the ferrari's engine purred softly as nick turned onto the long, winding driveway leading up to his house. well, his father's house. a mansion that stood tall and intimidating, right next to the sinclaire estate—just as cold, just as perfect.

the headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the pristine hedges, the marble fountain that stood in the middle of the driveway, the grand double doors at the entrance. everything about this place screamed wealth, power, and control. and yet, tonight, it felt like a safer option than taking alexandra home.

he stole a glance at her. she was still slumped against the passenger seat, her face half-hidden by her hair, her breathing slow and even. completely out.

nick exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair before stepping out of the car. he walked around to her side, opening the door.

"alright, let's get you inside," he muttered.

she didn't respond, didn't even stir.

nick crouched slightly, slipping one arm under her legs and the other around her back before lifting her into his arms. she was lighter than he expected, her head naturally resting against his shoulder.

the mansion was quiet when he stepped inside. noah was probably already asleep, and his dad and stepmother—noah's mom—were either still out or tucked away in their own wing of the house.

good.

nick carried alexandra through the dimly lit halls, up the grand staircase, careful not to jostle her too much. the last thing he needed was for her to wake up and start complaining or worse—trying to walk on her own. she was drunk enough to break an ankle if she attempted that.

he pushed open the door to his room with his foot, stepping inside. the room was large, but not in a cold, lifeless way like the rest of the house. it actually felt lived-in. shelves lined with records and books, a guitar resting against the wall, a few hoodies and jackets thrown over a chair in the corner.

gently, he lowered alexandra onto his bed.

she let out a small noise in her sleep, curling slightly into the mattress.

nick crouched down, his hands moving to her ankles as he carefully removed her heels. he placed them by the bed, rubbing a hand over his face.

he should probably leave her like this and crash on the chair. but then he saw the makeup still on her face, the faint shimmer of highlighter on her cheekbones, the dark mascara smudging slightly under her lashes.

he hesitated.

then he sighed and stood up, walking across the hall to noah's mom's bathroom. he knew she had all kinds of skincare products, expensive serums and removers. he grabbed the makeup remover and some cotton pads before heading back to his room.

kneeling beside alexandra, he carefully brushed a strand of hair away from her face. she didn't stir.

"you better not break out because of me," he muttered under his breath as he started wiping the makeup away.

he was surprisingly gentle, moving with precision, making sure to get every bit of mascara, every trace of concealer. she was going to be pissed when she woke up, but at least her skin would be fine.

after that, he unclasped her jewelry—the earrings, the bracelets, the rings—and set them on his nightstand. but he didn't touch her dress. that was a line he wouldn't cross.

when he was done, he stood, stretching slightly before heading downstairs.

the kitchen was dark except for the faint glow of the fridge light as he grabbed a bottle of water. he popped open the cabinet, took out some painkillers, and made his way back up.

placing them next to the bed, he let out a small sigh.

she looked peaceful. her breathing was slow, her face relaxed.

nick pulled the blanket over her before stepping back.

the bed was big enough for both of them, but he didn't even consider it. instead, he grabbed the chair from the corner of the room, dragging it closer to the bed.

he sat down, shifting slightly, trying to get comfortable. it was impossible. the chair was stiff, the armrest digging into his side. but he wasn't going to risk making her uncomfortable.

so he stayed there. leaning his head back, he closed his eyes, listening to the steady rhythm of her breathing. he didn't know why he cared so much. didn't know why he went through all this trouble. but as sleep started to pull him under, one thought lingered.

at least she was safe.

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