Page 102 of Somewhere We Belong

She sighed. “No, this is healthy, I need to get away for a bit.”

Atlas kissed her forehead, and she went back to packing her bag.

“She’s only a phone call away and we can FaceTime,” I said.

“Ok, it's just three days,” she smiled, but it was forced. “I can do this.”

“Enjoy three days?—”

Atlas’ phone rang loudly, cutting him off. He immediately pulled out his phone, frowning when he saw who it was.

“I gotta take this,” he said, leaving quickly.

Theo walked in as he left, looking back at Atlas with his brows furrowed.

“You ready, Darlin’?” he asked, looking at the bed that still had clothes on it.

“No. Yes.” She sighed. “I just need like fifteen more minutes.”

“Come on, let's pack her car,” I said, pulling Theo out of the room to let her get her things together.

“Is she ok?” Theo asked, as we went to the kitchen to grab the cooler we had packed snacks in.

“She’s worried about leaving Sol, feeling a little guilty too,” I said. “Did you check her tires? Do we need to get gas?”

“We shouldn't leave her alone.” Theo looked back at the room, worried.

“She needs to figure this out on her own,” I said, pushing him to sit on the barstool. “Nova needs to let go and trust us.”

“Don’t you think you are pushing her?” Theo narrowed his eyes on me. “If she is stressed, isn’t that bad?”

“We are not, I told her she could take Sol if she wasn’t comfortable and there was nothing wrong with that,” I said, gathering the things we packed for her.

“Maybe one of us could go with her,” he said, looking sheepish.

“We can give her that option too.” Nova walked out of the room leaving her bag at the entrance. “I think I am ready.”

“Are you sure? You look nervous.” Theo’s bluntness made me flinch.

“I’m nervous.” She sighed. “But I know I have to do this. It will be good for me.”

“If you need us, we are only a phone call away,” I said, hugging her close.

“One of us can go with you,” Theo suggested.

Nova shook her head. “I need to do this on my own, but expect a lot of calls and FaceTimes.”

I chuckled. “I wouldn't expect anything less. I’m going to miss you, Cielo.”

“Sleeping is going to be horrendous.” She hugged me, pulling Theo towards us.

Theo looked at me with worry in his eyes. I pulled him closer, kissing his forehead and then Nova’s.

Atlas came into the room as we were hugging. He was biting his lip, staring at us and just as I was going to ask if he was ok, he shook his head and walked over to us.

“You ok, Nova?” Atlas murmured, hugging all of us.

“Yeah, I’ll be ok.” She sighed. “I’m wondering how you are going to survive Sol.”

---