Nolan grabbed a hairbrush and a hairdryer and began carefully working through every tangled wave. He even picked up my hair oil, squirting a small amount into his palm before running it through my ends.
He even knewhowto brush it, from the ends going higher, instead of tugging down the entire strand, which would’ve hurt like hell.
That made me raise a brow. “Do you already have a woman in your life?”
I hadnevermet a single man who understood the importance of hair oil and basic detangling.
He chuckled but didn’t pause. “I have sisters,” he explained, a small smile on his face, wistful almost.
“Ah. That would do it. How many?”
“Too many. Some days it feels like hundreds, but in reality, there are only four. Do you have any siblings?”
“Nope, just me. I’ve got a bunch of pseudo-siblings at the firehouse. Blaze annoys me in ways only a sibling could.”
“Siblings do have that superpower when it comes to irritation, don’t they?”
I simply nodded as he turned on the hairdryer and began gently working through each section. His fingers brushing along my scalp made me close my eyes, a blissful moan escaping.
There was something so relaxing about having someone play with your hair. I’d been a sucker for it since I was a kid.
He was far more careful and meticulous than I ever was. Half the time, I only dried it to eighty percent before throwing it into a bun for work. This dedication felt good.
“Thank you,” I said quietly as he finished.
“Anytime. You deserve to be looked after,” he told me softly.
Those words hit somewhere deep—a place I hadn’t explored in a long time.
I wanted to be independent, but I also wanted to be cared for. It was a tricky dance. Then again, I’d never expected to end up in a situation like this.
“Nest?” he asked after a moment.
The exhaustion hit me all at once. The effort it had taken to shower came crashing back, and I felt like I could fall asleep right there at the vanity. Unable to form words, I nodded.
Nolan took the hint, scooping me into his arms and carrying me to the bed.
I hated how sick I was—but deep down, I appreciated the care. Nolan treated me like I was something fragile and precious. Which, given my condition, I kind of was.
And while I was usually annoyed by that, at least I had someone here right now. Powering through was, well,exhausting.
My body already recognized them both as pack, and every time I curled up with them, I did feel better. The headaches lessened, the nausea eased, and I could actually keep food down—for a while.
“I’m only agreeing to this because I’m tired,” I murmured, snuggling into Nolan’s chest as he got situated against the headboard.
“I totally understand,” he assured me, gently running his hand up and down my back.
That was the last thing I said before falling into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Chapter 14
Hailey
Morning came faster than I expected, but it was so much easier this time around. I’d actually slept pretty damn well, and the food had stayed in my stomach, where it belonged.
“Hey, there,” Nolan whispered, blinking as he also appeared to wake up.
I guess it made sense. He couldn’t exactly move, so he just rested. Given the fact that he was a lawyer, I imagined he could use the extra rest too.
