Page 58 of Jay Bird

Nails frowned. “So what is she supposed to use? She needs a valid ID.”

Jay Bird pulled his bag off the bench. “She is still using Willow, but her temporary last name is Bird.”

As soon as those words were spoken, silence fell over the room.

“Willow is taking your last name?” Bear asked.

“And Lily,” Jay Bird responded.

Bear just nodded. There were no questions, or anyone asking what the hell Jay Bird had been thinking when he’d offered his last name to a woman he’d known for less than a week, because these men knew him.

“If Tink thinks it’ll help keep them hidden, then it’s a good call,” Duke said.

Jay Bird nodded, telling himself the same thing he’d been repeating all along: that this was about security, nothing more.

The guys finished packing up, and conversation gradually shifted toward weekend plans and whether Joker owed Aussie money over some stupid bet Jay Bird hadn’t paid enough attention to understand.

One by one, they headed out, Duke leaving with Snow, Joker and Aussie still bickering as they disappeared through the door, their argument fading down the hallway. Nails paused just long enough to tell Jay Bird to have Willow call Riley if she needed anything before he followed the rest of the team with Playboy in tow. In the end, the room slowly emptied until only Jay Bird and Bear were left behind.

Jay Bird should’ve known that wasn’t accidental.

“So,” Bear said.

Jay Bird groaned. “Don’t.”

Bear laughed. “I haven’t said anything yet.”

“You’ve got that look.”

“What look?”

“The same damn one Derek’s been giving me.”

Bear slung his bag over his shoulder. “Maybe because we’re all wondering the same thing.”

Jay Bird grabbed his own bag. “And what’s that?”

Bear leaned against the lockers. “How are you really doing with all of this?”

With anyone else, Jay Bird would’ve brushed the question off without a second thought, but Bear wasn’t just anyone. He was his friend and brother-in-arms. He didn’t pry for the sake of knowing somebody else’s business. If he asked, it was because he genuinely gave a shit about the answer.

Jay Bird let out a breath. “She fucked up my head.”

Bear’s mouth twitched.

Jay Bird laughed quietly and shook his head. “I’ve known the woman for what? Four days? And I’m standing in the middle of training wondering if she ate lunch.”

That made Bear laugh.

“It’s not funny,” Jay Bird said.

“It’s a little funny.”

“Fuck you.”

“And Lily? I even have to admit, there is something different about how you interact with her than the other kids.”

That wiped some of the humor from Jay Bird's expression.