Chapter 26: Sofia

After Riley, Danny, and Nate leave, I grab some of the new toiletries and clothes they bought me and head to the bathroom. Stepping into the shower, I let the warm water wash away the remnants of the past few days, relaxing into the familiar scent of my shampoo. I breathe in deeply, closing my eyes as I wash, savoring the feeling of being clean and surrounded by a scent that’s entirely mine. By the time I step out, I feel more like myself than I have in days.

I wrap myself in a towel and reach for the new comfy clothes—a pair of soft leggings and an oversized hoodie that envelops me like a warm hug. I feel like I’m sinking into softness, and I can’t help but smile as I walk back into the living room, clutching one of the books Leo bought for me. I curl up on the couch, tucking my legs under me and letting myself get lost in the story.

It’s quiet in the house, and I savor the rare peace. Leo’s in the back office, Riley and Danny are out getting groceries, and Nate… well, I saw him downstairs earlier, working out. I try not to think about how strong he looked, lifting weights effortlessly, every muscle defined and taut. Instead, I focus on my book, the words comforting as they flow over me.

I don’t even realize Nate’s come back upstairs until I hear his voice. “Looks like you’re settled in,” he says, and I glance up to see him standing at the edge of the living room, a water bottle in hand. His gaze lingers on me, and I feel my cheeks warm under his scrutiny. There’s something different about the way he’s looking at me—his gaze is intense, and he’s not hiding it.

I manage a small smile, setting my book aside. “Yeah, it’s… it’s really cozy here. Thank you.”

He takes a step closer, then another, until he’s sitting on the ottoman directly in front of me, his gaze never leaving mine. “You seem more like yourself,” he says, his voice low and warm. “I’m glad to see it.”

I shift a bit under his gaze, the warmth in his eyes making me feel shy. “Thanks. I owe you guys a lot.”

He reaches over, his fingers tracing a stray strand of hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. His touch lingers, and I feel a rush of heat at the soft brush of his fingers. “You don’t owe us anything, Sofia,” he murmurs, his eyes on mine. “We’re here for you. That’s not going to change.”

His hand drops back to his lap, but the warmth remains, leaving my skin tingling. I swallow, trying to gather my thoughts. “I… I appreciate that,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. His presence is overwhelming, and I can feel my heart racing, my skin flushed. I know I should look away, break the spell, but I can’t.

He leans back, watching me with a small smile that’s equal parts tender and teasing. “How about we watch something? I can go get cleaned up, and we’ll put something on.”

I nod, eager for a distraction. “I’d like that.”

Nate rises, heading toward the bathroom, and I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. When he returns, he’s wearing grey jogging pants and nothing else. I swallow hard as he sits down next to me, his entire torso covered in tattoos that look almost like armor, the designs intricate and beautiful. His abs are sharply defined, his chest broad, and I can’t help but marvel at the sheer strength radiating from him. He looks like some sort of tattooed Greek god, every inch of him both intimidating and mesmerizing.

I glance at him, trying to focus on the TV, but my gaze keeps drifting back to him. He leans in close, his bare shoulder brushing against mine, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. “You okay?” he asks, his voice a bit rougher, quieter.

“Yeah,” I say, hoping he doesn’t notice the slight tremor in my voice. “Just… trying to decide what to watch.”

He watches me for a moment longer, his gaze so intense that I feel like he can see right through me. “You know,” he says softly, his hand reaching out to rest lightly on my thigh, “I meant it when I said you’re safe with us. You’ve got nothing to worry about here.”

I swallow, feeling my pulse quicken at his touch. His hand is warm, his fingers pressing just slightly, and I can feel the strength behind them. “Thank you,” I whisper, my eyes meeting his.

There’s a flicker of something in his eyes, something raw and almost vulnerable, but before I can decipher it, the spell is broken by Leo’s entrance.

“Hey, what’d I miss?” Leo asks, striding into the room with an easy grin. He glances between Nate and me, his eyes narrowing just slightly as he takes in the scene.

“Nothing yet,” I say, quickly pulling away and giving him a smile. “We were just about to pick a movie.”

Leo plops down on the other side of me, close enough that I can feel the warmth of his arm. “Horror, right? I could use a good scare.”

Nate smirks, leaning back and draping his arm along the back of the couch behind me. “If she’s up for it.”

“I can handle it,” I say with a grin, trying to ignore the way my heart is racing from being so close to both of them. We settle on a movie, and as it begins, I can feel the tension between them, each one subtly vying for my attention. It’s a strange feeling, but not an unwelcome one.

As the movie progresses, the jump scares have me clinging to the blanket, pulling it up to my face as I flinch. Both Nate and Leo chuckle at my reactions, each of them offering little reassurances as the suspense builds. Every now and then, Nate’s hand will rest on my shoulder, his thumb brushing against my collarbone, while Leo’s hand grazes my knee, his touch grounding.

At one particularly intense moment, I jump, and both of them reach out instinctively, their hands meeting briefly before they pull back, casting each other a quick, assessing glance. It’s subtle, but there’s a hint of competitiveness there, a silent challenge. I try to focus on the movie, but I can’t ignore the warmth of their touches, the way their proximity makes my heart race.

Just as I’m getting used to the rhythm of their touches, the front door opens, and Riley and Danny walk in with grocery bags. I jump, the timing coinciding with a loud scare from the movie, and they both give me worried looks.

“Really?” Riley says, giving Nate and Leo a hard look. “You thought a horror movie was a good idea?”

Nate shrugs, grinning unapologetically. “We knew exactly what we were doing.”

I get up to help them with the groceries. I start unpacking items, reaching for a heavy bag, but Danny intercepts me, his hands firm but gentle as he lifts me onto the counter.

“Let us handle this,” he says, peeling an orange and handing me a slice. “You’ve done enough.”

I nibble on the orange, watching as they put everything away, and I feel a sense of belonging I haven’t felt in a long time. “Thanks,” I say, looking around. “For everything.”

As they finish unpacking, I get an idea. “Would you let me cook for you tonight?”

They all turn to me, surprised. Leo raises an eyebrow. “You can cook?”

I nod. “I’m pretty good at it, actually. It’s one of the few things that brings me joy.”

Riley looks genuinely excited. “You don’t need to ask twice. What do you need?”

I grin, feeling a surge of confidence. “Let me check the fridge, and I’ll make do with whatever you have.”

They watch as I rummage through the ingredients, and I can tell they’re eager to see what I’ll come up with. For the first time, I feel like I have something to offer them, a way to repay their kindness. And as I begin to plan, I can see the happiness in their faces, a reminder that maybe, just maybe, I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.