Esme shook her head, sighing but nodding in reluctant agreement. She leaned down, attempting to lift Ray's limp form. "You brothers," she muttered under her breath, straining as she shifted his weight. "You're built like bulls and somehow always end up relying on me to haul you around."
Ryan arched an eyebrow at her, a glint of amusement crossing his face. "And remind me, who was it that declared she wanted to marry four husbands, hmm? Take responsibility, Esme, if you're going to go around collecting us," he teased, his voice mockingly serious.
Esme rolled her eyes but didn't argue, instead tightening her grip on Ray and bracing herself for the climb up the stairs. With every step, her muscles burned, and she cursed under her breath, but finally, she managed to get Ray into his bed, gently lowering him onto the mattress. As she straightened, catching her breath, she turned to see Ryan already seated beside Ray, his face focused and unreadable.
