Page 184 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

“You didn’t.” I shift closer, wishing I could do something to make it all better. “I’m glad you told me.”

He exhales a shaky breath, his shoulders relaxing just a little. “It’s not something I talk about,” he admits. “Not with anyone.”

“I won’t tell anyone,” I promise.

“I know you won’t.” His voice is soft, and the way he looks at me makes my stomach flip.

Silence stretches between us. It feels like something has shifted, like we’ve crossed some invisible line, and I’m not sure if I’m supposed to say something to fill the space or just let it be.

“Well,” he says after a few moments, “guess we should get to it.”

I blink at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

“The nest,” he says, gesturing to the room around us. “I think it’s time we redo it. Make it yours.Ours.”

I hesitate. The idea of rebuilding the nest feels…intimate. Like it’s claiming something I’m not sure I have the right to claim yet.

Finn seems to sense my hesitation, because he leans closer, his voice dropping to a soothing murmur. “You don’t have to do it alone,” he says. “I’ll help you. And we can take it slow, okay?”

I nod slowly, the tension in my chest easing just a little. “Okay.”

Finn smiles, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear before climbing out of the nest. “I’ll grab the bags,” he says, pulling on a shirt. “You just stay here and rest.”

The door clicks shut behind him, and I let out a slow breath. His scent hangs in the air like a phantom touch, but my skin still prickles with awareness. My fingers twist in the sheets, seeking an anchor that isn’t there. Before yesterday, just breathing him in would have been enough to settle the restless energy crackling through my veins. Now…now I catch myself leaning toward the door, chasing something more than just his scent.

I’m…restless, my skin prickling with the need for something that’s elusive. I shift in the nest, trying to get comfortable, but the ache inside me only grows stronger.

It’s not just the pre-heat. It’s something deeper, something more primal.

I needsomething, and it feels very wrong to demand anything at all.

I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts away, but they linger, clinging to the edges of my mind.

When Finn returns, his arms full of shopping bags, I force myself to focus on him. He sets the bags down beside the nest, his grin widening as he pulls out a bright, fluffy blanket.

“Look at this,” he says, holding it up with exaggerated enthusiasm. “Softest blanket I’ve ever felt. I think it even beats the ones Stone likes to hoard for me.”

I can’t help but smile, my earlier tension easing just a little. “It’s nice,” I admit.

“Nice?” Finn raises an eyebrow, pretending to look offended. “This is luxury, Hailey. Pure luxury.”

I laugh softly, the sound surprising even me. Finn’s grin softens into something warmer, and he sets the blanket down, pulling out another pillow.

“Come on,” he says, holding it out to me. “Help me decide where this one goes.”

I hesitate for only a moment before reaching for the pillow. Finn’s encouragement is gentle, never pushing, and I find myself relaxing as we start to rebuild the nest together.

The new blankets and pillows slowly replace the old ones, their colors soft and inviting. Finn lets me take the lead, rearranging things until it feels right, and by the time we’re done, the nest feels…different.

It feels like mine, too.

I glance at Finn nervously.

“Better?” he asks.

I nod, my fingers brushing against the edge of the new blanket. “Better.”

Finn leans back against the wall, his hands resting on his knees. “See? Told you we’d make it perfect.”

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