Page 37 of Saving Sparrow (Slow Burns & Tragic Beginnings #2)

Then

We skipped school the next day. Besides being too tired to get up when Miguel’s alarm went off, I wasn’t ready to go back yet.

Miguel suggested we go down to the lake where he and Quentin had camped out a few times.

We packed a cooler with sandwiches and drinks, then spent the next hour with the wind in our hair and Quentin’s favorite rap album blaring through the speakers as we cruised down the mountain pass.

Things were different between us. The smile Miguel gave me when we woke up was brighter than all his smiles before, and when Quentin snuggled in closer and whispered, “I’m glad your crazy aunt chose to move here,” a single word popped into my head that had never showed up there before.

Family. They were more than my friends now; they were my family.

They’d given me hope, something I’d never had before. I also felt more confident and liked—maybe even loved—for the first time ever. There was nothing wrong with me. There never had been. I wouldn’t be burning in the pits of hell, and maybe the devil didn’t live inside of me.

I was less afraid of life now, because I had my found family by my side. I could get through anything with them.

I rode in the back seat, and every now and then Quentin would check on me through the rearview mirror, and Miguel would wordlessly reach a hand back without looking. I’d squeeze it, letting him know I was okay, then return Quentin’s smile before he focused on the road again.

We sped by a sign that said we were half a mile from Lake Christopher. Quentin whooped loudly, fist pumping the air and foot pressing harder on the gas. Miguel and I laughed, the sound getting lost in the wind.

Quentin didn’t waste time getting into the lake when we pulled up. He threw the car in park and ran, stripping down to his underwear before racing in.

Miguel shook his head as he normally did when Quentin behaved like an impulsive kid hyped up on sugar.

“Come on, Guelly,” Quentin said, trying to lure Miguel into the water. “You know I like it when you’re all wet.”

“Gross,” Miguel shouted over at him, even while pulling his T-shirt over his head. It took a minute for me to get what Quentin really meant. Miguel chuckled, pinching my warm cheeks before running for the lake.

They laughed and played while I pulled the cooler and blanket from the trunk to get our picnic set up. I watched them be free with each other, feeling happier than I’d ever been before.

They chased and touched, told inappropriate jokes that echoed off the water’s surface, making my ears heat. I could see now how careful they’d been around me before. I liked that they no longer had to be.

“Come on, pretty girl. Live a little.” Quentin’s booming voice startled the birds, a flock of them deserting the trees. “Get in here.”

“Yeah,” Miguel said. “The water’s nice and warm.” They waded out further, then Quentin pulled Miguel in for a long kiss before lifting him at the waist and tossing him over his shoulder.

Miguel made a splash before disappearing below the surface. His head popped out of the water a second later. He sputtered, cursing in Spanish as he swam to catch Quentin—who laughed hysterically and darted away.

I laughed too, harder than I ever had, clutching my stomach. It caught their attention, and they paused to look over at me. Everything went quiet. Me, the water, the warm breeze… It felt like the whole world had stopped to look at me.

I didn’t turn away like I usually did. They watched me as if I were something rare and mythical. Like one of the tree nymphs in The Grecian’s Garden.

“Do I get my surprise if I come in?” I called over to Quentin.

He’d been hinting at some mysterious surprise since we made our plans for the day.

I liked gifts, probably because I’d never received them before meeting him and Miguel.

I could spend the day in front of their closet mirror, switching in and out of all the pretty dresses and tops Miguel had given me.

“I’ll give you whatever you want, just get your ass in here,” he said, right before Miguel sent a wave of water splashing into his face.

Playful wouldn’t be a word I’d have used to describe Miguel—or myself, even—but Quentin brought out the kid in us.

It was just as much fun watching them play around as it was taking part in it.

My childhood had been regimented, my father strict.

The one time I did something reckless, Gideon had paid for it.

I stood abruptly, clearing the past from my head, not wanting the moment to be ruined by those thoughts.

I fisted the hem of my shirt, then hesitated.

Miguel and Quentin had already seen the scar on my back, and we were the only ones here right now, but what if that changed?

I looked around as if someone might pop out on us at any moment.

“You’re safe,” Miguel said, stepping onto the shore. The sun shone down on his tanned, glistening skin, making him appear iridescent, almost angelic. “It’s just us here. Always.”

