Chapter 2
TWO
Briar
“Did you hear?” my best friend, Heidi, says, her eyes scanning my face.
I brace myself, already guessing what’s coming. “If you’re about to tell me they filled the bird trainer spot with an outside hire, I might just scream.”
Heidi’s face falls flat. “Okay, I won’t tell you then.” She starts tapping away on her phone, obviously scanning the dating app she’s on.
I slump into the chair in the break room of the Saint Pierce Zoo Bird Aviary.
This place—the largest open-air Asian aviary in the Western Hemisphere—is where I’ve dreamed of working as a bird trainer for as long as I can remember.
It’s an important role here; training some of the rarest birds in the world for the zoo’s educational shows is a big deal.
I’ve been chasing this job for a year, only to be consistently overlooked. Right now, I’m stuck with cleaning cages and handling other menial tasks that the zookeepers usually avoid.
“I can’t believe they hired someone else,” I mutter, the disappointment heavy in my voice.
Heidi tucks her phone into her handbag and settles down beside me, her big brown eyes locking onto mine with a mix of sympathy and determination.
“They’re idiots,” she says, her voice firm.
“Briar, you’re one of the best bird trainers I’ve ever seen.
I mean, who else would take in a rescue parrot and teach him how to speak? ”
I nod, the mention of Jeb, the Congo African Grey parrot I’ve been working with, tugging at my pride and frustration. “Jeb’s great and easy to train, but yeah, I don’t understand it either.”
Heidi leans in closer, her expression serious. “Listen, maybe you need to sit Marcie down and tell her how you really feel.”
I shake my head vehemently. “I can’t do that. No way.”
Marcie’s my boss, the head of what Heidi sarcastically calls the ‘grunts,’ and one of the toughest women I’ve ever met.
She’s the no-nonsense, doesn’t-take-shit-from-anyone type.
I once asked her for a day off to go to the beach, and she told me the beach wasn’t going anywhere and I could visit it when we weren’t in the middle of the busy season.
Since then, I’ve learned to navigate around her as much as possible, avoiding her like the plague. I’ve gotten pretty good at it, too. It’s not just a matter of preference; it’s survival.
“Hey, Marcie wants everyone over by the entrance to the Wings of Asia in ten minutes,” Perry calls out as he passes by.
He’s another grunt worker like me and Heidi, part of our little trio of bird poop warriors.
It’s not glamorous, but someone has to do the dirty work at the zoo, and that someone is us.
I sigh, grabbing my gloves and standing up from my seat. “This is my life. I’ve accepted it.”
Heidi, always the optimist, stands too and wraps an arm around my shoulders, giving me a reassuring squeeze. “No, it’s not. This is just a stepping stone on the way to bigger and brighter things. Trust me. And hey, at least you finally left Jason. That guy was toxic as fuck.”
If only she knew how toxic. And how he’s still lingering. Just the thought of him sends a bitter taste to my mouth. It’s been weeks since I left him, and he’s just not getting it. He still messages.
“When we first met, it was… I don’t know.
Like everything was falling into place,” I admit, half to myself, as the memory of Jason’s charm flickers through my mind.
He had that effortless way of making me feel special, but it was short lived.
And then all the red flags started appearing.
“I really don’t know why I stayed with him as long as I did. ” I should have left at the first sign.
“But I was so wrong,” I continue, my voice hardening as the memories of the lies, the manipulation, and the gaslighting come flooding back. “I never thought I could be that wrong about a person. I mean, I can read birds like nobody’s business, but humans? Apparently, I’m terrible at it.”
Heidi rubs my back, her expression soft but knowing. “You weren’t stupid, Briar. He was just that good at lying.”
“I believed every word,” I mutter. “Every damn word. He was a manipulator, and I was the fool who trusted him.”
Jason had been a master of pretending. He spun lie after lie after lie. I cringe at the thought of how easily he had me wrapped around his finger. Now, I feel like an entirely different person—more guarded, more cautious, and definitely not as na?ve.
“Thank God that’s over,” I lie, shaking off the dark thoughts.
“Damn right,” Heidi agrees, giving me one last squeeze before letting go. “Onward and upward, girl. Let’s show Marcie that you’re meant for more than this grunt work. We’ll make sure that bird trainer spot has your name on it next time.”
I nod, forcing a small smile. Maybe Heidi’s right. Maybe this is just a stepping stone. But for now, it’s hard to see past the bird poop and broken hearts.
