Page 80 of Pack Me Up

I nod, throat tight. “She’ll love it.”

Colton flops back into the pillows, grinning up at the ceiling. “Best nest ever, bros.”

I crawl over and sit at the foot of the mattress, hand running over the plush throw blanket. It’s so soft my fingers almost slide off. For a second, I imagine her face when she sees it, the wayher eyes will go wide, the little gasp she always makes when she’s surprised. I want to see it. I want to be the reason for it.

Colton’s already half-asleep, legs splayed, arms cradling a pile of pillows like he’s nesting for himself. Cody sits beside him, hands folded in his lap, just… watching. Watching me, watching the bed, maybe just watching the way the room fills up with the scent and memory of everyone we care about.

Cody watches me for a minute, his grin fading. “You really care about this, don’t you?”

I don’t look up. “She’s never had anything nice before us. Not that was hers without strings attached.” I pick at a loose thread on a pillow. “She deserves to have it perfect, at least once.”

Colton is quiet for a beat. Then he says, “You know, for someone who pretends he doesn’t give a shit, you’re the biggest sap in this family.”

I roll my eyes, but it doesn’t sting. He’s right.

Colton sits up, nods, and for once, doesn’t make a joke. “Looks good, H. Really good.”

The approval sits heavily in my chest. I try not to really care what the others think, but from one of my brothers, it means something.

For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel like the screw-up little brother or the fuck-up who can’t get out of his own head. I feel… useful.

I lie back, just for a second, and let the air fill up with the promise of everything we built. I imagine Brittney, seeing it for the first time, the look on her face, the way her scent will bloom and fill the space.

My phone buzzes right on time.

“Fox says they’re bringing her now,” I tell the twins.

We check everything. The lights are dim but not too dark, the pillows are fluffed, and the blankets are arranged.

The room is dense with scent and the nervous, jittery static of anticipation.

We move into the kitchen area, leaving the nest. I look out the window and see Brittney approaching with Fox and Saint on either side of her.

She’s wringing her hands nervously, and I hope this surprise helps make the start of the tour less stressful.

Saint is wearing his security face with his jaw locked and eyes icy but when Brittney grabs his hand a wrinkle forms at the corner of his mouth. It’s the slightest start of a smile, something he never did before Brittney found us.

Fox has one hand on Brittney’s lower back, guiding her with a bright smile. He does that a lot more now, too.

She hesitates at the threshold, and for a second I think she might bolt, but then she steps in.

She looks surprised to see Colton, Cody, and me, so I know Fox and Saint have kept quiet about what’s happening here.

“What are you doing?” Brittney asks.

I’m too excited to wait. I grab her hand and pull her towards the back. “We have a surprise.”

The whole room shifts when we get to the back room.

Her eyes go wide, pupils blown, and her toffee scent blooms so fast it almost knocks me backward. She looks at the nest, at the blankets, the shirts, and the pillows, and stands there, frozen.

Cody elbows past me, suddenly all charm. “Surprise,” he says, spreading his arms like he’s presenting a game show prize.

Brittney blinks. She takes a hesitant step forward, then another. Her hand brushes the edge of the bed, fingers trailing along the top blanket. She sinks her hand in, squeezes, and then lets out a laugh, a real, full-body, and wild one.

“You did all this for me?” she says, eyes locking on mine.

I try to play it cool, but my face is hot. “We just wanted you to feel at home while on the road.”