Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 3

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**

Maya

“This is you,” Caden announced, gesturing grandly as if revealing a masterpiece.

The room was encased in glass on three sides, a curious blend of nature and confinement. A low bed sat in the center, while bright yellow curtains danced in the gentle breeze, infusing the space with an almost cheerful brightness.

“It’s a greenhouse masquerading as a bedroom,” I blurted out before I could rein in my tongue.

He chuckled, a warm, inviting sound that wrapped around the room, making it feel less foreign and more like home.

“Technically, it’s a room,” he replied, casually dropping my bag at the foot of the bed. “But your description definitely has a better public relations angle.”

He lingered, leaning against the doorframe, surveying the space as if he were a curator assessing the light, the latch, and whether I’d care about either at dawn. The last part hung in the air, and I found myself unsure of how I felt about it.

“You keep a planner,” he noted, tilting his chin toward the colorful planner tucked securely under my arm. “Color-coded, I see.”

“It’s how I manage my panic,” I said, half-joking. “Red means it’s due now, orange means it was due an hour ago, and yellow? That’s me pretending it can wait a little longer.”

“And blue?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

“Blue is coffee,” I replied with a small grin.

“Then we’ll definitely get along,” he mused, and his laughter echoed, drawing another genuine laugh from me.

Yet, deep down, I sensed coffee wasn’t the only thing that would forge a connection between us.

He stepped inside, close enough that I caught a whiff of his soap—clean and warm, with a hint of something sharper that wasn’t cologne. As our hands brushed while reaching for the curtain chord, time seemed to suspend. He didn’t pull away quickly, nor did he linger, but the moment felt charged, as if he was fully aware of the electricity sparking between us.

“If the sunrise proves too bright, we can get you a blackout shade,” he offered casually, his voice cool yet revealing another facet of his character. “Or you could just come to my room.”

I snorted, shooting him a pointed look. “How many girls have you given that line to?”

“Two,” he replied lightly, his gaze unwavering. “Counting you.”

I shouldn’t have smiled, but I couldn’t help it; the corners of my mouth betrayed me.

Just then, a soft knock echoed from the doorframe behind him.

Leo stepped in, arms laden with towels, sheets, and one of my two suitcases.

“These just arrived,” he said, rolling in the second suitcase behind the first. “And I brought these just in case you didn’t have any here.”

“Thanks,” I replied, taking them from him. His fingers brushed against mine, warm and fleeting, reminiscent of the brief contact I had with Caden. But with Leo, I found it hard to gauge where he stood.

He wasn’t cold like Tylon, nor was he openly welcoming like Caden. Instead, he seemed to embody a polite neutrality, as if he were merely fulfilling a duty because he was trapped in this situation too, not because he genuinely wanted me here.

Still, I appreciated the gesture and smiled as I withdrew my hand.

10:03 Thu, Dec 4

Chapter &

Caden’s eyes flicked to my wrist, a curious glint in them. “Is that a tattoo?” he asked, his tone light yet probing.

“It was a drunken mistake on my sixteenth birthday,” I replied, matching his lightness. “My best friend and I got matching ones, except hers didn’t stick. Long story short?”

“Please,” Caden encouraged, his interest piqued.

“I woke up with it. She didn’t,” I explained, the memory laced with both embarrassment and humor.

“May I?” he asked, palm up, as if awaiting my consent.

I was taken aback by his sudden gentleness but soon realized he was genuinely trying to help.

“Tell me if this is too close,” he added, his voice dropping to a softer tone. The ridiculous part was that my pulse quickened before I could respond. I nodded, feeling the warmth of the moment.

He angled himself sideways so I wouldn’t feel cornered. His eyes remained focused on the fabric as he deftly freed the snag with careful fingers. Even so, with him so near, I could count his breaths, and the space between us became charged with an undeniable warmth.

10:08 Thu, Dec

He worked steadily, pinning the fabric inside the seam, his concentration evident.

“Fabric frayed more than it should have,” he murmured, holding my gaze a moment longer than necessary, the air thick with unspoken words.

Finally, he was the one to look away first, the moment stretching longer than I anticipated. I hadn’t realized I had been holding my breath until he stood back, giving me space again.

Leo had lingered in the doorway, his gaze tracking the entire exchange. It felt like a warning, a silent communication that said, “Relax, it’s nothing.”

He stepped back on his heels, still watching, but he said nothing before departing.

What a curious one, Leo was.

“Thanks again for everything. You’ve been kind and welcoming,” I said as I settled into the surprisingly comfortable couch across from the bed.

Caden smiled, leaning against the doorframe once more, his demeanor relaxed.

“Anytime,” he grinned, “And my bedroom door is open if you want to take me up on the offer—”

He didn’t get a chance to finish as I hurled a cushion at him, sending him scurrying away, laughter spilling from my lips.