Beau grins. “We’re not. It was hot, though.”
“Kind of?” Levi teases.
Simon finally glances over at me, his expression gentler. “You don’t need to be embarrassed. It’s… instinct. Heat makes you clear about what you want.”
The reassurance helps more than I expect.
The day drifts like that—quiet touches, small exchanges. After I finally muster the energy to head to the bathroom for a shower, the sheets are clean when I come back.
I pause in the doorway, confused. “How did you even find fresh sheets?”
Beau looks up from where he’s sitting cross-legged on the bed, rubbing Pancake’s ears. “Laundry room down the hall. Simon found the linens in the second cabinet.”
Levi is cuddling Pancake like the cat’s an old friend, with Pancake sprawled across his forearm purring so hard I can hear it from here. The sight does something strange to my chest—something warm and a little unsteady.
One by one, they take turns showering and changing. And every single time one leaves the room, the other two stay. Not once do they leave me alone. I’m not sure if that’s intentional or just instinct, but I don’t hate it.
I’m so tired that I lose track of how many times I nap. My body feels like it’s demanding every ounce of rest it can get.
It’s around eight p.m. when the conversation shifts.
“I need to report to the hospital,” Simon says quietly, putting his glasses on. “If I don’t check in tonight, it’ll be a mess in the morning.”
“Same,” Beau says. “Early start tomorrow.”
Levi sighs. “And I need a change of clothes. Unless you want me to start smelling like your cat.”
They all look at me like they’re weighing whether they should even be talking about leaving.
“We can stay if you need us to,” Levi says. “It’s not a problem.”
I shake my head, managing a small smile. “I’ll be okay.”
Beau pulls out his phone, tapping quickly before looking at me. “I’m making a group chat. In case you need anything, day or night, you can reach us all at once.”
A few moments later, my phone buzzes in my hand with a notification:Pack Chat.
When it’s time for them to go, the energy shifts. There’s a hesitation in the air, like no one’s sure how to wrap this up.
The men who have been between my legs, seen me at my absolute most undone, suddenly look… nervous.
It’s almost endearing.
Simon steps forward first, glasses sliding a little down his nose as he kisses my cheek. “Rest. Eat. Hydrate. I’ll check in tomorrow.”
Levi hugs me next, his arms firm and warm around me. He doesn’t say anything, just presses his lips to my hairline.
Beau is last, his grin softer than usual. “Don’t make me come back here and catch you working instead of sleeping.”
I roll my eyes, but it’s hard to keep it light when my chest feels tight watching them head for the door.
And then they’re gone.
The silence that follows is thick, and I’m left sitting on the bed, staring at the flowers in the corner. My brain is too foggy to untangle everything that’s happened, but one thought is loud enough to cut through.
What the hell have I done?
And why, exactly, don’t I feel bad about it?
