“You were scared and adorable and have that accent,” Chloe said, grinning while waggling her eyebrows like a loon. “It was impossible not to love you.”
Sydney laughed wetly. “I’m going to miss you.”
Chloe stood and crossed the room, wrapping her arms tight around her. “Pffft. You’ll be too busy being loved up by those Daddies of yours to miss me.”
Chloe then pulled back just far enough to fumble under her pillow, producing a tiny, glittery plastic unicorn with a chipped ear.
“This,” she said solemnly, “is Sir Sparklehoof. He has bravely protected me from nightmares, creepy closet shadows, and one truly terrifying beetle. Now, he’s yours.”
Sydney blinked at the silly thing, laughing through her tears. “Chloe, he’s missing an ear.”
“He lost it in the Great Juice Box Incident of ’22,” Chloe said with dramatic flair. “A noble sacrifice. Don’t make light of it.”
Sydney clutched the unicorn to her chest like a priceless heirloom. “I’ll take good care of him.”
“You better,” Chloe said, sniffling now. “And if your Daddies don’t let you come to Littles’ movie night next week, I’ll sneak you out like a rebellious teenager with a glitter problem.”
“I will,” Sydney whispered into her hair. “I promise.”
They hugged for a long time, until the sting in Sydney’s chest eased just enough that she could pull away. She zipped up her bag and gave the room one last glance.
“Ready?” Chloe asked.
Sydney nodded. “Ready.”
Levi met her outside and after he had her bundled up in a large borrowed coat—one of Roland’s—along with a brightly colored scarf and knit cap, he insisted on carrying her bags like he had that first day she’d met him at the airport. “You can get used to letting us take care of you now,” he said with a wink as they walked the short path to the apartment. She held on to his arm, nerves and excitement fluttering like birds in her stomach. It was crazy how far they’d come in such a short time.
What was even more crazy was how much she’d already cared for these men, and how insane her life had become.
Roland was waiting at the front door, leaning against the railing with his sleeves pushed up and a soft smile that made her knees go a little wobbly. “Welcome home, little bird.”
Her heart skipped. Home.
Sydney paused on the step, the words echoing in her chest like they were something sacred. Home. It hadn’t always been a word that meant comfort.
She stared at the door, suddenly nervous.
Roland noticed. He reached out, cupping her cheek. “You okay?”
She nodded, eyes misty. “It just feels like… everything I ever wanted. And that’s scary.”
Levi stepped in behind her, wrapping a warm arm around her waist. “We’ve got you now, baby. It doesn’t have to be scary anymore.”
Then, with a mischievous grin, Roland swooped her up into his arms and carried her across the threshold. Sydney squeaked, laughing.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s tradition,” Roland said matter-of-factly. “You’re moving in. Gotta do it right.”
“You are ridiculous,” she muttered, clinging to his neck, but she didn’t ask him to stop.
After putting her down, both men made even more of a big deal of it, pretending like she hadn’t been there before by giving her a quick tour of the small space. Her impression of the apartment was the same as it had been the first time. It was warm, inviting and exactly the kind of space she’d picture both men in. And now... now she got to be in the space with them.
“We made you your own corner,” Roland said, leading her to the brightest window in the apartment. There was a small white desk tucked beneath it, with a fuzzy pink chair, a shelf full of colored pens and notebooks, and a bookshelf that was completely empty... just waiting for her to fill it up.
Sydney stared, her hands rising to her mouth. “You did this for me?”
Levi came up behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. “Of course we did. You need a place for your grown-up stuff. And your Little stuff. You’re part of this home now, baby.”
