“And it’s a beautiful day,” Henry said.
The sun was shining down on us, the slight breeze warm against my skin. Of course there was no ice on the bridge now. We’d pulled over by a meadow that was filled with flowers. It was on the side of the interstate, but it looked like something out of a storybook.
“I can do it,” I said.
“I know you can,” Gray responded, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips.
Before we got in the car, Bear pulled me in for a tight hug. “Don’t hide things from us. It’s easier to handle together.”
“I know.” The tightness in my chest had eased with all their comforting touches. For the first time, my vulnerability felt like a strength.
“Where do you want to sit, sweetheart?” Liam asked. “If you sit in the middle, you might see more of the bridge.”
“I want to touch you both, though,” I said, looking between him and Henry.
“You can always close your eyes if it gets to be too much,” Henry said, taking my hand and rubbing his thumb across the back.
I climbed into the car. “Let’s get it over with.”
Liam’s arms were around me the second we both got buckled. “Just lean into me,” he murmured, his purr filling the car and making me melt into him.
Henry was on my other side, the heat of his body against mine as he ran his hand up and down my leg.
Gray started the car and pulled back onto the road. Liam pressed my face to his chest, and I closed my eyes. Jolts of anxiety ran through me as we kept driving. We were probably on the bridge by now and I didn’t want to look, but not knowing was maybe worse.
“I wonder how fancy this guesthouse is going to be,” Bear said. “Knowing Henry, it’s going to be fucking fancy. I mean, who even has a guesthouse?”
“Well, I can confidently say there aren’t any torn couches or mattresses on the floor,” Henry said. “That in and of itself probably means it’s fancy to you.”
“How do you know about our beds?” Liam asked.
I giggled and he tightened his hold on me.
“I may have peeked into your rooms,” I confessed. Liam and Bear’s bedrooms had been sparse, with piles of clothes on the floor and bare mattresses in the middle. It screamed bachelor pad.
“You sleep on the fucking floor?” Gray snorted.
Liam growled and I laughed harder.
“Omegas like being close to the ground,” Bear said defensively.
“Ahh, yes, your entire apartment was designed with an omega in mind. How could I have missed it?” Henry responded dryly.
I pressed my smile into Liam’s chest, allowing his sugary scent to surround me. I knew they were having this conversation for my benefit, and I was so fucking thankful.
“Okay, love, it’s over,” Gray said softly.
I slowly sat back up, blinking as I looked out the window. The city stretched before us, colorful homes lining the winding streets down toward the docks. We were safe, and I felt lighter than I could have imagined.
“Thank you,” I said, leaning into Henry.
“Anytime, darling,” he said.
Bear winked at me from the front, and I reached my hand out for his. He’d known exactly what I needed. The stress from the past few hours washed over me and my eyelids grew heavy.
“Let’s get some food and then you can sleep,” Henry said, kissing my forehead.
I forced my tired eyes to stay open, wanting to take in every bit of the city. After a lifetime of being stuck in Luna, of barely leaving the city I was born in, I had made it out of the province.
