30. Birdie

Confession: I'm a beak geek.

I ate way too much at Seaton Bakery, but the best part? Cohen never shamed me for how much I sampled. Never suggested I opt for a water or black coffee instead of the sugary drinks I opted for. Dax would have done all of those things and then suggested a walk after.

Cohen? He led me to his car and started driving. His hands stayed on the wheel, and I couldn't help but take him in while his eyes were focused on the road. The ridges of his nose made me think it had been broken, and after hearing how he'd grown up, I couldn't help but wonder how he'd gotten it.

My eyes traveled from his face to his hands to the speedometer. His car was so fancy that it felt like riding in a cloud despite going eighty miles an hour. I checked. He only drove five miles over the speed limit at any given time. I liked it—like a small form of rebellion but also a sense of safety.

But what surprised and delighted me more was our final destination. He stopped in the parking lot of a new rainforest aviary outside of LA.

My mouth fell open as I looked from him to the sign. "I didn't even know this was open yet!"

"It isn't." He parked and pulled the keys.

"But how?" I asked, following him out of the car.

His grin was tantalizing. "I know a guy who likes to stay a little late at my bar sometimes."

I shook my head at him in awe, then went back to staring at the building. All of the cranes and cones and big chain link fences were gone, but the parking lot was still nearly empty. I'd been waiting to attend the opening all summer and fall. They hadn't announced a date yet, but it was set to launch sometime in December.

"I take it you're excited?" he asked, smiling.

"You have no idea. You know I'm a Friend of the Aviary? I donate a hundred dollars every year on Ralphie's birthday."

His smile didn't look as horrified as I might have guessed. Instead, it was encouraging.

"That's awesome," he said.

I nodded. "They spent a million dollars on the windows alone—special glass so the birds won't ever try to fly into the windows from the inside or outside. There's a special etching process that hides their reflection while still letting in plenty of light."

Cohen pressed his lips together. "I'm assuming my friend won't be of much use as a tour guide then."

My cheeks warmed. "I'd love a tour."

"Great." He put his arm easily around my waist, and I tried not to act too excited about our contact. Something about the gesture was calming and thrilling at the same time. Eyeing me from the side, he said, "Go on. What else do you know?"

Grinning, I clapped my hands together. "Okay, did you know they built a fifteen-foot waterfall inside so the birds can perch and bathe?"

"Yeah?"

I nodded. "And they flew in plants from all over the world—they had to get special security clearance and the heads from both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Homeland Security flew in to make sure everything was done safely."

His eyes were alight with wonder, and—was I too bold to hope?—admiration. "How did you learn all this?"

"I subscribe to their newsletter... and I may or may not have set up a Google alert."

He chuckled. "I like that about you—you don't do anything halfway."

I smiled at the compliment. "Why bother if you're not going to give it your all, right?"

"Exactly." The way he said the word made me think he was talking about more than just aviary research. But I didn't have time to think on it.

As we neared the front entrance, a guy in a tan suit stepped out and reached for Cohen's hand. "How are you, friend?"

"Great," Cohen said. "George, this is Birdie."

"Our aviary enthusiast," he said with the slightest Australian accent. "Are you in for a treat."

"I can't tell you how excited I am," I said.

Cohen chuckled. "She basically recited the pamphlet to me on our way here. I told you she's amazing."

My cheeks heated, but I couldn't help my smile.

"So," George said, leading us past the reception area. "She told you about the special glass? They use a special—"

"—etching process?" Cohen finished with a smirk. "Heard all about it."

George laughed. "She's a keeper, Cohen."

Cohen glanced at me, a heat in his eyes I felt to my core. "Agreed." His grip firmed around my waist, making my stomach swoop.

Together, the three of us crossed through a door and entered another world. The humidity was the first thing I noticed, along with the rush of water and rustle of wings and the botanical heat on my skin. I glanced around, catching sight of an employee walking toward us with a brightly colored macaw on her arm.

My eyes widened, and I stepped forward to meet them. "He's beautiful!"

"He sure is," the woman said. "This is Leroy."

"Hi, Leroy," I cooed, leaning forward slightly to take in his beautiful plume.

From behind me, Cohen muttered, "I think she forgot about me."

"With Leroy here?" I said. "Of course I did. No contest."

The guys chuckled behind me, and the employee—her name tag said Barbara—asked if I wanted to see some of the other animals.

"Of course," I said happily.

She led me down the first trail, pointing out all kinds of birds I knew and several I'd never heard of. They were all different sizes, different colors, and my eyes were wide as I took in all of them. "I feel like I'm cheating on Ralphie," I breathed.

Barbara said, "Your boyfriend back there?"

I chuckled. "My bird. I have a white dove at home."

Home. The school, actually, I thought with a sinking feeling. I wondered if I would ever find a place that felt like home.

"Doves are lovely. They have an incredible lifespan," she said.

I nodded, walking alongside her. "He's a little over nine now. He's practically my best friend."

"Sometimes birds can be easier to love than people…claws, beaks, and all."

I tended to agree.

We made the loop around the building, Barbara telling us all about the plants and the birds that had already made the space their new home. I could have listened to her speak for hours about their care routine and the plans for opening. But eventually, we found our way back to the main entrance.

George reached into his pocket. "I actually have a little gift for you, Birdie."

My eyebrows rose, and I looked from him to Cohen. "Really, I feel like I've gotten the best gift already. This place is amazing."

George and Barbara chuckled, and George said, "One more small present, for flattery if nothing else."

I took the envelope and opened it, finding an annual pass to the aviary and an invitation to opening day in December. "Really? This is so much."

George grinned. "With your enthusiasm, you'll make us look even better when the exhibit opens."

Enthusiastic was the perfect word to describe me. "This has been incredible. Thank you." I turned from George to Cohen, gripping his forearm. "Thank you."

Cohen smiled, putting his arm around me. "I'm glad you liked it." He lifted a hand in a wave to George. "I'll see you around. Thanks for everything, Barbara!"

We all said our goodbyes, and once we got out of the building, Cohen asked, "What did you really think? It was good, right?"

My mouth opened and closed. "I don't even have the words to tell you how absolutely perfect it was. I think this has been one of the best days in—I don't know how long." Cohen had made today more special than Dax had made my last two birthdays. Accepted me in ways I'd never been accepted by a man before.

The wind blew a curl across my face, and he brushed it back, sending chills down my spine. "That's what friends are for, right?"

Friends. The word rubbed me so wrong.

Whatever Cohen and I had, it wasn't friendship, not even close.