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Now, though, she just jumps on Luca’s bed and noses her way under his blankets like she’s expecting this to take a while.

That does not bode well for Nix getting to the cafe and back with his mate before someone figures out they are gone—or at least until someone thinks to check that security app thingy.

Nix sighs bitterly.

Next thing he knows, they’ll want to microchip him like they had Tsuki.

Luca’s room is dark and quiet, but the bathroom lightis on, so maybe that’s a good sign.

“Luca? You ready?”

There’s a small crash, followed by a round of curse words in a few languages that are definitelynotin Nix’s repertoire.

“Shit. Porra. Fuck. Merde!”

By the time Nix gets to the door, his mate is sitting on the bathroom floor, tangled in the cords for both his hair dryer and his curling iron. Both are still plugged in, and both are still turned on.

Nix yanks the cords out with a sigh.

“Are you okay?”

There’s nothing but the scent of burnt coffee in the bathroom at the question.

“No, I am not okay. Not at all,” Luca says, banging the back of his head on the bathroom cabinet a few times before rubbing his eyes.

Nix knows Luca isn’t just talking about being tangled up in the cords and landing on his bare ass.

It’s way more, Nix supposes.

And way worse.

“I’m sorry, Baby. Is it…my fault?”

His not-so-old anxieties raise their ugly heads.

“What? No! It’s Gideon’s. You know that, right?”

Luca grabs his hand and squeezes.

“He’s not where I need him, and it’s making me feel…”

He waves his hand like Nix will understand everything that means—bad, untethered, out-of-control…lonely.

“You say it’s not me, Luca, but you guys were happy before all this shit. Happy before I…mrmpf…”

There’s a hand covering his mouth, and it smells like hair products and frustration.

“Don’t you dare, Nix. We are way happier now that you’re here. Weare, dammit. Even if Gideon can’t calm the fuck down for the five seconds it takes to spank my ass, I would not want to do one more day without you. You complete me. Us.”

He throws the last of the hair appliances off his bare legs and gets to his feet, pulling Nix with him.

“Come on, baby-papa, let’s go. Luca needs cake. Enough of this maudlin shit. I’ll deal with Gideon Carnell later.”

Nix trails after him, but not before grabbing a pair of sweatpants laid out on the bed.

Tsuki shakes off her nest of blankets and still makes it down the stairs before them.

The main floor is deserted, containing only the lingering scents of food and family. Everyone had places to be today (thank the Goddess)—from Quest to the hospital to meeting the real estate agent for the new Phoenix Records studio space.