“How about don’t hog the covers or I’ll push your furry butt to the floor?” Jim called from the living room.
I snorted, and she turned to look at me.
“I just want sleep,” I said sincerely, for both Jim’s and her benefits. “I won’t get it out there with Jim or if I’m further away from you than the next room.”
She considered me for a moment then nodded. “Hog the covers, and I’ll push your furry butt to the floor,” she said lightly.
I grinned, and she shooed me from the room so she could change.
I waited in the hallway until she called me back in.
The lights were off, but I had no problem seeing my bag so I could change into shorts. She didn’t move as I undressed except to close her eyes. I grinned in the dark, folded my jeans, then moved around the bed to close the curtains. She peeked. I saw it and wanted to laugh at the relief on her face when she noted my loose shorts.
Moving to my side of the bed, I pulled back the covers and slid in.
“I’m sorry about what I said in the truck,” she said softly. “You’re right. I don’t need to be afraid right now. I need to be strong and face whatever happens. I just don’t want to drag anyone else down into my problems. I wish there was a way I could face Blake and still keep my brothers safe.”
I rolled on my side to face her.
“We will find a way.”
Giving into the urge, I reached out and touched her, laying my hand on her side. She didn’t seem to mind. Her breathing slowed and, eventually, her pulse did the same.
When I knew she slept, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to relax.
Chapter 16
Aden’s voice woke me. Michelle was snuggled close to my side, still sound asleep, as I listened to Aden and Jim quietly converse in the living room.
“Where are we?”
“This is where I grew up,” Jim said.
“Here?”
“Not these rooms. This is just one of the apartments here.”
“What’s an apartment?”
“It’s a house within a house, like the place you, Liam, and Michelle have back home with us.”
“Oh.” There was a slight pause. “Are we going back there?”
“Yes. Eventually. Maybe we can hang out here for a while, though, so you can play with Paul and Henry some more.”
“They live here?”
“Yep.”
“I’m hungry.”
Jim laughed softly. “Of course you are.”
I heard the rustle of sheets and knew both boys were now awake.
“I’m hungry too,” Liam said softly.
“How about you two wake up your sister?”
Damn. I glanced at Michelle, then the door. I couldn’t sneak out with Liam in the hall. Without any other choice, I hid under the covers.
The bang of the door opening followed by the pattering of feet woke Michelle. Then, everything went quiet.
Michelle lifted herself up on one elbow, moving the covers enough that I could see her face. She looked like she was playing it cool, but I could hear her rapid pulse.
“Good morning, you two. Is Jim awake? Tell him we’ll be up in just a little bit.”
They didn’t move.
“Who is that?” Liam asked.
She glanced down at me then back at her brothers.
“It’s Emmitt. Jim had the couch. You two had the other bed. So, I let him sleep here after he promised not to steal the covers.”
The boys were quiet for a minute before Liam spoke.
“If you married Emmitt, we could live with Nana and Jim forever.”
Panic washed over Michelle. I couldn’t tell if it was because her brothers were willing to marry her off for a safe place to stay or because they were suggesting me.
“If you don’t want to marry Emmitt, we would be okay with Jim, too,” Liam said.
I laughed silently, and she nudged me.
“We’ll talk about who I’ll marry some other time, but I’ll keep what you said in mind. Now, go get dressed and wait with Jim.”
They ran from the room, and Michelle threw back the covers to get out of bed. She didn’t look amused. In fact, she looked a little worried. I tried not to speculate why. There were plenty of reasons that didn’t have anything to do with marriage or me.
She grabbed clothes and left the room. A moment later, I heard the bathroom door close. The boys were already back in the living room, wrestling Jim in an effort to pry him off the couch. I made the bed then grabbed a fresh set of clothes. It would have made sense to change in