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Morning light invades my dreams, forcing my eyes to open. I shield my face with the covers, not wanting to move from where I am. I don’t have to work until later and want to sleep in for a little longer but my stomach rumbling won’t allow it. Tossing the covers to the side, I sit up in bed and twist my body until my feet are touching the cold floor.
Ignoring the dirty clothes on the floor, I step over them and reach in my drawer for a clean pair of sweats and a sleeveless white shirt. No need to overdress for breakfast. The smell of bacon and eggs leads me to the kitchen to where my mom is. She smiles my way as I walk behind her to press a kiss to her cheek. “Morning, Ma.”
“Morning,mijo.”
“That’s a lot of food you’re making.”
“Si. Your uncle is coming over this morning.”
My chest tightens. “Theo’s coming over?”
“That he is,” a familiar voice says from behind me, causing my ears to ring. “Hola. Something smells delicious.”
Theo hugs my mom and pats me on the shoulder as if everything’s normal. It might be for him but it’s anything but for me.
“Please, help yourself.”
“Don’t mind if I do,” Theo responds, pulling down four plates. I grab one from his hand, unable to speak. We both fill our plates with food and walk over to the next room to eat at the dining table. Without my mom here to force us into prayer, we attack our food in silence. Theo shovels a fork full of eggs into his mouth and moans. My brain fizzles out and I practically melt against the chair.
“Why is it you always have the best looking bacon?” He reaches above my plate, his fingers brushing over mine to steal a piece of my food. Normally I’d slap his hand away but right now, I want nothing more than to watch him put something of mine inside his perfect mouth. Those same glossy lips from last night wrap around the crispy bacon and he pushes it back with his tongue. I bite back a groan.
His lashes flutter against his cheeks and he sinks back into his chair. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was until now.” He stabs at his eggs with his fork.
Me either. My gaze stays on him as I wait to see if he’ll peck at his plate and show me a small glimpse of his bird side. His fingers curl around his fork after he takes his next bite. The same way I’ve watched a pigeon wrap its claws around the railing outside the kitchen window. He brings his cup closer to his mouth and dips his tongue into the water before tilting his head back. The signs have been there all this time and I can’t stop seeing them now.
The want and need hasn’t lessened. Aware of how stubborn I am, I’m not at all surprised. Once I see something I like, I can’t turn away from it and have to make it mine.
My little bird is no different. It doesn’t matter if I’ve been calling him uncle for the last four years. I want Theo and I want him in all the ways he’ll allow me to have him. Inside a bird cage, in my bed, and on this fucking breakfast table with the taste of bacon on his lips.
It won’t be easy or happen today but all good things come to those who wait.
Two
Theo
The front door opens and closes. I freeze in place and grip the handle of the oven. It’s been two years since I left my abusive ex but sometimes I still jump at random sounds or when doors open. I often wonder if I left one dead-end relationship for another. Isaac is a lot of things. Impatient, not always understanding or accepting, but he doesn’t hit me. His words don’t tear into me like hot knives the way Austin’s did. At this point I’m starting to believe being with Isaac is as good as it’ll get for me.
“You’re so stupid and worthless. You make it so hard to love you.” Austin’s words resurface from the past.
He’s not here. He’s in prison and can’t hurt me anymore. Too bad his words still haunt me from time to time. I’ll think I’m free from their poison but then self-doubt and my insecurities seep in, causing me to relive them again. Maybe he was right. Isaac isn’t always easy to be with and we aren’t very compatible but he wants me. What if no one else ever does?
Loud footsteps approach me and my heart speeds up in my chest, calming down the minute I hear my visitor’s deep, smooth voice.
“You shouldn’t leave your door open. There’s crazy people everywhere,” Finn deadpans.
Sighing in relief, I pull out the pan from the oven and set it on the stove to allow the banana bread to cool. I can’t believe I forgot to lock it again. Being so close to my family has me letting my guard down more often than not. “Yes, and one just walked into my house.” I close the oven door, and turn around to shoot my nephew a playful grin. We aren’t blood related. Not only is my brother, Benjamin, my only sibling, he also didn’t have any children of his own, so he loves Finn like a son. It didn’t take long for him and his mom to win over the hearts of the rest of the family.
“What did your mom forget to pick up at the store this time?”
He fiddles with the strings of his hoodie, pursing his lips. “Nothing. However, there is something I’ve been lacking all day.” He cocks his head, lowering his gaze as he walks closer to me.
My brows lift and before I can ask any more questions, he presses his shoulder to mine reaching behind me. His knee slightly bends into my leg before he finally pulls back, popping a piece of banana bread into his mouth. I can’t fully breathe until his body is no longer hovering over mine. Finn has a habit of getting too close and constantly entering people’s personal space. I figured he’d grow out of it eventually but he has yet to change in the four years I’ve known him.
He reaches his hand out toward the pan again and I grab the dish towel from the oven rack to swat him with it.
He clutches his hand to his chest as if recently being injured in battle. “What’s your problem? Did you suddenly forget how to share?” He licks the crumbs from his lips.
Rolling my eyes, I turn around and grab a plate from the cabinet. “After the amount of times you’ve snuck over here, you should know by now where the plates and forks are. You don’t need to be scooping food from the pan with your fingers like some heathen. How are others supposed to be able to enjoy some?”
