Chapter 60: Sofia

After the whirlwind of emotions from the morning, I sit back at the table, still reeling from everything. The warmth of the pendant against my skin feels like a constant reminder of their love, and as we finish breakfast, I can't help but smile every few seconds.

The rest of breakfast is just as perfect as the moment when they gave me the necklace. We laugh, sharing more stories. Nate tells us about the time Danny got lost in the woods during one of their first trips to the cabin, and Leo goes on about how Riley had to chase after him for half a mile. Riley just shakes his head, smirking between bites of his food. The energy is light, and I’m basking in it, feeling loved and cherished. The food is delicious, but it’s the way they make me feel that stays with me most. Safe. Happy.

After we finish eating, the guys start packing everything up, gathering the last of our things to get ready for the drive back to the city. I watch them as they move around, methodical in their movements, but there’s this sense of relaxation too, like we’re all still floating on the high of the morning. Nate and Riley handle most of the packing, while Danny insists on folding everything properly, and Leo is making sure everything is where it needs to be. It’s like they’ve done this a thousand times, like they’ve got this routine down pat.

I take a last look at the cabin before we leave. The snow glistens outside, the trees standing tall like old friends. I’ll miss this place. I’ll miss the peace it brought, the memories we made here. But I had the best time. The thought of leaving it behind makes my heart ache a little, but I know it won’t be the last time we come here.

The drive back to the city is calm, though the boys are a bit more alert. I can feel them watching the road and the surrounding areas as if they’re waiting for something to happen. I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand their need for such vigilance, but I trust them. I rest my head against Danny’s shoulder as we cruise down the snowy roads. The car is warm, and the radio is playing softly in the background. I doze off a little, lulled by the gentle rhythm of the drive.

When we pull into the city, we make a quick stop at the grocery store. I’m fully awake by now, rubbing my eyes and stretching as the car comes to a halt. The boys exchange glances, and Leo, sitting in the driver’s seat, turns to me.

“Sof, you can stay here if you want,” he suggests softly. “We’ll just be a minute.”

I shake my head, already unbuckling my seatbelt. “No, I want to come with you guys.”

They hesitate for a moment, looking between each other like they’re not entirely sure about it. But eventually, Riley nods. “Alright, but stick close.”

They’re on edge as we enter the grocery store, and I can tell. Two of them stay right by my side at all times, while the others grab what we need. It’s a bit much, but I don’t mind. I know they’re just being protective. Still, I can feel their tension, and it makes me glance around the store more than I normally would.

As we walk through the aisles, I notice some women giving the guys looks—hungry, lustful looks. It makes something burn low in my belly, a possessiveness I didn’t expect to feel. I know they’ve always gotten attention like this, but now they’re mine. They’re my boyfriends. The idea of anyone else even looking at them like that makes me a little... angry. I try to shake it off, reminding myself that they’ve chosen me. But still, it’s hard to ignore.

I can tell the guys notice the attention too, but they don’t react. They keep their focus on me and the task at hand, and that calms me down a little. I stay close, grabbing a few things with them, until finally, we’re done and heading back to the car.

When we get home, the sun is setting, casting a golden glow over the city. We unpack the groceries and our things, settling back into the warmth of the house. It feels so different from the cabin—buzzing with energy, filled with the hum of city life—but in a way, it’s comforting too.

After everything’s unpacked, Riley suggests we put on a movie, something light to wind down from the trip. “How about we all just relax for a bit?”

“Sounds good to me,” Nate agrees, already moving toward the living room.

We all gather around, the guys making sure I’m comfortable before we start the movie. I find myself thinking about the cabin again, about how much I’ll miss the quiet moments we shared there. But right now, as I lean against them on the couch, their warmth surrounding me, I realize that it’s not the place that matters.

It’s them. It’s always them.

And I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

The movie finishes, and we’re all lounging on the couch in that comfortable silence that comes after a good laugh. I’m feeling warm and relaxed between them, their presence surrounding me like a protective bubble. Riley stretches, then stands, his voice a little tired.

“We should probably figure out dinner,” he says, reaching for his phone.

I chuckle, looking over at him. “Didn’t we just get groceries?”

