Chapter 16
Alexandria
Iheave the gigantic dishwasher open. A rush of steam hits my face. So, it works.
I start taking the plates out. Everything smells clean, too.
I’m trying to keep myself busy.
I haven’t seen Gunnar since he walked out of the bathroom last night.
When I woke up, he was already gone somewhere. Doesn’t look like Orson has been back either.
So, I’ve been here by myself all day. Just me and my thoughts.
I keep replaying it.
The kiss.
The terrible fight.
And then the moment in the bathroom.
The way he just… left me standing there.
It’s all still in my body—a confusion of feelings.
Surprise. Fear. Disappointment.
But mostly it’s the kiss—how he held me so tight, like he couldn’t get close enough.
How our lips seemed to be made for each other.
How when his tongue touched mine, I felt like I was lifting up among the stars.
But now he’s avoiding me.
And it kind of hurts, but there you go.
I’m reaching up to put a plate on a high shelf when I hear a car outside. I freeze, then dart to the kitchen window. I can’t see the drive from here though.
I open the kitchen door instead. “Guys?” I yell to the hallway.
Nothing.
A prickle of adrenaline goes through me.
I flick off the light and move back to the window.
A car comes into view, driving into the clearing. Dark, familiar.
Torin.
A breath rushes out of me.
Gunnar appears from the trees on the left. Orson a second behind him, emerging on the right.
They gather around the car. Torin gets out and they immediately embrace him—long, affectionate hugs.
Then they speak, close together. I can’t hear the words. He gestures to the trunk, something tight in his expression.
My stomach is tight at the thought of speaking to Gunnar again, but not knowing what they’re saying is worse.
At last, I head out of the kitchen, through the front door, and into the yard.
I stop in front of them, words frozen on my lips.
“Hi, Torin,” I manage.
They all turn. Torin breaks into a smile. “Hey, Alexandria.”
“Well?” My heart is pounding.
His smile widens. “All done.”
“You mean—?”
“Everything’s good. Your friend already heard from the cops, so she knows what’s going on.”
“So my cat’s okay?”
“Yeah. She’s fine.”
I close my eyes. “Thank goodness.”
“Want to see for yourself?”
“Huh?”
Torin opens the rear door of the car. I lean in—and give a small scream as two yellow eyes stare out of the darkness.
“Tabitha!”
My Burmese cat is crouched inside a carrier, looking completely affronted. I open it and scoop her into my arms.
She hisses immediately, her body going rigid.
“What?” I pull her back to look at her. “What is it?” She’s never like this.
“She’s not a big fan of bears,” Torin says, ruefully. He lifts his arms, showing a web of fresh scratches. “Getting her in there was… an experience.”
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” I say—but I’m laughing, because I’m so relieved to see her.
“All part of the service.” He grins.
“Thank you. Seriously.” I inhale her familiar smell.
He shrugs. “Figured you’d want her with you.”
He and Gunnar exchange a look.
“And there’s more,” Gunnar says. He pops the trunk. “Take a look.”
Keeping a tight hold on Tabitha I go around, and stop. There’s my suitcase, and a pile of my law books.
“No way.”
“I put a bunch of your clothes in the suitcase, and some bag that was in the bathroom. I hope I got all the important stuff,” Torin says, looking uncharacteristically bashful.
“Oh my god.” I bury my face in Tabitha’s fur, because suddenly I’m tearing up. I’ve tried to be so strong since I’ve been here, but this kindness, this consideration is overwhelming.
“We didn’t think we’d be able to get into your apartment,” Torin says. “So, we couldn’t check with you first.”
“No, this is—this is perfect,” I manage to say.
“Let’s get it inside,” Gunnar says.
Tabitha starts fighting to get down, so I put her back in the carrier and lift it out of the car. Gunnar and Torin grab the rest, and we head inside.
Gunnar and Torin bring the bags through from the hall. The suitcase goes by the wall. The books land on the desk with a thud.
“You should be a bit more comfortable now,” Torin says.
“This is… just perfect,” I say. I bite back another thank you. He’s already shifting like he doesn’t want the fuss.
Instead, I shut the bedroom door, set Tabitha’s carrier down on the floor and open it. She stays inside, crouched at the back, watching.
“It’s okay, baby,” I say, quieter now.
She doesn’t move. Her ears are drawn back and she doesn’t take her eyes off the two bear-men.
I reach in and run a hand over her back. She’s tense under my fingers, ready to attack or run.
“Guess she’ll need time to get used to us,” Gunnar says. “We should leave you to it.”
He doesn’t look at me.
“Come join us when you feel like it,” Torin says, flashing me a kind smile before he steps out.
The door clicks shut.
Tabitha creeps out, sniffing cautiously.
I leave her to it and open the suitcase.
There’s a lot of my stuff in there. Jeans. Shirts. Socks.
Lingerie.
Heat flickers up my neck, but it passes quickly. I’m just glad to have it.
The bag that was in the bathroom turns out to be my toiletries case, which has a lot of stuff that I need. I almost cry again at the sight of it.
I set some things out on the vanity and start putting my clothes away.
At last, Tabitha has fully emerged. She stretches elaborately and begins examining the entire room.
I sit down on the edge of the bed and let out a slow breath.
Orson might hate that I’m here.
Gunnar has been avoiding me all day. Which stings, even though I probably, kind of expected it.
But at least I have this little space where Tabitha and I can exist.