I get it, boy. I get it.
Pickles descends on us immediately when I get the door open. He’s jumping up onto my body, his nose bonking against Lia’s legs. When we emerge through the front door, however, I notice something that makes my blood boil.
Her distinct lack of furniture.
Still.
“Your rental insurance hasn’t cut you a check yet?” I ask, pushing her front door closed with my foot.
Lia simply whimpers, and that makes Pickles jump up again to sniff her face.
“Hey there, boy,” she murmurs.
All of her blankets and pillows are tossed onto the floor in a pile. Has she… been sleeping on the floor?
“Lia, come stay with me so you can sleep in a proper bed,” I say.
“I want my nest,” she whimpers.
“I could gather up your things and?—”
“Please, just put me in my nest.”
Against all Alpha instincts raging inside of me, I walk over to the space on the floor that she’s inhabited. I realize there’s an air mattress beneath it all, and while that doesn’t make me happy, it’s better than her being on the fucking floor.
Pickles takes what I assumes is his spot right beside the head of the air mattress, his tail thrashing and his snout laying at the edge of her pillow.
I ease her down onto the air mattress before helping her get her shoes off.
“You sure you’re going to be okay here, Sunshine?” I ask, watching as Pickles nudges one of her pillows toward her.
Her tired eyes search mine for a second. “Yeah. I just really need sleep. Today was… a lot.”
I stay crouched, running my fingers through her hair. “You know we’ve got you, right?”
Her gaze searches mine for a while. “I’m starting to believe that, yes.”
Holy fuck. I can’t wait to tell the guys. “Want me to stay until you fall asleep?”
“Please?”
Then, she does it again.
She offers me her hand.
I take her soft, small hand within mine, wrapping my fingers around her warm skin. She looks so fragile. It makes me angry that she’s in this position with her home. No one should be this uncomfortable in their own space.
It makes me want to give this apartment complex management a piece of my fucking mind.
Lia yawns. “Goodnight, Knox.”
I lean down and press a kiss to her temple. “Goodnight, Sunshine.”
Pickles whimpers a little, scooting closer to the head of her bed. He lays his head on her pillow, his snout huffing warm air against her face.
It makes her smile as her eyes slip closed.
My cell phone is buzzing, but I don’t pay it any mind. I know the guys are wondering if we made it back. They’ll be fine until I can get back to my car. I wait until her breathing evens out, and then I wait a little longer.
