Page 26 of Avery

"Fine, fine, we can sleep, but I want to start the next season tomorrow," I grumble to myself as I move over to where my comm's charging port is. I had to move one of them out of the nest since I don't sleep in there anymore. I crawl back to the top of the dome and peer inside.

"Are you leaving it clear tonight?" I like it when she does because I can wait until she's fast asleep to crawl over to where she's sleeping and watch her breathe deep and slow through the night.

Avery chews on her bottom lip, her eyes refusing to meet mine. Strange. Normally, she's hyper after we finish our show, and she makes a big deal about how it's such an inconvenience to need to stop for the night. What she's doing right now? Being quiet and contained. It's not normal at all.

"Ave—"

"Do you want—"

We both speak at the same time and when we notice, we stop. I blink a few times, waiting for her to ask her question because it's more important than me just saying her name to get her attention.

When she flushes pink, I think maybe she's having the same issue she was having when we returned from her first time copiloting the ship. She apologized afterward, which made me want to curl up into a ball of shame. I thought she was eager to be with me like that, but then she apologized and told me she wouldn't put me in that position outside of the room again, and I thought she regretted how her body responded to me.

"Are you comfortable out there?" she finally asks, and the question catches me off guard.

I've slept on top of my dome since Avery joined the crew. She needed her own space, and my dome was safe and isolated for her. Sure, it's not the most comfortable sleeping on top, but it's not strange for the patriarch of the family to do it on my planetwhen there's a threat or something that worries the others in the nest.

"Comfortable enough," I shrug, unsure of why she's asking.

I try to conceal my panic when I think about her wanting me to sleep somewhere else. What if she thinks I'm not comfortable here and wants me to sleep on the couch in the entertainment room? Nope, I'm not doing that. Not even if she suggests it. I'll come up with some excuse, I'll—

"Do you want to sleep in the nest?"

My brain short circuits for a moment. No, not just a moment. A whole good handful of moments as I blink slowly, making sure I didn't somehow mishear Avery. She's never, not once, invited me into the nest.

I never expected her to because it's her space now. Sure, I might've gifted her feathers as they fell out and left them at the entrance to the dome before she could understand me, but that was as close as I ever thought I'd get with her inside it.

"In the nest?" I ask like it's not a stupid question. "Sleep in it? With you?" Oh yeah, that definitely makes me seem smarter.

Avery frowns at me, her pink cheeks taking on a more rosy complexion as her flush grows. "You don't have to," she mutters and then turns onto her side like she's about to go to sleep in the middle of our conversation.

My brain takes a second longer to realize she's upset with my reaction to her question, and I need to fix it quickly.

"I would very much like to sleep in the nest," I say, crawling over the dome until I'm positioned right above her. She keeps herself tucked away against the blankets, avoiding looking at me. I tap on the glass, determined to annoy her until she allows me into the nest with her. "Avery, please. I was surprised that's all."

She shifts, her eyes peeking over her shoulder at me. They're narrowed into tiny slits that make her displeasure known, but Ikeep a big smile on my face. "Please, I will be the most grateful male."

"Fine," she huffs, the pink rising on her cheekbones.

I don't wait for her to say anything else before I crawl over the dome to the entrance and crawl my way inside. I stay near the entrance when I get inside, sitting back and crossing my legs so I don't take up too much of Avery's space.

I wish she would've invited me in here while we were watching our show. Maybe I could've slowly moved closer and closer to her as it progressed until we were right next to each other with maybe my arm around her shoulders, holding her tight.

"Where do you want me to sleep?" I ask.

"Um." She bites her lip and looks around the nest. It's a spacious area since it takes up most of my room. There's easily enough space in here for four full-grown adults, but there will only ever be two. I frown to myself, never more than two.

Avery moves some of the blankets and pillows over and then shakes her head. "Um, just wherever. It's your nest, so yeah."

"It's been your nest since you joined the crew," I correct her.

This is very much her safe place, and I won't do anything that could jeopardize that. I move up against the furthest edge from Avery. I want to give her the space she needs. I'm sure this is all very new for her, and I don't want to make her uncomfortable.

I curl my body up and grab one of the blankets to toss over myself. Avery's eyes are on me the whole time, and I'm pretty sure she's still upset with me, though for what reason, I don't know.

"Is something wrong?" I ask. I don't want her going to bed angry with me.

"Are you sleeping over there?" she asks, and she asks it in such a way that I know there's a correct answer to her question, but I don't know what it could be.

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