both jump at the sound of Ava and release each other’s hand. Ava pokes at the other display case down the hall, the new one Fran pointed out.

When we join her, my heart slams down to my stomach, then my toes, rooting me to the spot.

It’s a showcase of Albert Starling, cocreator of Birds on the Block. Behind the glass is old Bernie Bird merchandise. Beside him is Penny Pigeon, Finch’s classic character. Then Hector Hawk. Carmen Crow. Debra Dove. There are folded vintage shirts, action figures, a bulky digital watch—all featuring the five-bird crew.

“Albert Starling,” Griffin reads. “That’s your grandfather, right?”

“Yeah,” I croak out. “Yeah. He taught me everything I know. We practiced Bernie’s voice all the time growing up. It was the first character I learned. I wanted to be just like him.”

I think I see Griffin’s lips twitch into a smile, but it’s hard to tell behind his thick beard.

“You must have spent a lot of time together.”

“Sometimes. Yeah. He was in California a lot for filming, so he would come back for a bit, then leave for months. Nana would travel with him sometimes, but…I think it affected my mom more than anyone, honestly.”

“She never got into puppeteering?”

“God, no.” I let out a scoffing laugh. “No. She didn’t. One time she told me it wasn’t normal for a dad to be gone that much.”

“She didn’t like that his career kept him away?”

“Maybe.” I exhale and tilt my head to the side. “Well, this town doesn’t have much going for it, but we do have the creator of Birds on the Block.” I bite my bottom lip and shrug. “Or had.”

“Have,” Griffin corrects me.

“Have?”

“They’ve got you. And you’re making it again.”

“Oh. Yeah. I guess.”

“We’re gonna bring it back,” he says. “You will.”

I want to reach for his hand again. He was right. Mine are too cold.

Looking at the glass case makes all this feel so daunting. So overwhelming.

What do I do if Birds fails? Who would I be without all this?