Page 24 of Somewhere We Belong

I took a deep breath feeling better that she was staying with us.

Atlas: I don’t think we are going to make it to pick up Sol. Can one of you do it?

Me: I will, and I’ll get food for dinner.

Atlas: That sounds good.

I looked up to see Colt glaring at his phone and I realized our mistake. He put his phone down, walking out of the room shirtless, with his shirt in his hand. My uneasiness was back in full force as guilt hit me again. What was it about Nova and her daughter that all I wanted to do was protect them?

There was no sign of Colt as I walked into the living room. I took a quick look outside to see if he was close, but he wasn’t outthere. If Colt didn’t want to be found, then we wouldn’t see him until he was ready to be found or seen. I needed to apologize for not asking him if it was ok.

The sound of footsteps made me turn around to see Colt coming out of the spare bedroom. He had blankets and sheets in his arms, heading to the washing machine. His expression was stoic, reminding me of the days when we first met and he was closed off to the world.

“I’m sorry,” I said, following him.

He grunted, dumping the laundry into the washing machine.

“He should have consulted us before he agreed to let her stay here.” I gave him the detergent.

He shrugged.

“Maybe one of us can stay with her instead,” I suggested tapping my fingers.

“Don’t,” he clipped, closing the lid to the washing machine and starting it.

“Tell me how to make this right,” I said, as he passed me.

He continued to walk away. I sighed, hating that we were so similar to each other. We preferred not to speak. Silence was an old friend to us and when we were upset, we tended to recede into ourselves. If I pushed Colt he would lash out in anger or shut us out completely.

“Colt—”

“Let it go, Theodore,” he snapped.

He full-named me and while I wanted to keep apologizing, I was probably going to make it worse.

It was two-thirty and I couldn’t get Sol for another hour. I picked up the house, made a list of groceries with ideas for a few dinners since I didn’t know what they liked. It was only three by the time I was done, and I grabbed my keys to go to the grocery store first.

I jumped into the truck when the passenger door opened too. Colt got in, putting his seat belt on as he looked out the window, clearly telling me not to talk. I opened my mouth to say something, just to say sorry again, when he glared at me.

We shopped for groceries quickly and were in line to pick up Sol by three thirty-four. The sky was darkening as the line moved quickly. A light drizzle started when we reached the front of the line, and a woman came up to the truck.

“Picking up Sol?” she asked, looking between Colt and me.

“Yes, ma’am.” I smiled.

“Sol!” she yelled, as a girl with dark hair ran towards her.

She looked inside the truck for her mom, and I felt guilty we didn’t have her with us. Colt got out of the car immediately.

“How’s mama?” she looked concerned.

“She’s on her way home,” Colt said, before I had a chance to.

“Oh, good,” Sol said, climbing into the car.

Colt put her seatbelt on, making sure she was buckled in correctly.

“Hey, Teddy Bear!” She beamed at me.

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