“Yes,” I say softly. “I would.”
And just like that, I have my answer.
18
RYLAND
“This looks stupid,”Rowan declares.
If it was anyone but my brother, I would say he pouts while he surveys the room.
“No, it doesn’t,” I assure him. “Just because we didn’t get her thousand dollar nesting blankets doesn’t mean this somehow looks bad.”
We’ve turned the kitten’s room into Blair’s unofficial room, too. It may be wishful thinking on our end, since she hasn’t even kissed either me or my brother, but if she wants to nest here, she can.
“I shouldn’t have put up the shelves,” Rowan sighs. “What if the kittens jump on her head while she’s sleeping or something?”
Josie, Posie, and Rosie now have different platforms that they can roam around on in the room. Some are taller than the cat tree, and give them room to explore.
The bed has a thick, plush mattress topper, designed especially for Omegas in their Heat cycles. Thick blue and teal blankets cover the bed with white fluffy pillows sitting on top.
Before we met Blair, this was just a spare bedroom for the kittens to stay in.
But now, it’s furnished with a desk, armchair, and dark-grain wood bookshelf.
It’s polished and practical, but also comfortable.
I clap Rowan on his tense shoulder. “It’s perfect,” I tell him. “Stop spiraling. Everything is fine.”
But Rowan is twitchier than normal. We came up with this plan together—drop off some donations at the rescue then ask Blair to come over tonight.
Travis has had more than enough time with her, yet Rowan and I have barely spent a full day with Blair.
There’s so much more to learn about her, and for her to learn about us.
And once Rowan had noticed her video game collection, he knew the three of us had something in common.
“She’s going to think we’re nerds,” Rowan adds, beginning to pace.
“Hey—hey.Row, we’re good.”
But my brother is spiraling, and it can be hard to pull him out of it when it happens.
I’ve learned that he mostly has to regulate it himself. But sometimes, a little nudge or reminder that he’ll be alright can help.
“I creeped her out the other day,” he mutters. “I tried to take her duffel bag away so she wouldn’t leave.”
“So don’t take her stuff anymore.”
“I’m going to fuck this up, Ryland.” He lets out a shaky breath. “I’m going to mess this up for us.”
A light tinkling of a bell interrupts us, and Josie trots in with her pink collar on, her white tail vibrating in anticipation at seeing Rowan. My brother crouches to pet her, and the tension in his shoulders fades.
Ash and the three girls have been incredible for the atmosphere of the house, and especially for my brother’s racing thoughts.
“That’s not a rational way of thinking,” I remind him, and he nods.
“Yeah, I fuckin’ know,” he grumbles, scratching Josie under her chin. “Doesn’t change the feeling.”
