Page 123 of Drown My Sorrow

It’s just so overwhelming.

Cassie should have had a nest.

I should have been able to talk to my mum about building a nest.

A car pulls up, and Nat climbs out. She walks over to me and stands shoulder to shoulder with me. I want to cry, I’m just so happy to see her. She looks good. She’s got a tan, is in shorts that barely cover her ass and a bikini I would never be brave enough to wear.

“You ditched me!” I glare at her.

“I know, but, in fairness, it was really good cock.”

I growl.

“Hey! I came when they did an SOS. Lucky they have friends in high places and could get me and Trey on that flight.”

“Trey?”

“My new sex buddy with the magic shlong.”

I huff. She struggled with the island, and I know she gets her self-esteem from the attention of people she sleeps with. I’ve always known that about her. She is similar to my mother in that way.

“Did Shale call?”

“Yes. I am your emotional support human for the day.”

I snort a laugh. “Build my nest for me?”

Nat laughs. “Come on, then, I can help you do that.”

She wraps my arm in hers and drags me into the house, ignoring the six deadly alphas who track our progress. The minute we get inside, the overwhelm hits me again, and I backtrack, but Nat grabs me and pulls me forward, shoving me onto the bed.

She grabs the bags of materials and looks inside. “Why are they all black? Do you have a problem with colour, babe?”

I shake my head minutely.

“All right, fine. Black it is. Hmm, this one is soft. It feels like cat fur. Me likies!”

My eyes widen in horror as she flings it up into the air and watches it fall down on the floor.

She dives back into the bag. It’s a sequined material that’s cold and slippery that comes out next. Nat, my despicable bestie, throws it up on the ceiling fan. I stare up and panic over how I’m going to get it down.

“Yup, that is perfect.” She does a chef’s kiss and twirls around, reaching for another bag.

I can barely cope with it there or the piece on the floor.

She pulls out a black shag and rubs it on her face. She looks around the room excitedly and hangs it on the bathroom door handle.

I splutter.

“Nat-”

She ignores me, continuing to empty the bags until the entire room is covered in pillows, blankets, sheets, yards of fabric. There are even black cat stuffies, and she puts them under the bed because ‘that’s where cats hide’.

I snarl and snatch the black dragon I bought out of her hands. With a whimper, I look around the disaster of a nest, and my mind just pops.

I have to fix it. With a look of complete loathing at Nat, I work my way around the nest while she reclines on the bed, watching me in complete fascination. When I’m done, my mind feels clearer, and this place feels like mine.

Nat stands up and walks over to me. She kisses my cheek.

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