Page 20 of Control Freak

Axel nodded. “Is he okay?”

“He will be if I have anything to say about it. But I know this all happened fast. Sorry.”

“It did, didn’t it?” Axel mused, eyes narrowed in thought.

“Who is this guy, anyway?” Bailey asked. “And more importantly, where is he going to sleep?”

“We’ll figure something out.”

“Like what?” Bailey protested. “All the rooms are taken. Unless… Are you going to sleep with him?”

“No,” I said quickly. “I couldn’t do that.”

“I didn’t think so.”

“Em gave up his apartment, or we’d clear out for a few days,” Gray said. “Sorry, man.”

I nodded. “It’s okay. I was so focused on driving to Missouri and getting him back here where it’s safe that I really didn’t think about the logistics.”

“That’s not like you,” Gray said. “You usually overthink everything you do.”

“I know.” I sighed and dragged a hand through my hair. “But I had to act fast. You saw. He wasn’t safe. And then I was driving all night. I’m fucking exhausted.”

“Bailey, get him a cup of coffee,” Emory said. “Holden, you want some waffles? Sit down and take a minute.”

Emory was always such a good caretaker. I collapsed into the nearest chair. “Thanks, Em.”

Bailey poured a mug of coffee and set it in front of me. I’d caffeinated all night. I probably should sleep instead, but I didn’t want to leave Shiloh to his own devices with my brothers.

“I could stay with Dalton,” Axel said hesitantly. “Let Shiloh sleep in my RV?”

I considered it, but shook my head. “This is a new place. I want him to feel safe and welcome. If we put him out in the junkyard…”

“Not very welcome, huh?” Axel said, an edge to his tone.

“Not if he’s not choosing it for himself,” I said. “Besides, I don’t want you farther from us.”

Axel had moved out there to distance himself from us after Gray left, his fear of abandonment too much to handle. We’d begun to heal as a family, and I didn’t want to do anything to set us back.

Axel relaxed. “Okay, it was just a suggestion.”

“I appreciate it.” I sighed. “Shiloh can take my bed. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Emory carried a plate of waffles to the table and set them before me. “Holden, my couch isn’t nearly as big as the one you guys used to have.” Emory had moved in some of his furniture when he gave up his apartment, and our lumpy monster of a couch went to the junkyard. “I don’t think it’ll be very comfortable.”

“I’ll make do,” I said.

Gray kicked Bailey’s ankle. “Or…”

“Ow,” Bailey said, scowling. Gray raised his eyebrows. Bailey sighed. “I guess I could take the couch if it’s only a couple of days. But it’llonlybe a couple of days, right?”

Shiloh emerged from the hallway just then, looking freshly scrubbed. “Please don’t put yourself out for me. I can sleep on the couch. I’m shorter than all of you.”

His damp hair curled over his ears, his cheeks were pink from the heat, and his body just about disappeared in the large sweatshirt he’d put on. Somehow, it made me want to pick him up and hold him. Of course, I couldn’t, but that didn’t stop the yearning.

“No, you need to feel safe,” I said, remembering that scared, vulnerable look on Shiloh’s face when I’d turned up at his door last night. He hadn’t been totally sure about trusting me, but he’d taken a chance, and I wanted to make damn sure he didn’tregret it. “You don’t know us. Take my room. You can lock that door from the inside.”

His eyes widened. “I trust you more than that, or I wouldn’t have come here.”