Page 128 of Prickly Pair
“I think it feels like home,” I said.
Nick’s smile grew broader. He was putting on that cocky front, but when he spoke, his voice was soft and vulnerable—just like he’d been in my arms. “Well, then. Welcome home.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Evie
“Have you talked to Austin today?”
I frowned as I pulled a rack of cookies out of the oven. Matthew stood in the doorway of my bakery kitchen, his expression twisted with worry.
It’d been about a week since the four of us spent an entire day exploring Nick’s BDSM palace. Since then, all our routines had converged even more than before. Austin and Nick still “hated each other” but were more than willing to put down that dislike the moment clothes were off.
I’d never been happier. Truly. Everything felt so right when I was with the three of them, but there were still worries sitting on my shoulders. Like Phil. None of us had seen him again, which was good, but it still made me anxious that he could be hanging around.
And then there was Austin.
“I don’t think I have,” I said, pulling my phone out of my pocket. I checked all my messages, and sure enough, hadn’t heard anything. “I don’t have any texts from him.”
Which was odd. Austin always texted me in the mornings. Maybe I was spoiled, but I was getting used to threegoodmorningtexts every day. Not having one from him sent all the alarm bells in my head ringing.
Matthew frowned. “Okay. I’m about to run to work, but maybe I’ll swing by his place after. I haven’t either.”
“Maybe he’s busy?” My tone wasn’t very convincing.
Matthew’s brows creased together.
“What is it?” I asked, going to him. He slid his arms around my waist and when I started to try and dust off the flour I was getting on him, he just grabbed my hands and placed them on his chest.
“I change into scrubs anyways,” he said. “I don’t care if you get flour all over me.”
I smiled, but then it faded. “What’s wrong?”
He let out a sharp breath. “I’ve just been worried about him. We all have been. And I still don’t think he’s really slowed down.”
He was right, of course. And I’d noticed the same thing. It was frustrating because obviously we all wanted what was best for him. But I was going on years now of encouraging him to slow down, and even with him promising me he was going to make it happen, those words were starting to feel a little bit empty.
“Maybe we should go with June’s kidnapping idea,” I sighed.
Matthew snorted. “He needs to make the choice for himself.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I know. I believe him when he says he’ll do it.”
“Do you?” Matthew’s eyes softened with sadness. “I want to. You’ve known him longer than I have. But . . . I don’t know.”
“He did take his mom’s grocery delivery off his plate,” I said. “He also talked to Avery and Dallas about taking over their own bookkeeping, which they were both happy to do. So hehasmade small improvements.”
“But he worked twelve hours at the hotel the other day,” Matthew said. “Covered a shift for one of the people who works there between general repairs and taking care of customers. The day before that, he worked another ten hours just sorting through community center emails and complaints.”
“We probably need to start charging Mrs. Carlson for the amount of time she takes from him.”
Matthew’s shoulders relaxed, and when he laughed this time, it was easier. “This is true. She’s my problem too, you know. She’s in to see me at least once a month, convinced she has a symptom of some odd disease. The reality is she’s one of the healthiest people in her age group that I’ve seen in my entire career.”
“Good for her,” I said blandly.
“Evie.”
I stifled a laugh. “Sorry. She’s a nightmare. Happy she’s healthy.”
