Page 25 of Did It Have To Be Gnomes?!
I could understand that. “Bedroom it is.”
As I headed toward the stairs, tugging him along and trying not to trip over the cute cat, Miles sighed. “I can make it up on my own.”
“I know, but this is easier, isn’t it?”
He huffed and didn’t deny it, so I kept going. Luckily, his stairs were wide enough to fit us without knocking the artwork down, and I soon deposited him on his king-sized bed. He let out a sigh as he lay back, and I started untying his shoelaces to get his work boots off.
“Winter.”
I paused my ministrations and looked up at him. “Yeah?”
His gaze was intense. “You don’t have to do that.”
I sent him a small smile. “I know. I want to.” Without waiting for a response, I finished, got both boots off, and set them on the ground next to his dresser.
When I faced him again, he looked bemused.
“I’ll go make you some ice water while you get out of your coveralls. Do you have an ice pack you can put on your forehead?”
“I do, but you don’t have—”
“Need anything else before I head out?”
He shook his head no. “You really don’t have to do all of this, Winter.”
I shot him a wink. “I know.” Then I bent down, took a chance, and picked Odin up. He practically melted in my arms, turning into a kitty puddle, and I cooed at him as I walked out of the room. “Does he need to be fed or anything?”
“Nah. Too early for dinner.”
“Got it.” I closed the door behind me so he’d be left in the dark.
As I passed a door at the top of the stairs, I heard a strange noise. Glancing at Odin, I whispered to him, “You don’t have any brothers or sisters, right?” Surely, Miles would’ve said so earlier. He only mentioned the one cat when I asked about pets, right?
I heard the noise again, but then I cringed at myself because I was being far too nosey. So I headed down to make a glass of water for Miles and find his ice pack.
Odin followed me back up and into the bedroom, and I was relieved to see Miles already sleeping. He looked… honestly adorable with his face and body fully relaxed. I didn’t realize how much tension he carried until I saw him without it.
After setting the ice water on the nightstand, I carefully placed the ice pack across his forehead and eyes, and he let out a little contented sigh, making me smile. Good. He’d be right as rain when he woke up.
I tiptoed out of the room and left the door cracked for Odin, who was still following me.
As I passed that other door, the sound came again, and I froze.
Something… rustled.
Should I look? No one would know, right? Miles was sound asleep, and taking just a peek wouldn’t hurt anything, would it?
Odin rubbed against the door and let out a pathetic-sounding mewl.
“What’s in there, boy?” I whispered to him.
He made the same pathetic sound again, and I knew right then and there that I had to look. I had to see what was on the other side of that door, what Odin very clearly wanted in there.
Glancing at Miles's bedroom door and seeing it in the exact position I’d left it in, I quietly creeped across the hall to the other door, grabbed the doorknob, and twisted it slowly. Then I very carefully pushed the door open with my face pressed against it so I could just sneak a peek and then shut it quickly.
My eyes widened in absolute shock when I saw what was behind the door.
A firebird.
