Chapter 6 Te Amo
I woke to the elegant singing of blue jays outside my window, which made me smile. I say “singing” because they’re basically called songbirds, and I’ll forever prefer waking up to their voice than that of a blaring alarm siren.
I like what I like.
They’d started coming outside my room more and more over the last three years – since I’d had someone come in and attach a large food tray to the wall next to my window.
It’s hard as it is for these birds to feed themselves properly, so I thought doing this little thing for them might help them in some way.
Also, I just wanted an excuse to visit a pet store and buy fancy bird food for them.
And, also because I really love their singing.
It’s mostly because of the latter, I promise.
I stretched and turned in bed, and groaned at the pressing pain in my lower back. Sleeping in the same position for too long was not something I did intentionally; it just happened sometimes.
I looked to my left, and smiled even bigger when I found my teal vacuum mug on the nightstand, with a small note placed under it. I sat up and quickly grabbed the former, and when I twisted open its cap, I sighed as the heady aroma of coffee hit me right in the face.
Heaven.
As I took a large swig of it, I grabbed the note and read it.
Eu te amo, minha Carina.
I love you, my Carina.
I touched the note to my chest for a brief moment, and then carefully put it in the 2nd drawer of my nightstand, where it joined more of Av?’s little notes to me over the years. I then grabbed my phone before sending him a text.
Me: Bom dia, Av?. Thank you for the coffee :’) Love you.
He responded a few minutes later, just as I was about to swallow another mouthful of coffee. Don’t judge.
Av?: You’re up. I figured I’d make coffee before Myles and his guys revoked kitchen access.
They’re already at the house and working on the walls, by the way.
Might be a while before we can use the area for cooking.
You good for the afternoon? You can order takeout, or have lunch with Ashleigh during her work break.
Just the mention of Myles’s name made my breaths come in faster. God, why was I being like this, especially towards a guy who was a complete stranger?
I cleared my throat and typed a response.
Me: Yeah, I’m good. And yeah, you’re right; I’ll take lunch with Ash.
Me: Also, you always give me shit for going to the shop early, but look at you. It’s only 9 and you’re already there.
Av?: How do you know I’m at the shop and not somewhere else?
I rolled my eyes as I drank more of the delicious coffee.
Me: Where else would you be, Av??
Av?: Come now, at least give me the benefit of the doubt, pequena.
I chuckled.
Me: Never change, Av?. Never change.
Av?: It’s already a little too late for that, don’t you think?
I shook my head as I laughed, just as my phone beeped with another text from him.
Av?: Also, I’m at the shop this early because Cruz called and asked if I could come in before opening time. He said he wants me to sample a few things, and that he had your approval on them?
Me: Yeah. It’s these yummy cupcake flavors he’s come up with. They’re so good, Av?; I really think we should add them to our menu.
I placed the empty mug on the nightstand and hid a yawn behind a hand.
Av?: I’ll try them, then, but I’m sure they’re great. It’s about time we introduced new things to the customers.
Me: I agree! Okay, I gotta go freshen up and look for something to eat. I love you, Av?. Text me after you’ve tried the cupcakes.
Av?: Will do, hon. Eu te amo.
I got to my feet and headed to the window.
I slowly slid its small glass door to the side, and leaned my head out so that I could look at the blue jays’ food tray.
The sunflower seeds were hidden under a thick blanket of snow, and I could already tell that a lot of them had frozen over.
I liked to clean and fill the tray late at night so that the birds had food in the morning, but ever since it had started snowing, I’d been having issues keeping the tray safe from the stupid snowflakes.
I had, however, thought about getting a roof added over it to avoid the snow from falling directly inside it.
The guy who’d installed the tray wasn’t free to come in and do it for me, and I, of course, couldn’t do it myself. But…maybe Myles could do it.
I shivered at the cold outside and moved back to avoid getting hit by strong waves of chilly air. I then shut the window and stepped to the side, and tapped my nails on the back of my phone, which was still in my hand.
It wasn’t like I was going to be candid with Myles if I did decide to text him. It would be a work-related thing, and even if I did send him a random message, it wasn’t like I’d commit a crime against humanity or anything. We’d exchanged numbers for a reason.
We’d almost kissed last night for a reason, too.
Ugh, why was it so hard being a fifteen-year-old in the body of a twenty-seven-year-old? The struggle was real, let me tell you.
I glanced at my phone, then at the food tray, and then at my phone again. Deciding that the birds mattered more than my silly procrastination, and also that it’d be nice to simply hear from Myles after almost getting caught by Av? last night, I unlocked my phone and sent out a text.
Me: Morning, Beauty :’) I need a quick favor.
I then explained everything in the message, making it look more like a movie’s monologue than an actual request. I think I waited for a little over ten minutes for him to reply, and when he didn’t – even after reading the message within the first minute itself – I sighed, threw my phone on the bed, and decided to go downstairs.
What? I was at home for a reason, okay? Examining the work progress was part of that very reason. And, if I wanted to check in on a certain constructor as well, then I would.
Why?
Because I damn well could, that’s why.