33. Misely
thirty-three
Misely
A n hour later, we had loaded our bags into the van for the last time, readying ourselves for the last leg of our cross-country trip. Talon sat in the driver’s side beside me, staring out the windshield in a way that disturbingly reminded me of the night we’d left Chicago. Like he couldn’t stand to look at me.
I put the thought out of my head because if I dwelled on it for too long, it would turn into wondering if he were beating himself up about our acquaintanceship as much as I was. Wondering if he were wishing things were different too. Instead of acknowledging the tension, I turned the radio on and sent a text to Birdie, letting her know I’d be arriving in the evening. That was all I had to look forward to—seeing my best friend after an entire year.
I put out of my head the fact that it was not going to be the beautiful reunion I’d daydreamed about having with her. Rushing through the airport and flying into an embrace, Milo filming the cute little interaction for us to look back on later. No, there would be none of that, but there was sure to be an altercation. And Birdie might very well decide that I wasn’t worth having as a friend anymore.
And despite my earlier reassurances to him, I still had no idea what direction Talon was going to move in. I suppose I was just holding out hope that he’d choose the direction that didn’t include selling Milo out to his slimy uncle. Daring a glance at him, I noted the way his knuckles were gripping the steering wheel to death and his jaw was twitching. So, there was definitely something going on in his head.
In a move I didn’t think either of us was expecting, I reached out and laid a hand on his thigh, giving it a light squeeze. His eyes touched me for a moment, the tight lines in his expression softening to a degree, before he went back to watching the road. I followed suit, watching the scenery outside as it passed by, only jumping a smidge when my hand was suddenly enveloped by his. Threading his fingers between mine, he mimicked my squeeze without a word.
The driveway to Birdie and Milo’s house was long. Probably the longest driveway I’d ever seen, surrounded by massive snow laden trees. The anxious energy in the van was almost stifling with every yard we grew closer to the house, a small cabin set into the backdrop of the woods.
The sight was wholly Birdie. It only made sense that they would make a home for themselves deep in the woods, far from the pressures of society, surrounded by the nature that Birdie loved so much. Solar lights illuminated the walkway leading to the tiny front porch, the sconces on either side of the door lit up as well, likely in preparation for me.
The front door flew open before the van could even park, Birdie’s short frame running out into the snow like her pants were on fire. In the dim light of the evening, I could hardly make out so much as her face, but a frantic buzzing had started in my veins. It had been more than a year since I’d seen her. More than a year since I’d been able to share her space, to feel her hug, to see her roll her eyes when I said something undoubtedly stupid or admittedly self-centered. And the ache in my chest as a result of that distance was a living thing, eating me up from the inside out.
The second the vehicle came to a complete stop I was unbuckled, hurling myself out the door, and sprinting across the short distance to her, not able to move fast enough. Tears were already streaming down my cheeks when our arms wrapped tightly around one another, the embrace a welcome comfort that was well overdue.
“Oh Bird, Bird, Birdie, I’ve missed you so much.” My voice cracked on the last word, arms tightening around her neck. Her hair smelled like lilacs and pine, the familiar aroma nearly making my knees buckle. I felt her chest shake against mine, and when she spoke I knew she was also overcome with emotion.
“I’ve missed you so much too, Mise. So fucking much.”
We were a mess of tears and bumbling, hardly coherent words for several long moments. It didn’t matter, I never wanted to let go of this hug. I wanted to bottle it up and carry it with me everywhere so that the miles that separated my best friend and I this last year ceased to exist.
Too soon though, a car door closed behind me and I felt Birdie’s entire body stiffen as she undoubtedly realized whose footsteps were approaching.
Her words shook as she spoke, the sharp sting of accusation lining every syllable. “Misely, what have you done?” Ripping away from me, she took three large steps back.
Like a slap across my cheeks, I sensed the betrayal she felt in every inch she moved away. Immediately desperate for forgiveness, I threw my hands up. “Birdie, wait. It’s not what you think.”
Her eyes, shining bright with venom, never left the figure that I now felt right behind me. “Really? So, you didn’t use our friendship to trick me into telling you where we are so you could bring Milo’s evil brother right to our doorstep? Because that’s what I’m thinking and that’s exactly what this looks like.”
I pinched my eyes shut tightly, trying to banish the image of her resentful glare. “No, I mean—”
“I need to talk to my brother.” Talon spoke over me, his tone unreadable.
Anxiety sliced through me and I was unable to stop my feet as I moved forward to erase the distance Birdie had put between us. She held a pointed finger up and shook her head once, firmly.
“No, you stay right there Misely Fisher.” She shot a loathsome look at the man behind me. “Don’t you fucking move.” Twisting on her heel she bounded up the porch steps and disappeared behind the door, slamming it behind her. One thing was for certain, in the time that had past since I’d last seen my sister at heart, she had grown one hell of a backbone.
Talon’s hands gripped my shoulders and I spun around, hating myself for finding comfort in his sympathetic expression. For just a moment, I let myself fall into his embrace soaking up any solace he could provide before pulling back and putting us an arms length apart.
“She’s furious. I mean of course she’s furious. I would be furious. I was furious. But then you told me—you have to tell them the truth, Talon. You have to.”
“Misely—” he started, but I was past reason. I’d known Birdie was going to react this way, I’d known this was not going to go over well. And yet I still hadn’t been prepared for the sinking sensation of panic that had welled up the moment she’d pushed away from me, that look of betrayal burning in her eyes. She was the closest thing I’d had that felt like family and losing her wasn’t an option.
“No, Talon, please . I’m begging you. Just tell them the truth. I’ll never ask you for anything else, ever again. They aren’t like Kyle or your sister. They’ll listen. Please just tell them about—”
“Tell us about what?” I hadn’t heard Milo come out of the house and I wasn’t sure how much of my pleading he’d bore witness to, his voice a threateningly low timbre. When I turned to face him, his expression was one to match. Birdie stood just behind him, one arm looped through his with her other hand clutching it like she was preparing to hold him at bay. They were strikingly beautiful beside one another, and yet seemingly so different from the last time I’d seen them together.
Milo had cut his hair short, faded on the sides and a little longer on top. A new tattoo across the expanse of his neck caught my attention; a bird with its wings outstretched, back lit by a blazing sun and surrounded by stars. My eyes watered with the tears I held back, unexpectedly overcome with gratitude that Birdie had found someone who loved her so wholeheartedly.
Talon’s eyes lit up when they met Milo’s, just a brief flash of what seemed like relief before it was gone just as quickly. He shot me a brief look of warning before nodding at his little brother. “Good to see you too, Lo. It’s been a while.”
Milo bared his teeth. “That was intentional.”
Talon sighed, the sound tired. “Look, can we just go inside and ta—”
“You’re not taking one step inside my house until you explain why the fuck you’re here. And how she ,” he jerked a finger at me, “got dragged into it.”
I looked to Talon with pleading eyes, silently mouthing the word ‘ please.’ His jaw ticked as he inspected my face.
“Kyle sent me to haul you home. She’s just collateral damage.”
I deflated. Hurt, dread, and disappointment warring for dominance in my churning stomach. Jerking my gaze away from his, I twisted back to where Milo and Birdie stood watching us. Her eyes darted from me to Talon and back again, narrowing just slightly. She was connecting dots in her head, and I could only guess where those dots were leading her. Likely right to the truth. I opened my mouth to speak, but she got to it first.
“It’s freezing out here. Let’s go inside.” She was back in the house with the storm door slamming shut behind her without another word.