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In the weeks since they moved in, Candy still hadn't warmed up to them. What changed? Had watching me spend time with them convinced her that they were good guys? Or was it something else?
Whatever the reason, I was glad she wasn't growling at them anymore.
"Oh, you're back! I thought I heard the door," Nico said as he stuck his head around the kitchen doorway.
"Hey, Nico," I said with a smile, and he gave me a cute little wave in answer.
"Hey. Dinner's almost done. It should be ready by the time you clean up," he said, and I sighed happily.
"Thanks! I'll be quick," I said, and I'd just started walking toward my room when rapid footsteps clattered down the stairs.
"Dakota, you're back! Look, the painting I was making last night!" Ryk said as he hurried into view, carrying a whole-ass easel like it weighed nothing. I hadn't realized it before, but he must carry it back and forth whenever he felt like painting at night.
"It looks good, doesn't it?" he asked as he showed it to me, and I whistled softly. It portrayed a long-haired man gazing up at something, and it was stunning. The best part was the colors, of course. His skin was a pale blue shade with darker blue shadows, his hair was bright red, and his eyes a mix of pink and purple. It was vibrant and utterly beautiful.
"It looks amazing," I said honestly, and Ryk smiled widely.
"Thank you! I really like how it turned out."
"I would love to see more of your work sometime," I said, and his eyes lit up instantly.
"Really? Come on, I'll show you right now."
"After dinner," Nico cut in as Ryk grabbed my hand, and Ryk turned the full force of his pout on him.
"Nuh-uh, I'm not budging. Let Dakota clean up and eat something. Then you can show him," Nico said, and as if on cue, my stomach gave a loud growl. "See? He's hungry."
My cheeks heated up with embarrassment as Ryk let go of my hand and gave me a sheepish smile. "Sorry. I'll show you after dinner, okay?"
"Of course," I said and made my way to my room under Nico's watchful gaze as Ryk placed the easel in a corner of the room before leaping onto the couch, right on top of Star, who swore loudly as he was rudely woken up.
"Ryk, you asshole!"
I chuckled as I stepped inside my room and closed the door behind me, then leaned against it with a sigh. It hadn't even been ten minutes since I got home, and all the exhaustion I'd carried home seemed to have disappeared somehow. In their own ways, Nico, Ryk, and Star had all recharged my batteries like nothing else could, and I wondered if it always felt like this.
I didn't have any relationship experience to speak of, but I didn't think new relationships were supposed to feel this...natural. Despite the fact that there were four of us, I didn't feel out of place or like I didn't know what I was doing. Somehow, it felt like nothing could go wrong as long as we followed the ground rules we'd set up over the weekend.
Shaking my head, I gathered a change of clothes and walked into my bathroom so I could clean up quickly and join them for dinner.
Sixteen
Ryk
"Okay, dinner's over. Can I show Dakota my paintings now?" I asked, turning my gaze on Nico.
"What's this about your paintings?" Star asked as Nico gave a nod.
"I wanted to see Ryk's other paintings," Dakota explained as I jumped to my feet and walked around the table to grab his hand and drag him to his feet too.
"You're stronger than you look," he murmured, and I winced internally when I realized I might've used a little too much strength to pull him up.
"I'm just excited," I said, waving it off with a grin.
"I'll help you clean up," Star said to Nico as I started leading Dakota up the stairs.
"Maybe we should've helped Nico first?" he said, and I shook my head.
"Nah, Star will. He's been lazing about all day anyway. Some work will be good for him," I said, and bit back a grin when Star replied downstairs, clearly eavesdropping on our conversation.
