Page 54 of Lost Lyrebird

He mutters, “Breadcrumbs, puzzle pieces, and feathers.”

I look up at him with a bewildered expression.“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Not to you, but it does to me.”

At my intense stare, he says, “No offense, but that’s shit I’m not comfortable handing out like candy.It means a great deal to me, and though I like you, we just don’t know each other that well, yet.”His forced smile is just that: forced.Half-smile, half-grimace.

We’ve been apart for years.There’s a minefield filled with all the things we don’t know about each other and what happened in our lives in the time in between.

“Is there maybe another option, like surgery?”

“Already been through the wringer on that front.Did more damage than good, and this is the aftermath.”He motions to his head.

When I take my next step, I stumble.Finn immediately grabs my arm to steady me.Heat rushes up my chest and neck.I’m goddamn deadly in heels, have been for years.I can’t remember the last time I tripped over my own feet.That I did it in front of him—of all people—makes me feel like a fool.

“What?Like, for real?”I ask.

He nods sadly and knowingly.It’s almost as if he’s had this same conversation with everyone he’s ever known and is sick of slicing himself open for show and tell.

Motioning forward with his hand, he says, “Come on.I’ll walk you to your car.”I move to walk ahead of him.When I do, his hand comes to the center of my back.

It’s a simple touch, yet I feel a profound ache for it to be more.I hate myself for it, too.

“Was this… you know, from your last tour?”

“Yeah.”

It’s all he gives as he follows me to the back door.He locks up before we continue through the lot.

I fucked up by not looking at his file.Now I desperately want to know what happened on that tour.What he’s been through since.The ache to help in some way builds, battling against the fortified wall I’ve been shielding my feelings behind.It was stupid of me to walk into this blindly, with nothing but assumptions.

I make a mental note to do some research when I get back to my hotel and look into what else might help.Maybe there are some natural remedies he hasn’t tried.

As we make our way across the parking lot, I take extra care to walk steadily because the pavement isn’t the greatest, and the last thing I need is to get my heel caught in one of the cracks.

He asks, “Where are you parked?”

I point to the right.“Just there.”He scans the lot.More than one car remains, so I clarify, “The blue Dull Dory over there.”I point it out and hear his barely audible chuckle.

“Dull Dory?”

“Yeah, it’s like a reminder that if I just keep dancing instead of swimming, I can trade it in for something nicer.And also because that movie fucking rocks.”

“What movie would that be?”

“Surely you’re kidding?”

He shakes his head slowly, as if he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.

“Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming?Clown Fish?”He shakes his head.“The ocean?Sharks?One little fish’s journey to find his way home?”

The corner of his mouth lifts at this, and he gives a subtle shake of his head.“No, I don’t think I’ve seen it.”

“Nemo?”

When he continues to say no, I stare at him like he’s an alien.“You’re not serious?”It’s half a question, half a joke.“God, that’s a tragedy.”

“That good, huh?”