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“Kaden?”
He grumbled under me but didn’t wake.
“I think we need to get up.” I tried again to sit up, but his arm that was draped over my back pinned me down. The other, which was lost in my hair, started smoothing it down like he was trying to lure me back to sleep.
“Shhhh.”
The bedroom door opened, and the streak of light made the guys groan.
“Come on, wankers. We’re going to be late.” Niall smiled a real smile when I popped my head up. He stood with two mugs in his hands. “Get up, and I’ll give you this.”
I didn’t even know what it was, but I could use this as an excuse to get up without hurting the guys’ feelings.
“Hey!” Kaden reached for me, but Niall was there with a hand to help me stand and walk to the end of the bed. As soon as I was on the ground, he handed over the mug, and I inhaled peppermint mocha.
“Mmm, this smells amazing.” I took a sip and moaned. It was perfect. Just what I needed to wake up.
He grinned and nodded back to the bed. Sai and Theo were wrapped in each other’s arms, both sleeping soundly.
I cocked my head. “Do you think they know?”
“Couldn't say.” He turned and pointed to my bathroom. “Hurry and get dressed. At least some of us can get to class on time.”
When I flipped on the light in my closet, I faltered. It was nearly full. Rows of shirts, jackets, and pants with several thick coats took up most of the space, but half of one wall was entirely shoes. Converse in colors I didn’t know were even an option lined the wall along with boots in various heights and materials. Rain boots in blue, black, and yellow. Snow boots in white, tan, and black. Plus, several options that didn’t seem all that practical but were very cute.
Where had this all come from?
“Turns out, Kaden’s love language is gift-giving,” Niall said from behind me. “But once Theo saw some of the stuff coming in, he joined in too.”
“I can’t believe they did all this. A coat and maybe some boots were all I needed.”
He moved forward until our arms brushed. “We each want to show you how much you mean to us. We know you can take care of yourself. We know you’re strong and independent and smart.” He emphasized the last word. “You’ve proven that to us, but you also know when to ask for help. Please don’t lose that quality just because things have changed. Right now, it might be your turn, but I have a feeling each of us will rely on the others at some point. So, let this happen. Let them spoil you and show you how they feel in their way.”
It was official. Someone traded Niall for a very convincing doppelganger while I was gone. I didn’t want to offend him by saying that. Maybe this was the real him, and I was just now close enough to see him for myself. We couldn’t hide much from one another anymore. His mask of cool indifference was gone.
But for how long? Would it slip back into place when we stepped out the front door?
I faced him, looking up at his crystal eyes. “Thank you for last night.”
“Do you feel better?”
“Much.”
“Unfortunate,” he mumbled, making me laugh.
“Is that a bad thing?”
He shrugged. “I wouldn’t have minded having to take care of you for a while longer.”
My cheeks warmed, and I wanted to run and hide. I was feeling too much. Joy was going to burst out of me.
Instead, I ducked my head and moved to pick out clothes, but Niall cut me off. His hands snaked around my waist, and mine instinctively wrapped around his neck.
He smirked. “You know, we don’t have to wait until you’re about to collapse before doing it again.”
A momentary flash of confidence I didn’t truly feel made words come out of my mouth.
“Will you get in with me next time?”