Nate grins from his spot beside me. “Yeah, but no one feels like cooking tonight. You wore us all out, Sof.”

I roll my eyes, though there’s a smile on my face. “Fine, what are we ordering?”

The boys toss around a few ideas before settling on pizza, something simple. They place the order, and I can’t help but feel a little lighter. This… this is good. Just us, relaxing together. It feels like a small slice of normal, even though I know their lives are anything but.

As we wait for the food to arrive, I stretch out my legs, leaning back against Leo’s chest. “So… what’s the plan for the week?” I ask, glancing around at them. It’s a casual question, but I’m genuinely curious.

Riley speaks first, sitting on the arm of the couch, his hand running through his hair. “I have to go away for two days,” he starts, a frown tugging at the corners of his lips. “Just to check out a location with a few of my guys.”

My heart skips a little, but I nod. “And the rest of you?”

“I’ll be working from home mostly,” Leo says, his fingers absentmindedly running through my hair. “Same with Nate.”

Nate leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Yeah, we’ve got a few things to handle, but nothing that’ll take us away for too long.”

I look over at Danny, who’s been uncharacteristically quiet, and he shrugs. “I’ve got a few people to see. Appointments on behalf of all of us, just handling some business stuff.”

There’s a moment of quiet after that, and I bite my lip, unsure of how to ask what’s on my mind. “And… what about me?” I ask softly, feeling a little hesitant.

Their eyes turn to me all at once, and I try not to squirm under their collective gaze. “I mean… I know you guys are busy, and I don’t want to just sit around doing nothing. Can I… maybe go back to school? Or get my job back at the coffee shop?”

The atmosphere in the room shifts immediately. I can feel it—the tension. Their easy smiles fade, and their muscles seem to stiffen. It’s subtle, but I notice it. They’re all quiet for a few moments, long enough for me to start feeling like I’ve said something wrong.

“We’re not sure that’s a good idea yet,” Nate finally says, his voice careful, like he’s choosing each word deliberately.

I blink. “Why not? I mean… I don’t want to just sit at home doing nothing.”

Leo leans forward, his hand still resting on my shoulder. “It’s not about you doing nothing, Sof,” he says, his voice softer than Nate’s, but I can still feel the weight of his concern. “It’s about keeping you safe.”

I furrow my brows, trying to make sense of it all. “Safe? I mean… it’s just school or my job. I’ll be fine. No one ever got to me there, I mean, before you guys.”

Riley looks like he’s about to say something, but he clamps his mouth shut instead, his jaw tight. The tension between them is palpable now, and I can’t help but feel a little frustrated. They’re not telling me everything. I can sense it. There’s more to this, but they don’t want to burden me with the details. It’s obvious.

“We’re just not sure it’s fully safe yet,” Danny adds, his voice a little softer than the others. He’s trying to soothe me, I can tell, but it’s not working. “We need a little more time before you can go back to school or work.”

I sigh, slumping back against Leo’s chest. “But I don’t want to stay at home all day. I need to do something.”

Leo’s hand tightens slightly on my shoulder, a gesture of comfort. “We’ll figure something out,” he promises. “Maybe something you can do from home for now. Just until… things settle down.”

I frown. “Settle down from what?”

Their eyes meet for a moment, a silent exchange happening between them that only deepens my frustration. It’s like they’re speaking a language I don’t understand, one full of unspoken dangers and secrets.

“Just trust us on this, okay?” Nate finally says, his voice firm but kind. “We’ll think of something, and we'll have an answer for you by morning.”

I nod, though a part of me still feels uneasy. I hate not knowing what’s really going on. But I trust them. I have to trust them. They’re doing everything to keep me safe, even if I don’t fully understand why.

The doorbell rings, breaking the tension, and Riley gets up to grab the pizza. I try to push away the frustration, reminding myself that they’re looking out for me. It’s not like they’re trying to control me—they just want me to be safe. Still, it’s hard not to feel like I’m being kept in the dark.

We gather around the table, eating and laughing again, and the heavy moment slowly fades. But I can’t stop thinking about it. There’s something they’re not telling me, and I have a feeling it’s a lot bigger than just keeping me from going back to school or work.

I just wish I knew what it was.