Page 17 of Nicky

I held them out anyway. “These will keep you nice and warm. Go ahead. The bathroom is on the right. There’s a new toothbrush in the top drawer.”

He huffed but took the clothes, muttering something under his breath as he went to the bathroom to change.

When he returned, I had to bite back a smile. The gray sweats were too long, and the green hoodie that matched the color of his eyes practically swallowed him whole, but he looked... perfect.Comfortable in a way I hadn’t seen before, his shoulders no longer weighed down.

“You’re not allowed to laugh,” he warned, crossing his arms.

“I’m not laughing.” I reached over, adjusting the hood so it didn’t droop over his eyes.

His cheeks turned pink, and he tilted his head slightly, unconsciously leaning into my hand before catching himself and stepping back.

“Get some sleep,” I said, my voice softer than I intended. “I’ll be right down the hall if you need anything.”

He hesitated, standing awkwardly at the edge of the bed, his fingers twitching like he wasn’t sure what to do with them. Then, with a soft sigh, he crawled onto the mattress, moving on his knees before lowering himself onto his side. He didn’t make a show of getting comfortable, but I caught the subtle shift of his body as he tucked his hands beneath his cheek and relaxed into the pillow.

I watched him for a moment, taking in the way the oversized hoodie bunched around his elbows, the slight furrow still etched between his brows. His eyes fluttered once, twice, the weight of exhaustion pulling them closed.

When I noticed his breathing starting to even out, I reached for the blanket folded at the foot of the bed.

“What are you doing?” His voice was groggy, defensive, though his eyes barely opened.

“Relax.” I unfolded the blanket and gave it a shake.

He propped himself up slightly, confusion mingling with something softer in his expression. “I don’t need?—”

“Just let me.” My voice came out quieter than I expected, but firm enough to leave no room for argument.

His lips pressed into a line, but he didn’t resist. Instead, he shifted slightly, his movements uncharacteristically small, like he didn’t want to disturb what I was doing.

I draped the blanket over him, smoothing it down with deliberate care. Tugging the edges, I tucked it snugly around his sides, making sure it covered him completely. His cheeks turned a faint shade of pink, but he didn’t look away.

“There,” I murmured. “That’s better.”

His eyelids drooped again, his lashes casting faint shadows against his cheeks. For someone who worked so hard to project strength, he looked impossibly young in that moment, so vulnerable it made my chest ache.

“Markus?” His voice was a whisper.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks.”

I leaned back, letting my hand linger on the edge of the blanket for just a second longer. “Just get some rest.”

His lips twitched like he wanted to respond, but sleep won the battle. His face softened completely, the tension melting away until he was nothing but quiet breaths and the rise and fall of his chest.

I stood there for a while, watching him, making sure he was comfortable. The urge to protect him, to keep him safe from everything he’d been carrying, burned fiercely in me.

Eventually, I pulled myself away, retreating to the living room. I picked up the book I’d been reading earlier, but the words blurred together. My mind stayed on Nicky. Knowing he was just a few steps away grounded me in a way I hadn’t expected.

I didn’t even realize when I drifted off. One moment I was thinking about him, the next I was startled awake by the pale light of dawn spilling through the window.

Glancing at the time on my phone, I frowned. Six o’clock. Too early for anyone to be up, and yet?—

I rushed to the guest room.

The bed was neatly made, the blanket folded at the foot. My sweatpants were neatly folded on the bed, but my hoodie was nowhere to be seen.

And Nicholas was gone.

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