Chapter 5
FIVE
Briar
Can I admit something? I think Orion is a fucking rockstar. No, not like a real one, but just as cool as one. He’s got this aura about him that makes him irresistible. I can’t stop staring at him.
He’s gigantic with more muscles than I’ve ever seen on any normal man before. Like he not only works out in the gym, but eats the gym for breakfast too.
And when his eyes lock with mine and they glaze over, I can only imagine he’s having dirty thoughts about what he’d like to do with me.
Crazy, right? I know he’s not really thinking that. But a girl can hope, right?
He’s probably thinking I’m some crazy bird lady that gets on his nerves.
Ugh. I hope I’m not getting on his nerves.
I want to make sure we’re in and out of this store, so I cross my arms over my chest and get into busy shopping girl mode, ready to attack each aisle with a plan.
Because if I don’t have a plan, I might just gawk and stare at Orion, and that’s not a good idea.
I travel down the pet aisle first, looking to see if there’s any new bird toys that Jeb might like.
We don’t stay away from home often, so I know he hates being off his routine.
I want to make sure he’s rewarded for being a good bird.
“I think he has enough toys,” Orion grumbles beside me.
“A bird can never have enough toys.” I pluck a toy off the shelf.
Orion scans the aisle, keeping me close to him since we’ve walked in the store. “Fine. What about you?”
I blink. “I don’t need any toys.” And then my mind goes somewhere naughty, thinking about the types of toys adults play with, and how I’d love Orion to use some of those toys on me.
Stop that. I can’t have these thoughts. My cheeks burn with heat and I know I’m blushing.
Orion blinks at me, like he can read my every thought. “I meant food. What kind of food do you want?”
Without missing a beat, I list off my favorites, ticking them off on my fingers like it's a perfectly reasonable request. "Chocolate chip pancakes, of course. Also, grilled cheese. Macaroni and cheese. Pizza. Oh! And chicken nuggies."
He raises an eyebrow. "Nuggies?"
I stand up a little taller, jutting my chin out proudly. “Yes, chicken nuggets. They're a staple. Who doesn’t love them?”
Orion’s stoic as he studies me. “You eat like a five-year-old.”
I flash him a playful smile, folding my arms over my chest. “I know. It’s a weakness of mine. I love all the easy food. The good stuff.”
He shakes his head. “All the unhealthy stuff, you mean.”
“Hey!” I say, giving him a light shove, but the man is a rock the size of Gibraltar, and doesn’t budge. “Don’t knock it. It’s comfort food. Pure nostalgia. And, let's face it, delicious.”
Orion looks at me with an amused expression. “So, let me get this straight. If you had to choose between a fancy steak dinner and a plate of chicken nuggets, you’d pick the nuggets?”
“Every time,” I say without hesitation, smiling brightly. “Why complicate life when nuggets exist?”
He chuckles, the sound warm and rich, like he’s trying to wrap his mind around my questionable food choices. “You’re something else, Briar. I’ve never met a woman who’d admit to loving ‘nuggies’ with so much pride.”
I smile. “You’d be surprised, Orion. I’m not your average girl.”
Orion shakes his head in disbelief. “Well, if you say so. But I’m still buying something green for you at some point. I’ve got to keep you alive somehow.”
I dramatically roll my eyes. “Fine, you can sneak in a salad if it makes you feel better. But don’t you dare touch my nuggies.”
He holds up his hands in mock surrender, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Okay,” I say, giving in with a playful sigh. “I’ll compromise. We can do one of your meals tonight, and one of mine tomorrow. Then, at work, I’ll eat whatever they’ve got.” I hold out my hand, grinning as I tease, “Deal?”
Orion takes my hand in his, his grip firm yet warm. “Deal,” he says, sealing the agreement like we’ve just negotiated a high-stakes business contract instead of arguing about chicken nuggets versus salad.
We continue shopping, wandering through the aisles, me grabbing my comfort foods and Orion sneaking in some vegetables and actual meal ingredients whenever he thinks I’m not looking. Twenty minutes later, we’ve got everything we need, and we head back to his place with full bags.
The moment I step inside his house, I hear the familiar squawk of Jeb belting out, “Welcome to the Jungle!” His rendition of the song is both chaotic and charming.
“He sings too?” Orion asks, eyes wide with disbelief as Jeb’s warbling fills the house.
I chuckle, placing a bag of groceries on the kitchen counter. “Oh, Jeb does it all. He really should be performing at this point.”
Orion raises an eyebrow as he helps me unpack the bags. “So, why isn’t he? I mean, clearly, he’s got the talent.”
