“You’re pack now,” I say, and it comes out heavier than I meant. “Or at least, you’re ours to take care of for the next few weeks. We don’t do things halfway.”
Something crosses her face. And under it, that aching little want she tries to swallow.
“I’m not—” She stops, throat working. Tries again, softer. “I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You couldn’t be a burden if you tried.” Carter sets her bags by the closet, then pauses like he’s choosing his words carefully. His voice drops, steady and sure. “And you’re safe here.”
June blinks at him.
Carter doesn’t look away. “Safe,” he repeats, like he’s planting it in the ground. “No one comes onto this property without us knowing.”
Her breath trembles on the exhale, tiny and sharp, like her body has been holding it for years.
“Consider this your space,” Carter adds, easing the edge off with a hint of humor. “Do what you want with it. Rearrange the furniture. Decorate. Throw out the creepy body pillow?—”
“Hey,” I protest automatically.
“—and make yourself at home.”
June gives a small, helpless laugh, the kind that sounds like relief trying to disguise itself. Then she nods, more to convince herself than us, and some of the tightness slips out of her shoulders.
“Okay,” she whispers. She inhales, then lets it out like she’s stepping off a ledge. “Okay. I can do this.”
“Take your time,” I tell her. “Come down whenever you’re ready. No rush.”
We leave her there, surrounded by pink cushions and faux-fur blankets and one very handsome body pillow, and head downstairs.
The moment we hit the living room, I start pacing.
“She’s here,” I say, mostly to the walls. “She’s actually here. In our house. Upstairs. Right now.”
“I’m aware.” Carter drops onto the couch, but his leg is already bouncing, fingers tapping the armrest like he’s trying to bleed off energy. “What are we supposed to do now?”
“I don’t know.” I drag a hand through my hair. “Act normal.”
Carter’s mouth twitches. “What’s normal for you? Because I’m pretty sure your normal is ‘punch first, flirt second.’?”
I glare at him. “Helpful.”
My pacing slows for a beat. Then I start again, because my body doesn’t know how to handle this much want and responsibility at the same time.
“I’ve never felt like this before,” I admit.
Carter’s gaze lifts to mine, and for once, he doesn’t tease. “Me either.”
We’re both staring at the staircase like it might spontaneously combust when the front door opens and Seth walks in.
He takes one look at us and rolls his eyes.
“So she’s moved in, then.”
“She’s upstairs,” Carter confirms. “Getting settled.”
“And you two are down here losing your minds.”
“We’re just… processing.”
“You look like two kids who ate too much candy.” But there’s warmth underneath his sarcasm. “How is she? Did she like the guest room?”
