Page 83 of Jay Bird

Derek’s eyebrows rose. “Well, hell.”

Jay Bird's gaze returned to Willow. “She feels it too. We’re taking it slow,” Jay Bird added. “Really slow. She needs that.”

“So do you.”

Jay Bird looked at him, and Derek shrugged.

“Don’t give me that look. You lost almost everything once. She spent three years having everything taken from her. Neither one of you needs to sprint into anything.”

Jay Bird nodded. “That’s pretty much what we decided.”

Derek’s expression softened. “I’m happy for you, Jay.”

The sincerity behind the words hit harder than Jay Bird expected.

“Nothing’s happened yet.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Derek glanced toward Willow and Lily. “I haven’t seen you like this in a long time.”

Jay Bird didn’t know what to say to that. Thankfully, Derek didn’t require an answer.

He slapped Jay Bird lightly on the shoulder. “Go.”

Jay Bird frowned. “Go where?”

Derek nodded toward the beach. “Go be with your girls.”

The words stopped him for half a second. His girls.

He nodded to Derek and then headed toward the stairs.

By the time Jay Bird reached the sand, Willow had Lily back in her arms and was standing near the edge of the surf.

“There are my two girls,” he called out as he approached them.

Willow turned toward him. Something flickered across her expression at the words, but before he could figure out what, Lily spotted him.

Her entire face lit up. “Jay!”

Willow lowered her to the sand, and Lily immediately charged toward him.

“Jay! Bitch!”

Jay Bird stopped dead. “What did you just call me?”

Willow had her hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh.

“Bitch!” Lily shouted happily again, pointing toward the ocean. “Jay! Bitch!”

Willow lost it. She doubled over laughing.

Jay Bird stared at Lily. Then at the water. Then he got it.

“Oh. The beach.”

“Bitch!” Lily said again.

Jay Bird chuckled. “Close enough.”