I shrug, laughing at the idea of Jeb headlining a show. “Stage fright. If you can believe it.”
Orion pauses, turning to look at me. “Stage fright?” He glances over at Jeb, who’s now making exaggerated parrot noises that sound suspiciously like laughter.
I nod, holding back my own laughter as I explain. “Yeah. He’s a diva when it’s just me around, but the moment there’s an audience? He clams up.”
Orion shakes his head as we continue unpacking. “So, your bird is an introverted rock star?”
“Exactly,” I say, grinning at how absurd it sounds. “He’s the real deal when no one’s watching.”
As we finish putting away the groceries, I catch Orion watching me with a soft smile on his face. “What?” I ask, feeling my cheeks warm under his gaze.
He shrugs, leaning against the counter. “You just… you’re full of surprises, Briar. I never know what to expect next.”
I laugh, rolling my eyes. “Stick around long enough, and I’ll introduce you to all my quirks. But be warned, there’s a lot.”
Orion smirks, that playful glint returning to his eyes. “Good thing I’m not scared of a challenge.”
I blink, and the air between us seems to shift, growing heavier, more charged. The playfulness fades, and suddenly we’re standing a little too close, his arm brushing mine, his presence overwhelming in the best possible way. My heart starts thumping so loudly I swear he can hear it.
For a second, I forget how to breathe as his dark eyes lock on mine, their usual teasing glint replaced with something deeper, something that makes my stomach do a somersault. The space between us feels smaller, the room quieter, and for a wild, insane moment, I think he’s going to kiss me.
But that would be silly, right? I mean, sure, we’ve been getting along well, and he’s got that whole charming-bodyguard thing going on, but a kiss? Here, in his kitchen, with Jeb still muttering, “Welcome to the jungle” from across the room? No way.
Right?
But then he leans in ever so slightly, and my pulse spikes.
I feel the warmth of his breath against my skin, and I wonder if he’s feeling the same magnetic pull I am.
It’s like the whole world narrows down to just us, his hand resting on the counter, mine gripping a half-unpacked box of cereal like it’s my lifeline.
“I—” I start, but my voice cracks, betraying the fact that I’m about five seconds away from totally melting into this moment.
His lips twitch into a small, knowing smile, and he reaches up, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. The light touch sends a shiver down my spine, and I wonder if he can tell just how badly I’m unraveling inside.
“You okay?” he asks, his voice lower, softer now. The kind of voice that feels like a secret.
I clear my throat, forcing a laugh that sounds way more nervous than I intended. “Yeah, yeah. Totally. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Orion’s smile widens, and for a second, I swear he knows exactly what’s running through my mind. It’s like he’s perfectly aware of how close I am to hoping, wishing, that he’ll kiss me. But instead, he steps back, the intensity between us dissipating just as quickly as it had built.
“Good,” he says, his tone back to that easy, teasing warmth. “Because I still have to teach you how to make a proper grilled cheese, and you look like you’re about to pass out.”
I laugh, my face burning as I snap out of whatever romantic daze I’d been in. “Grilled cheese it is,” I say, relieved and disappointed all at once.
As we go back to the simple task of making lunch, I can’t help but wonder—was I imagining things, or was there something real in that almost-kiss? Either way, one thing’s for sure: this is going to be a lot more complicated than just chicken nuggets and macaroni.
“I’m so sorry,” I say, darting after Jeb as he swoops into the living room like he owns the place, his wings flapping dramatically. He’s stolen Orion’s keys that were hanging by the front door, laughing in pure Jeb fashion as he bobs his head. I swear this bird is trying to give me a heart attack.
Orion watches Jeb with narrowed eyes, arms crossed, clearly less amused than I am. “How often is he out of the cage?” he asks, his voice laced with mild irritation.
I wince, feeling a bit guilty. “Not usually this much, but... I feel bad because he’s off his routine.” I glance over at Jeb, who’s now perched triumphantly on the back of the couch, squawking something that sounds like ‘Hotch!’ I blush. “He’s a Criminal Minds fanatic, just like me.”
Orion raises an eyebrow, clearly trying to piece together how a bird has a TV-watching routine. “What do you two normally do when you’re at home?” His tone is half-curious, half-exasperated.
I shrug, offering him a sheepish smile. “We watch Criminal Minds. It’s kind of our thing.”
Orion stares at me for a beat, like he’s trying to decide if I’m serious or messing with him. Finally, he sighs, shaking his head, but there’s a hint of a smile there. “Seriously?”