“I’ll never make another mistake like that again. I’m done. I’ll never fall for anyone ever again,” I declare with finality, feeling the conviction settle deep into my bones.
Heidi’s brown eyes widen, her usual easygoing expression tightening with concern. “Well, that’s a bit extreme, don’t you think?”
“I’m serious,” I insist, my voice firm. “I have way too much I need to accomplish before I let another man into my life like that again. And for what? To be completely shattered? Never again.” I shake my head, more resolute than ever.
Heidi sighs, her brow furrowing. “You can’t let one asshole dictate your future. That’s not fair to you, Briar.”
“I’m not,” I say, my voice softening but still unyielding. “But I’m also not about to pretend like I didn’t learn from my mistakes. I trusted him blindly, and it backfired in the worst way. I’d be a fool to do that again.”
Heidi shrugs, her playful nature dimming just a little as she considers my words. “I guess I see your point. I just don’t want you to shut yourself off from the world because of some douchebag.”
I offer her a small, tight-lipped smile. “Trust me, Heidi, I’m not swearing off the world. Just… relationships. At least for a long time.” I cross my arms, trying to make the decision feel more empowering than defensive.
A teasing grin pulls at Heidi’s lips as she eyes me mischievously. “Well, I’ve just been asked out by Perry.”
I burst out laughing despite myself, the tension in the room easing slightly. “Perry? Seriously?”
Heidi widens her eyes and opens her mouth in mock shock, but the blush creeping into her cheeks betrays her. “I don’t like Perry,” she says, the denial coming out far too quickly.
I arch an eyebrow, folding my arms as I smirk at her. “Uh-huh. Sure you don’t.”
Her cheeks flush an even deeper pink, and she swats at me playfully. “I don’t! It’s just… he’s funny, okay? And kinda cute in that dorky, bird poop-cleaning way.”
“Uh-huh. Sure,” I say, stretching the words out as I give her a knowing look.
Heidi huffs dramatically, but I can see the smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “I swear it’s not like that! But hey, at least one of us should be allowed to have a little fun, right?”
I shrug, my smile softening. “If you want to date Perry, you should. Don’t let my past relationship deter you.”
Heidi laughs, her earlier tension fading as she rolls her eyes. “I haven’t said yes yet.”
But even as she says it, I can see the glint of amusement in her eyes, and I know she’s considering it.
As for me, I’m still committed to my decision—no more falling for smooth-talking charmers like Jason. I’ve got my work, my goals, and my birds to focus on. Love can wait. Or maybe it’s better off not showing up at all.
I laugh, dragging the word out. “Riiiiight.”
Heidi rolls her eyes, grabbing her things with a huff of mock indignation. “I haven’t.”
“Uh-huh,” I tease, my grin widening as we leave the break room and head toward the aviary. The air outside hits me like a warm blanket, thick and humid, but the sky is bright and clear, a perfect shade of blue with barely a cloud in sight. “Let’s hope we avoid the afternoon showers today.”
“Fat chance,” Heidi says, glancing up at the sky with a skeptical squint. “You know it rains like clockwork at four p.m. every day.”
She’s right, of course. Like a daily ritual, the afternoon rain always sweeps through, cooling everything down for a few moments before the humidity comes back with a vengeance.
The birds love it—happily flapping their wings in the downpour—but I can’t say the same for my hair.
I run a hand through it, dreading the inevitable frizz.
Not that it matters. It’s not like I’m trying to impress anyone these days.
As we stroll through the park, the lush greenery of the aviary stretches out before us, a beautiful oasis of tropical plants and the melodic sound of birds chirping in the trees.
This is one of my most favorite places in the entire world.
But today, there’s a subtle edge to my mood, a nagging sense of frustration that lingers just beneath the surface.
Maybe it’s the constant rejection for the bird trainer position, or maybe it’s Jason still haunting my thoughts despite my resolve to move on.
My phone pings with a text, pulling me from my thoughts. I reach into my pocket and glance down at the screen, relieved when I see who it’s from—my mother.
Mom: Got you someone to watch over you.
I frown, quickly typing back, wondering what on earth she means.
Me: What? Who?
Her response is immediate, which makes my stomach drop even further.
Mom: Security.
“What the hell?” I mutter under my breath, stopping in my tracks.
“What is it?” Heidi asks, peering over my shoulder as I stare at the screen.
“My mom…” I hesitate, trying to make sense of the sudden, cryptic message. “She says she’s got me a bodyguard. Like, someone to watch over me.”
Heidi’s brows shoot up. “For what? Did Jason do something?”