I tugged my shirt off, hands stalling on my pants zipper. I’d be more exposed to them than ever before, and I’d been programmed to feel shame in that. And what if more people did show up? They’d find me nearly naked.

“ It’s just us here, ” I repeated under my breath. No matter what, it’s always just us here. I kicked off my shoes and pants too fast for my brain to change its mind, then ran for the water in my underwear as Quentin cheered me on.

We spent the day swimming, eating, and sunbathing. Quentin even convinced Miguel to dance with him. It didn’t take much convincing, especially not after Quentin rushed to the car to put some salsa music on. Miguel’s mother loved salsa dancing.

Miguel’s torso rolled like a snake, and his hips swayed to the swift beat. Quentin’s moves needed a little more work, but he seemed too happy just to be alive to care.

I’d just slipped my sunglasses on and spread out on my back to take a nap when something hit the ground near my side. I raised my head, looking down at the football.

“Toss it around in the lake with me?” Quentin asked, standing above me.

“Only if I get my surprise first.” I gripped the ball how he’d taught me to, gesturing a throw.

“If I give it to you now, you won’t want to go into the lake anymore.”

“Just give it to him already,” Miguel said, falling onto the blanket next to me.

“That’s what he said,” Quentin quipped with a satisfied smile before running off to the car. I blushed when Miguel said it was a phrase and then explained what it meant.

“A veces… ?A veces es un idiota?” It wasn’t a question, but I wasn’t sure if I’d gotten it right. My Spanish wasn’t the best, but I was determined to keep learning for Miguel.

“Nice!” Miguel exclaimed, high-fiving me. We laughed, leaving Quentin confused when he returned. “We’re not telling you,” Miguel warned before he could even ask.

“I think that’s grounds for me to hold back my surprise.” Quentin hid whatever he held behind his back.

Miguel looked over at me, a brow raised. “?Deberíamos pegarle?”

I repeated the question to myself slowly, my eyes widening when I understood. “Yes, we should.”

“Hey,” Quentin said, backing away when we sat up. “I don’t know what you said, but it doesn’t sound fucking good. Here, just take it.” He tossed a small bottle at me. I caught it instinctively.

“What’s this?” I pushed my sunglasses on top of my head, examining the bottle of nail polish. “You want me to wear this?” The idea both scared and excited me. What would people think? Delaney would definitely give me a hard time now. I didn’t want any more attention on me.

“We can start small,” Miguel said, squeezing my shoulder.

“Yeah,” Quentin agreed, flopping down on the blanket too. “I’ll paint your toes.”

“Then I’ll paint mine,” Miguel said, stretching his legs out and wiggling his own toes. Quentin lifted one of Miguel’s feet, dusting it off before kissing the arch of it. He rested it on his lap, massaging it while they waited for my answer.

“No.” I stared down at the shiny black polish again. “Let’s not go small. Let’s go big. Paint my fingernails too.”

“Woo-hoo!” Quentin shouted, causing me to cover my ears. “Somebody woke up on the bad-bitch side of the bed today. I fucking love it.”

Miguel and I fell into each other laughing, which never failed to make Quentin smile.

“How about we take turns painting each other, pretty girl? I dare anyone to give me shit about it.”

“Deal.”

We did our nails, napped together, then watched the sun set over the lake before getting ready to head back.

“Back to school tomorrow,” I said after we’d packed everything into the car.

“It’ll be fine.” Miguel came to stand in front of me.

“Fuck yeah it will,” Quentin echoed, rounding the car to stand next to Miguel. He lifted my head with a finger on my chin. “It’s us against anyone who fucks with us, okay? They can’t hurt you. No one can.” He was as sincere as I’d ever seen him.

It’s just us here.

“Okay,” I breathed, trying my best to believe him.

“Good.” Quentin let his cocky smile loose, the one that said he had plans and dared anyone to get in the way of them. “Let’s fuck this school year up, pretty girl.”

We formed a circle, holding each other’s hands. “Let’s fuck it up,” I said, surprising even myself.

I made a promise to myself right then. They were my safe space, and I would be theirs. I’d be their best friend, the place where they could be themselves and love each other however they wanted. I would protect their truths and even protect them from the worst of mine.