Chapter 25

Evelyn

I lift my head from the pot in front of me, where dinner is cooking, and my eyes land on Noah, sitting on the sofa with his glasses on and a book in his hand, lost in the world of words, while Penelope sits on his lap. The little white bird occasionally coos happily when he runs a finger over her smooth feathers.

Ever since he opened up to me, his mental state has improved, as if a barrier has been lifted, and his recovery has progressed drastically in just two weeks. He's still not back to a hundred percent, physically and mentally. It will take months and I don't think we're going to get back to where we were, but this is our second chance and we're making the most of it.

With a soft smile on my face, I turn my attention to Kyle, who is sitting in front of me at the island counter, snacking on some pretzels while scrolling on his phone. He takes his eyes off the screen and offers me a small smile. The two are slowly rebuilding their relationship after their ridiculous antics, still threatening each other, but moving in the right direction. I'm still a little shocked by the fact that they 're legally brothers. It makes sense that Kyle's parents adopted Noah when he turned eighteen, but it is such a random piece of information that I didn't see it coming, though it does explain their somewhat bizarre bond.

"I think it's time for you to go back to New York, Kyle," I say and the smile falls from his face as he glances behind himself at Noah before turning his attention back to me.

"Are you sure?" He raises his eyebrows.

"Yes, I can handle it from here. He is doing well, and I think it is time for you to take a break as well."

Kyle nods. "If you say so. I'm just worried he might have another outburst. He's fine now, but…"

I sigh. "Even if he does, I can handle it. Besides, I think some time apart would be good for both of you."

"You're right about that." He grins and turns in his chair to steal another glance at Noah, who is out of earshot. "What about our little plan?" he asks, lowering his voice anyway to make sure he can't hear him, his eyebrows raised, forming deep lines on his forehead.

"I think we need to put that off for at least a little while longer."

"Sure."

"I will let you know when he is well enough for that."

"Okay. Sounds great."

"You promise to keep an eye on it and not let it get away?" A smirk spreads across Kyles face.

"Oh, sweetheart, everything is already set and ready to go."

"What do you mean?" I furrow my eyebrows.

"The little rat walked right into a trap." My upper lip curls up in confusion. Kyle was here the whole time? How? He lets out a quiet laugh. "Let me do my part. You don't have to worry, everything will be perfect, just the way you want it."

"Okay?" I tilt my head to the side.

"You don't mind if I stay until after dinner?"

I shake my head and offer him a smile. "Not at all. I wouldn't have let you leave before anyway."

"Perfect." Kyle grins and jumps up from the barstool he was sitting on.

"Oh, and Kyle." He turns to look at me. "Thanks for helping me bring him home."

"Of course, it's the least I could have done. I'm the one who took him from you after all." Kyle leaves the kitchen, walks across the living room, and throws himself on the sofa next to Noah. He flings one arm over his shoulders, rips the book from his hands, and skims through the pages. At the impact Penelope takes off, flapping her wings as she flies through the room before settling on top of one of the bookshelves lining the walls.

Standing on my toes, I peek into a nest where a couple of doves are huddled in a big ball of feathers, keeping each other warm. Temperatures have dropped drastically over the past couple of days and the weather forecast is predicting a good amount of snow, which is not uncommon for early January.

Loud cooing and hectic flapping behind me draws my attention and I turn to find Noah standing among his doves. They are gathered around his feet, excitedly picking up the dried berry treats. Penelope and another bird sit on his shoulders and are busy preening his face and hair.

It's the first time since he woke up that we're out here. The birds were skittish at first, not having seen him for almost two months. However, as soon as the older ones recognized him, they swarmed around him, excited to have him back. Never in my life did I think that birds, especially doves, could be so emotional, but since meeting him I have learned so much about them and what resilient and wonderful creatures they are.

"Are you happy to be out here with them?" I ask .

He lifts his head, our eyes meet, and he nods. A smile spreads across my face. Careful not to step on any of the birds shuffling at our feet, I walk up to him, wrap my arms around his biceps, press my body close to his to stay warm, and watch the birds.

When I lean my head against his shoulder, Penelope takes it as an invitation and waddles from his shoulder onto my head, her tiny claws tickling my skull before she starts picking at my hair. He hasn't been very communicative since we stepped into the aviary, but I can see he's focused on his beloved birds and I want him to enjoy the moment. I want to enjoy the moment.

After dropping the last batch of treats, Noah pulls his arm out of my grasp and wraps it around my shoulders. I jump at the opportunity and loop my arms around his stomach, burying my frosty fingers in the soft fabric of his fleece jacket and pressing my body close to his.

"Dove, I'm sorry." Noah says, breaking through the sounds of the birds and the soft whistling of the cold evening breeze.

"Hm?" I hum, tilting my head up, which causes Penelope to take off. I look at him and find his new, more vulnerable side, while his focus remains on the birds.

"I realize I never gave you a proper apology." He continues, "You told me something was up, but I was stubborn and wouldn't listen. And now... I don't know how to make it up to you after all you've done for me."

"You would have done the same for me," I say and tighten my grip on him.

"Yes." He tips his head forward, looking down at me. "I would burn the world and everyone on it for you."

My eyes almost hit the back of my skull from how hard I roll them at his dramatic response. It's endearing how he says this stuff with such confidence, like he's ready to tear down anything that dares come between us, yet he's struggling to tear down the walls he's built himself. "While I appreciate the violent approach, I don't need that," I chuckle, reaching up to cup his cheek in my hand and trace the outline of his jaw. "If you want to make it up to me, the only thing I want from you is for you to choose us." The corners of my mouth lift, but it's as if they're weighed down by doubt.

He nods, leaning into my touch. "I'm ready for a new life, no matter how hard it may be," he says with a sigh and his hand falls from my shoulder to my waist, pulling me closer to him. "You know, before I lost consciousness, when I thought I was dying, I saw your face— smiling, laughing." My chest tightens with every beat of my heart as he reveals that he saw me on the brink of death. Tears sting in the corners of my eyes and his face begins to blur as my emotions rise to the surface. "I want to be the cause of your happiness, not the source of your sadness, which has been more common than I'd like to admit over the past year. If you give me the chance..."

"Of course." I blurt out, cutting him off and offering him a smile, hiding the tears as my lower lip quivers.

"It may take a little while."

"It's okay."

"No more lies, no more secrets. I promise," he says. My heart leaps, wanting to believe him, accept it, and move on. But he has proven to me in the past that his promises don't carry a lot of weight. My mind—my mind needs more.

"No more solo efforts as well," I say. His eyebrows furrow as he takes in my words. He tilts his head in a nod, his lips parting about to say something, but I move my hand from his cheek and place a finger over his lips. "We're in this together, okay? You and me. We've taken the first steps in the right direction, so no more shutting me out. If we're going to make this work, you have to let me in. Completely." He remains quiet, his eye darting over my face, and I can tell he's thinking about my words. "I need to know you trust me enough to let me help you. No more of this 'I have to deal with this on my own' bullshit. If you're going through something, if you're facing something—whatever it is—we face it together."

He swallows hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, then nods with a sigh. "Together," he agrees. "I promise."

"Good." My lips curve into a sincere smile. I raise my other hand to his face, cup his cheeks in both of my hands, and pull him down in a kiss. "I love you, you idiot." I whisper against his lips.

"I love you too." He says, a low chuckle rattling from his chest as he slides both his arms around me and pulls me into another kiss. I allow myself to get lost in the moment, letting everything else fade away, the worries, the past, the future. It's just us, right here, surrounded by the birds he loves, and me, his favorite.