Avery’s soft footsteps entered the nest. I heard the faint shuffling of fabric, and the movement of him across the cushions before he laid down with me, not bothering to unearth me from the blankets before pulling me tight to his body.

“You okay, baby girl?”

It seemed like such a simple question, and yet it wasn’t. Was I okay? Yes. I was fine and happy to be here in my nest with him, relieved to be out of that horrendous and awkward dinner, and yet my chest ached.

“Kind of.”

Now he peeled the blankets back so he could see my face, and I watched the twinkle lights flicker above us. “What’s going through your head?”

“I think I wanted her to like you more than I realized. Like I knew, but I didn’t know how much, and it hurts.”

He moved, stripping back the blankets and grabbing one foot. It took me a second to realize he’d brought my socks—his gift from the heat—and was pulling them on. They came halfway up my thighs, and I loved how cozy they made me feel. “I need more pairs of these.”

“I’ll buy you as many as you want,” he said. “They’re damn hot, and I love how you relax in them.”

The blanket was tucked over both of us when he finished. “I brought chocolate too.”

“What kind?”

“Filled with caramel.” He kissed me on the nose.

I closed my eyes. “That’s perfect.”

Reaching out of sight, he brought back a piece for me to unwrap. “It’s okay to be disappointed about your mom’s reaction. Don’t think because we’re telling you it’s fine that you’re not allowed feel it. We just want to make sure you know it doesn’t affect anything for us.”

“Yeah.” I turned toward him, burrowing into his warmth. He was naked under the blanket with me, which was a good distraction along with the dissolving sugar in my mouth. “And I am. But I think I’m going to have to get used to it. Because I’m doing my own thing and not trying to make her happy at the same time, I’m going to feel it more.”

Avery’s scent grew stronger, spicy and amazing. Like being enveloped by a chai latte, or gingerbread cookies. Savory spices too, like oregano and basil. I breathed him in and let him hold me.

“You like taking care of me,” I said quietly, barely even aware I said it.

“Yes, I do.”

“Why?”

I felt him shrug. “Why does Kade like chasing? Or Luke like to be in control? It’s who I am. Nothing makes me happier than making sure someone is safe, fed, and happy. Even if that last part takes a while.”

I laughed into his chest. “It’s like having a mood ring. However I feel, there’s always someone to satisfy the craving.”