Page 211 of Securing the Pucking Rebound
CALVIN
My heart is in my throat, my entire body trembling as I lean against my bedroom door, keeping it closed.
It’s pathetic. It’s just a small fucking bird. But I can’t help it.
“Have you got it?” I call, squeezing my eyes closed, hating myself for leaving her out there alone with it.
“Not yet,” Sienna shouts back.
“The doors slide all the way open,” I tell her.
“Yep, figured that out already. Just trying to make it fly in the right direction.”
I drop my forehead to the door, wishing I could go out there and help.
“Fuck,” I grunt, pushing myself away from the door.
With my trembling hands curled into fists, I walk into my attached bathroom, kick the door closed behind me, lower the toilet lid, and sit on it.
I squeeze my eyes closed, hating myself and my stupid fear.
I should be the one out there looking after my girl, not hiding in here like a pussy.
Time seems to slow to a stop as I try to convince myself to get up and help. But I can’t do it.
Eventually, though, Sienna’s soft voice floats through the air.
“Yeah?” I call as I hear my bedroom door opening.
I jump to my feet and pull the bathroom door open. My breath catches at the sight of her standing inside my bedroom. It’s been a fantasy of mine since I was a teenager. It’s been with me through numerous bedrooms, and has many, many variations, but we always end up in my bed with my arms wrapped around her.
“Hi,” she says, a smile lighting up her face.
Shame crashes over me.
“I’m sorry, I—”
“You’re scared of birds. I remember,” she says softly, moving closer and ensuring my heart continues to race, only for a very different reason.
She takes another step, and then another, slowly closing the distance.
“You flinched when a bird landed on the car that day I was out with Bea,” she says absently.
I swallow thickly.
“How didn’t I figure it out?”
“Hey, don’t do that,” I say, finally forcing my feet to move and stepping toward her. “You’re not to blame in any of this. It’s all on me.”
“I know, I just…feel stupid for not realizing it was you. For making you think I forgot about that summer…about you.”
The second I’m in touching distance, I cup her cheek, letting the warmth of her skin flood through me before lowering my forehead to hers.
“I didn’t,” she assures me. “I never forgot. I just didn’t think—”
“It’s okay. I know. I didn’t expect it either. But I’m so fucking glad we found each other again.”
“Me too,” she whispers.
