Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 94220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Since Mike’s body was recovered, Roth has met up with Zane a few times. She’s apologized for their difficulties throughout the investigation and offered him private insights about the case, which has become a high-profile media circus, capturing not only the attention of Wyachet, but the nation.
Zane’s had to process it all through the media frenzy while managing the investigation and Mike’s service. Despite how wild it’s all been, my parents have been amazing, not only to me, but to Zane. They wished I’d felt comfortable sharing sooner, but given the circumstances, they’re not surprised we handled it the way we did. Just glad we’re both alive.
The past week has really been the first time Zane’s had some peace, so long as he doesn’t check the news on his phone or see a paper on a newsstand around town.
All that aside, the way he’s smiling this morning gives me reason to hope.
A chirp comes from the other side of Zane’s room, and we turn our attention to Kyra’s cage, where she flies from the bottom to her little wooden perch. Since I started staying with Zane after our confrontation with Tolle, we moved Kyra over to his place.
Zane says, “Guess she’s trying to remind me that we have to start waffles because we have our big picnic today.”
Despite how little interest she’d shown in flying since I rescued her, last week we caught her flying around her cage. At first, she seemed to struggle, but a few days ago, it became clear my friend’s back to her old self, ready to take flight, so we planned a big release celebration at the park.
As Zane turns back to me, he rests his hand on my arm, caressing my triceps. “How you feeling about that?”
“Glad she’s better, but sad too. I’ll miss her.”
He frowns. “You were very good to her. You’ve been very good to both of us.”
“You’ve been good to me too,” I tell him. I know he values what I’ve brought into his life since we first met, and particularly this past month. But I won’t let him dismiss how much better I’ve been with him too.
He smirks and leans close, planting a kiss on my forehead. “Come on. Let’s get some waffles in our bellies and then jerk off in the shower.”
My kind of morning.
We force ourselves out of bed. Go through our morning routine, getting through waffles before he helps me with prepping food for the picnic. We put on the downstairs TV, cuddling up to watch some of our shows.
I could get used to this routine.
When the afternoon arrives, we head to Palamone Park and settle on a blanket in a spot not far from where we went sledding before Christmas. Kyra starts flapping about wildly in her cage, like she wants to get out.
“Oh, no,” I say after I swallow a bite of my sandwich.
“Oh no? That’s a good sign. Maybe she knows she’s ready.”
“I’m just so worried about her.”
“Worried? She’s been in the wild before. She knows how to survive.”
Zane’s right, but it still plays on my mind. “What if her wing isn’t healed up enough?”
“Is that what the doctor said?”
“No,” I reply, reminding myself that she should be all right.
He sets his sandwich on his plate and scoots over, setting his hand on my leg. “I think our baby’s ready.”
Tension rises within me.
I can’t deny there are a thousand scenarios playing through my mind: She’s unable to fly far. Some hawk swoops down and snatches her. She falls over in the dog park and becomes their next chew toy.
Zane squeezes my thigh gently, offering me the support I need right now.
“Okay, Kyra, here we go,” I say, taking that hard step, unlatching her door and opening it.
It takes her a moment to realize it’s open. She perches on the door, glancing between Zane and me.
“It’s okay,” I say. “You can do it.”
And as I’m saying the words to her, I’m also trying to remind myself. My own nerves about what the future holds.
Kyra glances at me for a moment, then flies from her cage and comes to rest on my shoulder. She stays there for a few moments.
“What are you doing?” I ask, turning to her. She tilts her head either way, chirping. In my mind, she’s thanking me for the help before she pushes off. I figure her first will be a short test flight, but she soars through the air, heading for the woods without hesitation, her flight looking as effortless as that of any of the other birds I’ve seen today. A wave of relief moves through me, but there’s grief there too.
Zane rubs my back, and I turn to him. “Nice to see that my wildest fears weren’t realized, but I’ll miss her. It was nice having her around.”
“Yeah, well, now you’re really stuck with just me.”