Chapter 41: Riley

We’re putting stuff away, settling into the cabin, but my mind keeps going back to that moment—when Sofia said she could picture herself living this life with us. I swear, when I heard her say that, something inside me shifted. I wanted to pick her up, carry her straight into one of those rooms, and lock the door behind us. Just the thought of having her all to myself for a little while made my heart race.

But I wasn’t the only one. I knew the other three were feeling the same way, and that’s what kept me grounded. Damn, we were all in this together, and we’d have to figure out a way to share her. That’s what’s been getting harder—seeing her cute little body, those shy smiles, and not being able to do something about it. The tension is there, thick, hanging between us all. I can feel it every time one of us touches her, even in the smallest way.

And it’s not just me. I’ve seen the way Nate looks at her, the way Danny goes out of his way to make her laugh, the way Leo softens around her. It’s becoming more than just wanting her physically. It’s wanting her, period. All of her.

The thing is... I think she wants it too. She’s been warming up to us, slowly but surely. The way she smiled earlier, shy but excited, the way she hugged us after we told her about the cabin—it’s like she’s starting to let her walls down. Starting to trust us. And hell, that only makes me want her more.

I shove the last bag into the corner of the room, glancing over at her as she chats with Leo and Danny near the fireplace. She fits in here so perfectly, like she belongs with us in this cabin, in this life. Watching her now, her laughter filling the air, I can’t help but imagine what it would be like to take this further. To have her in every way possible.

But I’ve got to keep it together. For now.

After everything’s settled inside, someone suggests taking a walk in the forest. It sounds like a good idea. Get some fresh air, stretch our legs, and take in the quiet of the woods around us. Sofia seems eager, so we all bundle up—scarves, hats, gloves—the works.

We step outside, and the air is crisp, biting at our cheeks as we walk. Around the cabin, the snow’s light—just a thin layer covering the ground—but as we head deeper into the trees, the snow gets thicker. The further we go, the more Sofia sinks into it, the snow reaching up to her calves. The first time it happens, she lets out this adorable little pout, her bottom lip sticking out, and I can’t help but laugh.

“You good there, Sof?” I tease, watching her struggle to lift her legs out of the snow.

She huffs, blowing a piece of hair out of her face. “I’m fine, but the snow’s trying to swallow me.”

Nate steps in before she can sink any further, easily lifting her up by the waist and setting her back on solid ground. “Gotcha,” he says, grinning down at her.

She smiles up at him, giving him a soft thanks before we continue walking. It’s peaceful out here—the kind of quiet that you can only find deep in the woods. The only sounds are our footsteps crunching in the snow and the occasional bird overhead. It’s a nice change of pace from the city, from the life we’re usually caught up in.

Sofia suddenly stops, her eyes lighting up. “Look! Paw prints!”

She points to the ground where little tracks are scattered in the snow. Her excitement is contagious, and we all gather around to take a look. “What do you think made them?” she asks, her voice full of curiosity.

“Fox, maybe?” Leo suggests, crouching down to get a better look.

Her eyes widen. “Can we follow them? Please?”

We all exchange glances, smiling at how excited she is. “Sure,” Nate says with a shrug, “let’s follow them.”

So we do. The tracks lead us deeper into the woods, the snow getting thicker, but none of us mind. Sofia’s too caught up in the adventure, her eyes scanning the trees, following the trail as we make our way further into the forest. And then, just ahead, we spot it—a fox.

It’s small, its reddish fur blending into the wintery backdrop. It’s not too far away, and Sofia’s face lights up like she’s just seen the most magical thing in the world. She’s completely captivated, smiling the biggest smile I’ve ever seen from her.

For a moment, we all just stand there, watching quietly, not wanting to scare it off. But as I glance over at Leo, I notice something else. He’s staring at Sofia, completely fixated on her, and then it clicks. The dude’s got a hard-on. I can’t help it—I snort out a laugh before I can stop myself.

The fox darts away, startled by the noise.

Everyone turns to look at me, confusion written on their faces. Sofia’s frowning, and Nate and Danny immediately catch on, shooting knowing looks toward Leo, who’s doing his best to look anywhere but at us.

“What the hell, man?” Danny asks, chuckling.

“Sorry,” I say, barely holding back a grin. “Didn’t mean to startle the fox.”

Sofia’s still confused, completely missing the reason behind all the laughter. “You scared it off,” she says, pouting a little as she watches the fox disappear into the trees.

I shrug, trying to hide my amusement. “Yeah, my bad.”

Sofia gives me a small smile, like she’s not really mad about the fox after all, and it sends a little warmth through my chest. Nate notices too and takes her hand, pulling her gently toward another part of the woods.

“Come on, there’s something else you’ll like over here,” Nate says, his voice soft.

She follows him, her fingers curling around his as they walk toward a patch of shrubs just off the path. It’s hard to believe that there’d be anything growing in this cold, but when they stop, I realize what he’s showing her—blueberries. Little clusters of dark blue fruit hidden under the snow-covered leaves.

“Oh!” Sofia gasps, kneeling down to get a closer look. “I didn’t expect to see these out here.”

Nate crouches beside her, gently brushing snow off one of the bushes. “They’re wild. Not a lot, but enough to snack on if you know where to look.”

She grins up at him, and I can see Nate’s usual cold, composed expression soften around her. It’s something that’s been happening more and more, and I’m not the only one who’s noticed.

While they’re busy looking at the blueberries, Danny sidles up next to Leo with a grin. “Careful, or you’re the one who’s gonna scare her off,” he teases, shooting Leo a pointed look.

I burst out laughing at that, and Leo’s face goes a little red as he glares at us both. “Piss off,” he mutters, shoving Danny lightly in the shoulder.

“Come on, man,” I chuckle, wiping at my eyes. “Can’t blame the guy for noticing.”

Leo just rolls his eyes, but there’s a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. We all know what’s happening here. It’s not just some random attraction anymore. We’re all getting in deeper, and none of us are trying to stop it.

I glance back at Sofia and Nate. She’s picking a few of the blueberries, her cheeks flushed from the cold, and Nate’s standing next to her, his hand hovering like he’s ready to catch her if she slips again. The way she’s fitting into our lives... it’s starting to feel like she’s always been meant to be with us.

And damn, that thought makes it even harder to keep things in check.