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Errik soon joined her on the landing. He set the suitcases down and draped an arm over her shoulder, pulling her close to his side. He pressed a quick kiss to the top of her head that elicited butterflies in her stomach.

She peered around the top floor of the house, spellbound by the carved wood interior, the small, white-stone statues that stood inside alcoves, and the numerous doorways that lined the corridor in both directions. How many bedrooms did their home contain? And would he expect to fill them all with children?

She’d begun warming to the idea of starting a family with Errik, but she couldn’t help but wonder just how many children Vaxxlian couples tried to have. The commercials that advertised the VAMOB program conveniently left that detail out. She could see herself having two or maybe three kids… but beyond that? Hmm. Maybe if they were spread out, and Errik was a very hands-on father.

“I will show you our bedroom first, my darling mate.” He kissed the top of her head again. Then he picked up the suitcases, glanced over his shoulder, and said, “Please follow me.”

She trailed after him, her heart racing as she continued glancing around and taking it all in. She’d never set foot in such a fancy house. In addition to the white-stone sculptures, the walls were covered with beautiful paintings, metal artwork, and even designs that were carved into the walls themselves. The parts of the ceiling that weren’t taken up by the skylights looked like something out of a cathedral on Earth. Most areas were painted like a starry night, while other areas showed images of strange, alien animals, spaceships, and more.

A door at the end of the hallway zipped open, and she followed Errik inside. Her mouth dropped open the second she stepped through the doorway. Oh my. The décor in the corridor was nothing compared to the interior of their bedroom. There were more sculptures, paintings, and carvings, all more detailed in design and elegant than what she’d glimpsed in the hallway. And though their bedroom was large, it was also cozy. Circular sconces lined the walls, casting a warm glow over the blue and green rugs, the plush seating areas, and the large bed that dominated the room.

Errik placed her suitcases down near a set of double doors that she suspected opened into a closet. He approached her with slow steps, his eyes suddenly wary.

“What do you think?” he asked softly.

What did she think? Gosh. Not only was the bedroom beautiful, well-furnished, and cozy, it was several times the size of her beloved RV. She could hardly believe this was where she would rest her head every night.

And then there was the rest of the house…

For a moment, she felt overwhelmed.

Her head spun, and her legs became weak.

She inched backward until she reached one of the many seating areas. Trying not to alarm Errik, she perched on the edge of a sofa and adopted a polite expression of approval. Or at least she tried to. She didn’t want him to think she didn’t approve of this bedroom or his house. Clearly, he was proud of the place.

“I think it’s amazing,” she finally said, giving him a bright smile.

Why did a little part of her feel as though she didn’t belong in a house so grand? Was it because her parents had struggled financially? Was it because she never imagined she would be able to rent more than a one-bedroom apartment if she ever decided to abandon her nomadic lifestyle?

Was it because she’d only had enough money for food and basic supplies and hadn’t been able to afford the life-saving surgery that would’ve fixed her heart?

“Are you all right, Holly?” Errik, perceptive as ever, sat next to her and gathered her into his arms. He peered down at her with a concerned gleam in his eyes.

“I am fine, Errik. Truly. It’s just…” Her voice trailed off. How could she explain what she was feeling in a way that wouldn’t cause him any offense?

“Tell me,” he said so gently, so encouragingly and patiently, that her throat almost closed up. “Please.”

“Your home is beautiful, Errik, and I love it. The bedroom is so spacious yet cozy. Everything is lovely. I’m just… overwhelmed. It’s difficult for me to grasp that this is truly where I’ll be living.” She wasn’t brave enough to admit that part of her felt as though she didn’t belong in a place like this. She thought about the affirmation she used to repeat aloud in the mornings before eventually falling out of practice: I am healthy, I am wealthy, I am happy, and I am successful.

She’d repeated that affirmation so many times, yet she’d had trouble actually believing it. Because she’d struggled to believe she was worthy. Even though logically, there was no good reason she shouldn’t be deserving of the nice things in life.

It was just difficult for her to escape that poverty mindset that her parents had unintentionally drilled into her. There’d never been enough money for movie tickets, dinners out, or name brand anything. Yet somehow, her very successful older brother hadn’t internalized that message. Before his disappearance—yes, she was still holding onto hope that he was alive—he’d become one of the most respected interstellar translators of their generation.

She sighed and peered at Errik, thankful that his eyes held no judgment. But he was staring with a quiet astuteness that made her worry he could sense her thoughts. Why wasn’t he saying anything? She averted her gaze from his, suddenly unable to maintain eye contact.

But he grasped her chin and forced her to look at him.

Her stomach flipped. Could he read her thoughts? The idea was so unnerving that she had to resist the urge to pull away from him and jump off the sofa.

“I think I understand, my darling,” he said. A deep sigh left him. “As you know, I was an orphan. I… came from nothing. It wasn’t until after the war that I earned enough money to afford a place like this, and I will admit that this house feels a bit large and overly lavish to me. It is not what I am used to. But I came to New Vaxx because I was lonely and longed for a mate and a family of my own. And once I arrived, it only seemed right that I buy the nicest house I could afford as I prepared to receive my mate from the VAMOB program.”

Relief filled her. He hadn’t been reading her mind after all. He’d simply understood her feelings because he shared them. A sense of awe spread through her.

When he squeezed her hand, she gave him a brief smile before leaning against him. He tightened his arms around her. His familiar masculine scent surrounded her, bringing her comfort. This house might be larger and fancier than she was used to, but when Errik was holding her close, she felt as though she were right where she was meant to be. Where she belonged. With him.

“It sounds like we feel the same way,” she eventually said. “I didn’t grow up an orphan, but my parents had to scrimp and save for everything. Both my parents worked multiple jobs just to afford rent, and as soon as my brother and I were old enough to do odd jobs for neighbors, we started working too.” She tried to ignore the guilt that flowed through her when she recalled how her parents had encouraged her to study hard and get good grades so she could get a college scholarship, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to afford it. But her grades had been mediocre at best and there was no scholarship for her. Her brother, however, earned a scholarship, got a good education, and made a name for himself.

She brushed the memories aside, not wanting Errik to ask what she was thinking about. She didn’t want to admit that being a failure seemed to be her thing. First, in school, and later, as she tried to make it as a travel influencer.