Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Chester is the show’s little troublemaker, and he’s absolutely brilliant at it. His antics are what makes the crowd fall in love with him every time, and honestly, it’s what makes me love him too. Out of all the birds here, Chester has the biggest personality—cheeky, smart, and just unpredictable enough to keep everyone on their toes.
Chester’s also the one with the most fans—Chester the Yellow-naped Amazon is practically a celebrity in his own right. Jenny manages his social media, and somehow, Chester has over twelve million followers. People adore him, and not just the locals. Tourists travel from all over the world just to catch a glimpse of him in action. I overhear families talking about how seeing Chester is the highlight of their trip. It’s wild to think that a bird can be more famous than most people, but Chester earns it with every mischievous squawk and playful dive off the perch.
I chuckle to myself as Chester cracks another joke, his sharp little beak snapping playfully as the crowd roars with laughter. My heart swells with pride, but I’m quickly reminded I still have a job to do. I push my broom across the floor of the aviary, sweeping up bits of feathers and stray twigs while glancing up at the show. It’s hard to stay focused with Chester putting on his performance, but I force myself to get back to the task at hand.
As I finish up with one of the cockatoo cages, something catches my eye—movement near the restricted area behind the enclosures. I squint, spotting a man slipping around the corner where only staff are allowed. My stomach tightens immediately. That area is off-limits to the public.
I put down my broom and step forward, my heart pounding as I call out, “Excuse me, you’re not supposed to be back here.”
The man steps out from behind the shade, and my breath catches in my throat as my eyes lock with his cold, familiar blue ones. Jason. My pulse quickens, and a chill runs down my spine. Of all the people I didn’t want to see today—or ever—it has to be him.
He’s wearing that smirk I’ve grown to hate, the one that used to make me feel special, but now it just makes my skin crawl. His blonde hair is tousled like he hasn’t bothered to comb it, and the slight shadow of stubble on his jaw suggests he’s been living in the same state of disarray since we split. But it’s his eyes that unsettle me the most—those piercing blue eyes that used to hold charm, now sharp and unreadable.
“I just had to see you,” he says, stepping closer, his voice low and uninvited in the otherwise peaceful aviary.
I take a step back, instinctively putting distance between us. “Jason, you’re not allowed to be here.” My voice is firmer than I expected, but there’s a tremor beneath the surface I hope he doesn’t catch.
He ignores my words, taking another step toward me, his presence invading my personal space like a thick, suffocating fog. “I know,” he says, his gaze never leaving mine, “but you won’t return my calls. I had to see you.”
There’s an edge to his tone, something desperate that sends alarm bells ringing in my head. I’ve been trying to avoid this confrontation for weeks, dodging his texts, ignoring his voicemails. But here he is, standing right in front of me, uninvited and unwelcome.
I glance around quickly, hoping someone might walk by, but the back area is secluded. Just me and Jason.
“There. You saw me.” I hold my hands up in a gesture of surrender, trying to convey just how much I want him to leave. “Now, go away.”
Jason’s face twists into a hurt expression, and he takes a step closer, his eyes narrowing with a mix of frustration and something darker. “Ouch, you’re being so rude, Briar. Can we just talk?”
I cross my arms over my chest in a defensive stance. I force myself to meet his gaze, though every second he’s near feels like an assault on my sense of safety. “Fine, let’s talk. Want to talk about how you lied to me? How you cheated on me?”
Jason’s expression shifts, and he moves in closer, grabbing my upper arm with a grip that’s firmer than I’d like. Almost painful. His touch sends a shiver down my spine. “No, I don’t want to talk about that. I saw you staring at the guy you work with.”
“Who, Perry?” I blink in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”
“I don’t like when you stare at other men. I should be the only one you’re staring at.” His voice is low, almost possessive, and I can see the possessive glint in his eyes. It’s both unsettling and enraging.
This can’t be happening. My gaze drops to where his hand is still clamped around my arm. “Let go of me, Jason.”