Page 104 of Awakened Desires

“He must have said something.” I’m assuming it’s a man, as that’s the pronoun Hendrix just used. “No one sends gifts like that without a word.”

“It looks like our landlord does. What’s the saying? Don’t look a…” He crooks his finger under his chin and tilts his hips.

“Gift horse in the mouth,” I finish.

He clicks his fingers. “That’s it. What does that even mean?”

“Uh, I think it’s to do with not being ungrateful. You can approximate a horse’s age by looking at its teeth. So if you looked it in the mouth—metaphorically speaking—you’d be implying that you were hoping for more rather than being happy with what you were given.” I shake my head. “It’s not important. What is important is that I can't—"

“Accept them? Yes, you can. They’re already paid for. Besides, Rory doesn’t have any way of contacting the landlord except through the letting agency. So you can't ask him to send them back.” His grin widens.

“Rory—” I tilt my head and stare at Hendrix.

He squirms.

“Do you have a way of contacting the landlord?”

He presses his finger to his chest. “Me? Why would I? We go through the letting agency if we want anything. Why don't you come upstairs and see your new room?" He takes one of the bags from me, lightening my load. “I’ll even help you carry your things. See how super helpful I am?”

Realising I’m not going to get anything more out of Hendrix, I follow him upstairs. We go to the first floor to Quinn’s art room. The door is open, and there's lots of noise coming from inside.

"They're here!" Hendrix says in a tone that wouldn't have been out of place in the Poltergeist movie. He takes the other bag and puts them down by the wall inside the room.

Rory and Stefan are inside, putting together a cot. The room is completely different. The drafting desk, art materials, and bean bags are all gone. Now there’s a cot, a double bed, a desk, and a bare bookshelf.

"You didn't have to do this," I say. "I didn't mean for anyone to give up their room. I'm only going to have Aidan for a few days."

"It's my room," Stefan says. "Or it was. I'd moved into Quinn's anyway, and he was using this room for work, but he was happy to give it up."

"Where is Quinn?" I want to thank him.

"He needed a nap. I'm sure he'll be up soon. We know you're only having Aidan for a few days, but you're going to need somewhere more permanent to stay." He gestures to the room. "So this is your room now. For as long as you need it."

I don't know what to say, so I do a goldfish impression instead.

Rory comes over to me and wraps his arms around Aidan and me. "Welcome home," he says softly before kissing me and then Aidan on the head.

"I knew it," Hendrix says. "From heart eyes to kissing. You two were meant to be."

My cheeks become warm, and I stare at the floor.

Rory’s eyes widen into an apologetic expression. “Sorry. I didn’t think. I—"

I put my hand on his chest. “It’s fine.” I peck his lips. “I’m proud to be with you.”

Rory’s face flushes red. His face softens, and a smile spreads from ear to ear. It’s been years since I’ve seen him look so happy. My heart skips. I’m amazed six words could have that effect on him. But thinking about it, I’ve just done something monumental, and it happened so easily. The words fell off my tongue as naturally as breathing.

“I’m proud to be with you, too,” Rory says before kissing my cheek.

I turn my face so that I can claim a proper kiss. Hendrix wolf-whistles, which makes heat rise to my cheeks. I laugh as Rory and I part. He glares at Hendrix.

“What?” Hendrix shrugs. “It was hot.”

Stefan gives him a reprimanding stare, but it doesn’t seem to subdue the young man’s bratty spirit at all.

"Preston and Theo sleep next door," Rory explains as though Hendrix had never said a word. "They're pretty quiet."

"They go to Theo's old room at the top of the house when they want to be kinky and noisy," Hendrix says.